GTX 1054 Garden Tractor Kohler Twin Courage 27HP

[NibbanaFarm]

I have a 2009 CC 2544 with a 23hp command engine, shaft drive to transaxle, electric pto clutch. It has the automotive type starter. Had the occasional click and no crank last year. Took the starter apart, cleaned it out, put a little silicon grease on the Bendix and pinion, and it's been working.

As others have said, it sounds like you have corroded wires or connections though.

Interestingly, mine always needs choke to start. Hot or cold. Choke on, the engine starts instantly and I immediately move the choke off. That's how it's started from day 1. About 350 hours now. What I don't like about it is it's very difficult to work on. And spent a day with a fiberglass kit repairing the broken hood. Cost $3700 new IIRC.

 

[Mudfarmer]

Yep. Don't buy anything with a Kohler engine (or Briggs and Stratton for that matter). during cooler weather my Hustler Raptor powered by a Kohler won't start even with the "auto" choke. I need starting fluid every time. Wish the dealer had had the Kawasaki-powered model.

 

[Flogger]

Clean all connections and put dielectric grease on them. 16 years without a cleaning is a very long time. I am having issues on a Kubota with the Kohler. Run a set of jumper cables from a good battery to the starter and see if it still overamps. Could also have a bad solenoid. 16 years is a long time. Also take a jumper cable and go from the ground on the battery to the starter directly. If wire still getting hot, bad starter.

Dielectric grease is not a conductive material, it is an insulator. Hence, it prevents the flow of current.

If you ever use a product called No-Ox-Id A you"ll toss the electronic insulating grease in the trash can.

 

[Flogger]

I swore by the Kohler Magnum series. They were dependable and would still start and run when the pistons were rattling and trying to escape sideways. Wouldn't give a nickel for their modern fare.

 

[jaxs]

Not specifically this problem but for a host of problems with modern small engines,lean mixture to pass Carb California tests is problematic. Not only in performance but shortened life from added heat. Solution, carefully increasing size of jet/fuel metering orifices. I first dealt with it several years ago on a Kawasaki Mule engine. An increase from something like 0.085 to 0.090 in idle jet made all the difference in the world at 1,200 feet. Fuel injection on Mules has overcome that now but it persists in chainsaws,mowers and such. Tip cleaners work for 20 horse and up engines but it's increasinly difficult to find bits and cleaners with small enough graduations as horsepower gos down and you must be v-e-r-y carful to prevent ruining passage. Just think of it as dislodging a chigger turd or wiping a film from passage on smaller engines. Try it sometime just before piling brush on it and striking a match. Needless to say it gos hand in hand with low quility fuel so often discussed.

 

[RandyT]

Not specifically this problem but for a host of problems with modern small engines,lean mixture to pass Carb California tests is problematic. Not only in performance but shortened life from added heat. Solution, carefully increasing size of jet/fuel metering orifices. I first dealt with it several years ago on a Kawasaki Mule engine. An increase from something like 0.085 to 0.090 in idle jet made all the difference in the world at 1,200 feet. Fuel injection on Mules has overcome that now but it persists in chainsaws,mowers and such. Tip cleaners work for 20 horse and up engines but it's increasinly difficult to find bits and cleaners with small enough graduations as horsepower gos down and you must be v-e-r-y carful to prevent ruining passage. Just think of it as dislodging a chigger turd or wiping a film from passage on smaller engines. Try it sometime just before piling brush on it and striking a match. Needless to say it gos hand in hand with low quility fuel so often discussed.

As a mower tech for the past 26 years I have seen pushmower engines go from 3-3.5 to 5.5-6.5 hp and rider engines go from 10-14 to 22-25 hp. And I have never been convinced that a modern 6 hp emits less pollution that the old 3.5 hp and the same with a modern 25 hp being cleaner than the old 12 hp.

 

[stormcom]

Dielectric grease is not a conductive material, it is an insulator. Hence, it prevents the flow of current.

If you ever use a product called No-Ox-Id A you"ll toss the electronic insulating grease in the trash can.

I will buy some.