ltx1040

harleyizy · Sep 5, 2011

hey fellow cub owners. i usually post about my 1541 but this is for my brother. he bought a new ltx 1040 in may of 2009. well, he recently started it up and the courage 19 engine decided to blow oil out of the muffler and total loss of power. engine has less than 20 hours on it. guess what, only a 2 year warranty on the engine. he went back to home depot and basically told him he was out of luck and gave him a business card to the shop that does their repairs. he says that a new engine is about $1000, he only paid $1500 for the tractor. has anyone else run into a similiar situation? i told him to contact kohler themselves. any feedback would be appreciated.

JTKub · Sep 7, 2011

That's a bummer. I'd try to work with a Cub dealer to see if there's anything they can do directly with Kohler to see if this can be covered.

You can also email Kohler through the Kohlerengines website and explain your situation. I go that route first to see what they suggest.

You can repower with a new engine for around $500. You'd need a new exhaust, but a Kohler Courage V-twin can be had for $499 >> Kohler Courage ES V-Twin 20 hp 1" x 3.15" Vertical Shaft 12v ES 15 Amp #SV710-0019. They are much better than the Courage single cyl like the one that blew-up.

harleyizy · Sep 7, 2011

thanks jt. he has already contacted 3 different dealers locally. none of them really wants to do anything for him. i cannot believe that this engine only lasted a little over 12-13 hours. does anyone have a good contact and phone number at kohler directly? he has not tried the e-mail route yet. i really can't believe that kohler would not do something for him. it's not like he has abused the engine either. the machine looks like it is brand new!

JTKub · Sep 7, 2011

800.544.2444 is the Kohler Cust Service #. You can also contact them through the link on their site>> Kohler Engines: Contact

I'd seriously pursue the above routes. Tell them you've been extremely happy with the product and followed the owner's manual to a "T".

Joel

harleyizy · Sep 14, 2011

i talked to my brother today. he said that he e-mailed kohler last week and still no response from them. i thought that they usually respond within 48 hours. knowing my bro, i am sure that his complaint was not worded negatively. anyone else have the same problem?

harleyizy · Nov 9, 2011

update on my brother's cub. come to find out that this new 90-10(ethanol) ruined the carb. it was raw gas that was blowing out the carb. he did take it to the same repair shop that i took my 1541 to. (emerich) they did an outstanding job. rebuilt the carb and went over and above what had to be done. much of the work was done under warranty or recalls. (belts, pulleys, idler arm.) he said the tractor looks better than new. too bad carb rebuild was not covered but just another thing we can blame on "big brother." i would say he made out pretty good.

rcbe · Nov 9, 2011

hard to understand why the carb rebuild wasn't covered on the ltx 1040 - unless the mfgr explicitly stated 90/10 ethanol fuel was prohibited... ?

harleyizy · Nov 10, 2011

probably would have been but engine just past 2 year warranty. sucks.

cadet · Nov 11, 2011

As much as I dislike burning food crops for fuel, I find it hard to believe that this was caused by a normal 10 percent blend. My 1018 CC (B&S Intek), along with every vehicle and piece of power equipment I own--and that includes 30 year old stuff--runs just fine on the 10 percent. It's all that we've had in Minnesota for years.

harleyizy · Nov 12, 2011

diaphragm was gone. my other brother had to rebuild his carbs on his small engines plus his carb on his harley. all because internal parts were eaten away, hench, in my opinion, ethanol. only a matter of time i will have to do the mikuni on my harley also. when the dealer had my 1541 for a rebuild, they also rebuilt my carb also. we are told up here in the northeast is to put some type of stablizer in the gas because shelf life of 90-10 is approx 30 days or so.