kohler engine wont start

[korthanke]

my cub cadet mower has a kohler engine 25 hp i believe..... have never seen anything like this. The starter engages the starter "ring" but the ring just spins on the engine without turning the engine over. I am assuming that there is a key broken or something along that line. I have been trying to find an exploded view of my kohler engine (or at least a similar one) to find out how the darn thing goes together. It only has 50 hours on meter but mower is almost 7 yrs old near as i can figure out. I've had many a lawn mower but have never seen anything like this before...... it started just fine last week. Any ideas or explanations would be helpful here. Thank You!!!

 

[Dave M7040]

I would first make certain that the engine can be turned over. Remove plugs and then try to turn over to rule out a more serious problem by pulling on pulley under engine.
Rings gears used to be heated and then put onto the flywheel to cool and develop an interference fit. Having this fit come loose would be very very unusual.
The fan and flywheel assembly on the end of the crankshaft have a tapered fit, a key to lock together and a nut to hold all together. If the nut comes loose the flywheel fan assembly can shear the key.
Kohler Engines: Home
The above web site to Kohler engines has extensive manuals for most of their engines.
Good luck
Dave M7040

 

[korthanke]

well i got it apart. the starter ring is cracked, but still in place on flywheel, so it just spins on flywheel.... to replace it is going to cost about $200.00 just for the part. personally i have never seen a starter ring that could just spin on a flywheel, but you can't buy just the starter ring to replace it. i'm sure the ring itself would be around $30 or $40, if it was an option. at this point, not sure i will even fix the engine..... & Kohler engines have just gone to my DO NOT BUY list(for crying out loud... the hour meter is at 54 hours).

anybody know where/ how to get just the stater ring instead of the whole assembly? or is it feasible to weld the old ring to the flywheel & repair the crack?

 

[mikehaugen]

I would probably try brazing it. I would guess the flywheel is some kind of cast, and probably not real easy to weld.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day talk to your Kohler dealer and get them to check as there was a repair/warranty put out from the factory about three years ago relating to ring gear issues and they were honouring out of warranty units. Push your dealer a bit harder on this.


Jon

 

[JRobyn]

And/or search for a decent used flywheel on Craigslist or E-bay.

- Jay

 

[Kernopelli]

A lot of flywheel ring gears are just a "press fit". Heat them up with a torch and they'll tap right off or on. The time frame sounds about right for Kohler's ring gear issue, the service bulletin says the issue started in '06. Just read online where a small engine mechanic said in Aug 2013 Kohler honored a ring gear replacement on a Cub Cadet that was 5 yrs old w/ 94hrs.....not that long ago. You probably could get it replaced for free if your serial number is within the concerned series and you press it with Kohler, your dealer or Kohler authorized mechanic. Here is a copy of the Kohler service bulletin 5922154149