Great Kohler Engineering

[GTSRider]

With all my recent problems with this Kohler engine.... bad front & rear crank seals... bad head gaskets... bad carb.... now... a bad seal on governor
seal !
But wait...there's more... while changing seal... shaft sunk to the obis
and I don't know how to retrieve ?
Was thinking of a strong mechanics magnet... any ideas ?
Thanks ...
Pete

 

[GTSRider]

I see some one selling shaft and seal on ebay...
Picture shows hole for pin to prevent it from sinking as mine did...does anyone know if this was a factory update ?

 

[GTSRider]

Ok...let me ask the question this way..... how does one replace
the governor shaft seal ?
Is it necessary to pull crankcase apart to replace a $3 seal ?
I would think the engineering could not be that poor, but it looks like
shaft must drop so seal can be removed...but then I'm back at the problem here ... how do you retrieve the shaft ?
Sometimes I get the feeling these are throw away engines ... and not designed to replace simple seals.

 

[Gator6x4]

I don't think the shaft has a seal. All I have worked on are machine fit with a few thousands tolerance to insure fredom of movement. The front of the engine will have to be removed to retrieve the shaft. What happened to the retaining clip? Also if oil is being blow out by the shaft you have a serious engine problem.

 

[GTSRider]

Seal # is 28-032-09-S
I removed old one today and it was rock hard.
Retainer spring was removed in order to remove seal... and shaft must be lowered in order to remove seal. On assembly...retainer spring is set with feeler gauges to .50mm for clearance to allow for proper free play for shaft movement.
I am trying to find a 1/4 " mechanics magnet to drop into shaft bore .... and hopefully be able to pick up shaft.... other wise I will have to split crank case....
As far as oil gushing out shaft.... I wondered about that also.... but compression test is identical for both cylinders.... I don't know if a bad seal
would lose that much oil out of that area.
If I can raise shaft... I can secure it with tie wraps... and slide new seal down shaft into it's home.

 

[GTSRider]

I found a 1/4 inch by 3 inches long strong magnet online....
if that don't work...I 'm out of ideas...other than to split crank case....
what were these Kohler engineers thinking when they designed the shaft to free fall into the crank ?

 

[Fixemall]

Just a thought here...if every other seal seems to be faulty and you have serious time into this fix, shouldn't you split the case and do that seal as well?

 

[GTSRider]

Front and rear seals were replaced with zero hrs. on them....
when I fired up engine.... only for a minute.... that is when I noticed the oil coming from the dried out governor shaft seal.
But I may have to split cases if my magnet idea does not work.... argh....
Pete

 

[harleyizy]

i admire your perserverance. did you check out auto zone or advanced auto for mechanics magnet? they are telescopic and very strong. always helps me when i work on my harley.

 

[GTSRider]

Thanks....yes ..I did check all the auto stores.... no one had a 1/4"
to go down bore to retrieve governor shaft.
I found a perfect one online... that has a 4.5 lb. pull capacity...
if shaft is not binding on crank.... it should pull free , and up to surface.
Then I will simply fit new seal , adjust governor...and be done with it ....
grass is still growing like crazy here in NY.