Only Cub Cadets

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS!

CC Speciaalties R. F. Houtz and Sons

Patton Acres IH Cub Cadet Parts

Cub Cadet Parts & Service


If you would like to help maintain this site & enhance it, feel free to donate whatever amount you would like to!




Attention Folks we have a new owner!
Greg Rozar AKA- CubDieselFan


Go Back   Only Cub Cadets > Cub Cadets > Cub Cadet Engines > Kohler Engines

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-28-2018, 06:11 PM
weedhopr weedhopr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 44
Default 1541 governor issue

I have a 1991 CC 1541 with the Kohler Command 15 engine.
I haven't had any issues till recently. The last few times I used the tractor, everything works as it should till the engine warms up. After it's warmed up, the engine races when there is no load. (tractor is stopped, mower not operating) I have a Tiny Tach hooked up to it, and when I'm mowing, at full throttle, the engine is running at just under 3600 rpm. It used to remain around 3600 when I turned off the mower. I first noticed it while picking up brush in my yard. I had the tractor stopped, running about 1/4 throttle ( around 2000 rpm) All of a sudden, the engine started to race, and I noticed when I pulled the throttle to idle, it had increased to around 5000 rpm. Idle, no load is around 3800 after it's warmed up. It did the same thing again this afternoon while cleaning up the garden, and again while mowing. As soon as I shut off the mower, the rpm increased to over 4000 rpm unless the tractor was moving, or the mower was engaged. I looked at the throttle and governor linkages, and don't see anything wrong externally.
What would cause this issue?
thanks much,
Mike Schweim
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-28-2018, 06:34 PM
CubDieselFan's Avatar
CubDieselFan CubDieselFan is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: TN
Posts: 1,978
Default

The 1541 should have a Magnum engine. Sound like the governor gear or something related to the governor. I think you can look down in the oil fill hole and see the gear. Sam Mac has a engine In the for sale section.
__________________
1572, 1864 x2, 1810 x2, 1863 & GT1554(Dad's Ole Mowers), 1811,782D, 1872 x2, 782DT(Sold), 3235, 1860, 1772 with 3-point and Turbo.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-28-2018, 07:25 PM
ol'George's Avatar
ol'George ol'George is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 6,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by weedhopr View Post
I have a 1991 CC 1541 with the Kohler Command 15 engine.
I haven't had any issues till recently. The last few times I used the tractor, everything works as it should till the engine warms up. After it's warmed up, the engine races when there is no load. (tractor is stopped, mower not operating) I have a Tiny Tach hooked up to it, and when I'm mowing, at full throttle, the engine is running at just under 3600 rpm. It used to remain around 3600 when I turned off the mower. I first noticed it while picking up brush in my yard. I had the tractor stopped, running about 1/4 throttle ( around 2000 rpm) All of a sudden, the engine started to race, and I noticed when I pulled the throttle to idle, it had increased to around 5000 rpm. Idle, no load is around 3800 after it's warmed up. It did the same thing again this afternoon while cleaning up the garden, and again while mowing. As soon as I shut off the mower, the rpm increased to over 4000 rpm unless the tractor was moving, or the mower was engaged. I looked at the throttle and governor linkages, and don't see anything wrong externally.
What would cause this issue?
thanks much,
Mike Schweim
I'm confused,
you say it has a Kohler command engine.
Cub says it has a M-15 magnum engine (same as an M-18) not a command style.
if it indeed has a command engine, it is been converted.
I do agree it has a governor problem that needs to be adjusted or replaced.
If it is the original mag engine, I suggest you follow the procedure in the service manual (Available free here in our tech section)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-30-2018, 10:21 PM
weedhopr weedhopr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 44
Default

It is the Magnum 15 engine. I remembered wrong.
I haven't had a chance to look into it yet. I have the manual downloaded on my computer. Nothing has been done to the engine prior to the governor issue. Just started all of a sudden while the tractor was parked, with the engine at about 1/2 throttle.
I used the tractor last weekend, and it worked normally till it warmed up, then it started to race when it was running with no load.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-30-2018, 11:46 PM
Gompers Gompers is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Posts: 549
Default

There isn’t a hole where the governor stub shaft would be is there? It’s a known problem on these engines that the governor stub shaft can back out and drop into the engine. When that happens it’s usually game over for the engine. But if it’s doing ok on the governor sometimes, that suggests a different problem.

Try adjusting the governor and inspect the springs and linkages to make sure nothing is binding.
__________________
125, 127, 2x IH 682, 2x IH 782, 2084, 3225, 2x3240
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-31-2018, 07:54 AM
ol'George's Avatar
ol'George ol'George is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 6,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gompers View Post
There isn’t a hole where the governor stub shaft would be is there? It’s a known problem on these engines that the governor stub shaft can back out and drop into the engine. When that happens it’s usually game over for the engine. But if it’s doing ok on the governor sometimes, that suggests a different problem.

Try adjusting the governor and inspect the springs and linkages to make sure nothing is binding.
If the gov. stub shaft fell into the engine, it would be squirting oil like the preparatory cleansing for a colonoscopy
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-31-2018, 08:07 AM
ol'George's Avatar
ol'George ol'George is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 6,610
Default

I would follow post #2 to visually see if the gov gear is still ok, as
if it has dropped off or broken, it is very strongly recommended to not run the engine as it can cause catastrophic internal damage.
It does not happen often, but it is not unheard of.
If the gear appears ok, them usually an adjustment or linkage needs attention.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-17-2018, 08:54 PM
weedhopr weedhopr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 44
Default

I unscrewed the oil filler neck, and looked in today. The governor gear is still there, and turns with the engine. I rotated the crankshaft, and there are no missing or damaged teeth. Held rpm at 3240 rpm today at full throttle, no load. I didn't run it enough to get it to normal temps, just enough to move the tractor to the stall in my garage where I could remove the mower deck. and back to its parking space after removing the deck.
The governor hasn't acted up until the engine got warmed up.
Mike
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2018, 08:52 AM
ol'George's Avatar
ol'George ol'George is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 6,610
Default

Ok the engine needs to run @ 3600 as it is rated at full throttle.
Adjust as per service manual.
Either your throttle-to-gov is not adjusted properly,( not pulling far enough)
or your gov is not adjusted properly to the carb.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-11-2020, 05:55 PM
weedhopr weedhopr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 44
Default

Hadn't had any issues since my last post..but....
Yesterday while mowing the yard, the same thing happened again. All was OK, running full throttle at 3600 rpm. I got almost done mowing my yard when it suddenly started racing when I got to where I had already mowed. I had to throttle back about 1/2 way every time I turned around, and increase the throttle again when I got back in the taller grass. When I parked the tractor in my garage again, it was running at 2800 rpm with the throttle all the way back to idle.
I tried again today, and everything was back to normal. Around 1000 rpm at idle, 3550 at full throttle, mower engaged or not engaged.
Governor linkage is still correctly adjusted per the manual, and everything moves free.
Is there something in the governor that would disengage, or loosen up after the engine got hot?
thanks,
Mike
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

Cub Cadet is a premium line of outdoor power equipment, established in 1961 as part of International Harvester. During the 1960s, IH initiated an entirely new line of lawn and garden equipment aimed at the owners rural homes with large yards and private gardens. There were a wide variety of Cub Cadet branded and after-market attachments available; including mowers, blades, snow blowers, front loaders, plows, carts, etc. Cub Cadet advertising at that time harped on their thorough testing by "boys - acknowledged by many as the world's worst destructive force!". Cub Cadets became known for their dependability and rugged construction.

MTD Products, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio purchased the Cub Cadet brand from International Harvester in 1981. Cub Cadet was held as a wholly owned subsidiary for many years following this acquisition, which allowed them to operate independently. Recently, MTD has taken a more aggressive role and integrated Cub Cadet into its other lines of power equipment.

This website and forum are not affiliated with or sponsored by MTD Products Inc, which owns the CUB CADET trademarks. It is not an official MTD Products Inc, website, and MTD Products Inc, is not responsible for any of its content. The official MTD Products Inc, website can be found at: http://www.mtdproducts.com. The information and opinions expressed on this website are the responsibility of the website's owner and/or it's members, and do not represent the opinions of MTD Products Inc. IH, INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER are registered trademark of CNH America LLC

All material, images, and graphics from this site are the property of www.onlycubcadets.net. Any unauthorized use, reproductions, or duplications are prohibited unless solely expressed in writing.

Cub Cadet, Cub, Cadet, IH, MTD, Parts, Tractors, Tractor, International Harvester, Lawn, Garden, Lawn Mower, Kohler, garden tractor equipment, lawn garden tractors, antique garden tractors, garden tractor, PTO, parts, online, Original, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, SO76, 80, 81, 86, 100, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,109, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 147, 149, 169, 182, 282, 382, 482, 580, 582, 582 Special, 680, 682, 782, 782D, 784, 800, 805, 882, 982, 984, 986, 1000, 1015, 1100, 1105, 1110, 1200, 1250, 1282, 1450, 1512, 1604, 1605, 1606, 1610, 1615, 1620, 1650, 1710, 1711, 1712, 1806, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1912, 1914.