Popping both head gaskets at the same time?
 

I have a 1872 super with the Kohler Mag 18 engine. I started having carb issues last summer causing it to overheat. I thought I had the problem fixed with a carb rebuild.(it has the non-adjustable carb). After I reworked the carb it ran fine for 4-5 hours of use. I was mowing at 3/4 throttle when all the sudden it let out a puff of smoke, I left it running, stopped and opened the hood just in time to see oil come flowing out of the top of both cylinder heads above the spark plugs. I shut it down before it ran out of oil and hauled it back into the shop, where it has sat since September. I'm wondering if both gaskets popped, it appears the oil came from out between the cylinder head & the block. I need to get it going before mowing season starts again. Thanks in advance

To me it sounds more like the front oil seal blew. Kohler engines are actually in there backwards, so the front seat is behind the flywheel. When that seal goes, it slings oil everywhere and makes it hard to tell where it is coming from. The most likely culprit is the breather valve quits working properly and causes the seals to blow out.

AJ

Why are you mowing at 3/4? throttle? Air-cooled engines need to be run at wide-open throttle under load to cool properly. That likely had something to do with your overheating problem.

want to sell that 1872 with the blown engine ?

The heads are attached to the CYLINDERS with a head gasket between, the Cylinders are attached
to the Block with RTV/silicone type sealant on the M-18.
They usually don't leak OIL from those areas, but as Matt said they do blow front/rear seals and it gets blown by the cooling fan into those areas so a little disassembly/detective work is in order to see where it is originating.

I don't know if the kohler would do the same, but I know the onans will puke oil out the breather on everything if you've overfilled the oil and get on a hill. But I would say that it the seal behind the flywheel, if you only noticed it in the head/ cylinder area it would be from the flywheel blowing it all over.

Got a pic?

:WWP:

Allen, if it was for sale it would be listed in the for sale section of the site per the fourm rules. Nice try tho.:beerchug:

Ummm....no thanks


Thanks guys, I guess it's time for a tear down. Do I need to pull the motor to get at that seal or can I do the job with the engine in the chassis?

Pic Pic Pic
 

Duke, Whats with the pic thing? I read it for the articles!!:biggrin2: