782 Command Swap, some ?'s

[SS5150]

Ok guys I finished my Command 18 swap on my 782, and it seems to be running pretty well, but I've got a few questions/issues.

1) My engine has a mechanical pump on the left side valve cover. My side shield contacts it when installed. Could I use a pump from, say my 1861? It has a pump on the back side of the firewall. Then I'm thinking I can get a standard type valve cover & eliminate my clearance issue?

2) I used a generic aftermarket throttle cable, and adapted it to a throttle lever from an 1811. Basically the entire lower 1/2 of the throttle travel does very little- all the rpm adjustment is in the upper 1/2 of the travel- anyone have a cable recommendation? I have a WF, QL, and the 2185 cable, and none of them are long enough, and the OEM 782 cable is too short as well. Additionally, if I pull the throttle down quickly after WOT it'll backfire. If I gradually bring it down it's fine.

3) Anyone have a tach recommendation? I tried using the inductive pickup on my DVOM, but I don't think it's working (my DVOM/or pickup). Seems as though it is getting rated rpm (based on seat of the pants/cut quality/engine power & response) but this thing is quite a bit quieter than the old KT17II, and I'd like to verify where it's at.

Other than these things I'd say I'm pretty happy with the swap. Sounds way cooler than the KT. Seems to handle the 50C pretty well too. Thanks for the help.

[J-Mech]

[QUOTE=SS5150;462938]Ok guys I finished my Command 18 swap on my 782, and it seems to be running pretty well, but I've got a few questions/issues.

Originally Posted by SS5150

1) My engine has a mechanical pump on the left side valve cover. My side shield contacts it when installed. Could I use a pump from, say my 1861? It has a pump on the back side of the firewall. Then I'm thinking I can get a standard type valve cover & eliminate my clearance issue?

The fuel pump from the 1861 is a "vacuum" pulse fuel pump. Yes, you can use it, but you may need to put a port on the block to run it. It's operated off crankcase pulse pressure. Don't recall where it attaches on an CH engine.

Originally Posted by SS5150

2) I used a generic aftermarket throttle cable, and adapted it to a throttle lever from an 1811. Basically the entire lower 1/2 of the throttle travel does very little- all the rpm adjustment is in the upper 1/2 of the travel- anyone have a cable recommendation? I have a WF, QL, and the 2185 cable, and none of them are long enough, and the OEM 782 cable is too short as well. Additionally, if I pull the throttle down quickly after WOT it'll backfire. If I gradually bring it down it's fine.

I don't understand what you did. If the lever doesn't do anything until halfway up, that is a cable adjustment issue, not the lever's fault.

Just take the old cable sheath and cable off the original throttle lever. Take the cable and sheath off the new throttle assembly. Put the new longer cable on the old 782 lever. Problem solved. It can be done.

Originally Posted by SS5150

3) Anyone have a tach recommendation? I tried using the inductive pickup on my DVOM, but I don't think it's working (my DVOM/or pickup). Seems as though it is getting rated rpm (based on seat of the pants/cut quality/engine power & response) but this thing is quite a bit quieter than the old KT17II, and I'd like to verify where it's at.

CH's are quieter. V motors are.
If you want a good tach, get a photo tach (laser tach). Get one with the "touch" attachments. They come in handy.

[Leadslingingdaddy]

Can either drill a hole for the port in the LH valve cover on top as they are on the ones equipped with this style of pump or go on eflay and buy a cover that already has the hole...Then mount the pump to the shroud... pretty easy fix... I have a tiny tach on my ZT that works well also...

[bugeye]

On my CH18, the crankcase pressure pulse tube is connected on the left side of the engine, just behind the PTO near the oil filter. The square (older metal style) or round (new plastic) fuel pump is mounted on the left side of the engine shroud behind the left valve cover. I imagine the pulse type fuel pump could be mounted on the firewall.

[SS5150]

Quote above, I'm not computer literate enough to edit out parts I don't want:

"I don't understand what you did. If the lever doesn't do anything until halfway up, that is a cable adjustment issue, not the lever's fault.

Just take the old cable sheath and cable off the original throttle lever. Take the cable and sheath off the new throttle assembly. Put the new longer cable on the old 782 lever. Problem solved. It can be done."

The original cable (from a 2185) is too short. I took the cable/lever from my parts 1811, pulled the cable off of it, and installed an aftermarket generic cable in it's place. Then I tried to copy the end of the 2185 cable as far as the moving length and mounting location. I'm going to have to tinker with it a bit more, I was just wondering if someone had a working setup I could either make, or purchase.

Do any of you guys have pics of the pulse type pump? Sounds like that would be the way to go.

Thanks everyone.

[Terry C]

The CH has a different amount of throw needed from idle to full throttle.
When I put the Ch in a 782 most of the throttle was in the first inch of movement. Sounds like opposite of yours. I just got used to the touchy
throttle cause I didn’t want to change it.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Terry C

The CH has a different amount of throw needed from idle to full throttle.
When I put the Ch in a 782 most of the throttle was in the first inch of movement. Sounds like opposite of yours. I just got used to the touchy
throttle cause I didn’t want to change it.

Pretty sure you can adjust that at the throttle mount on the engine. (You can on every other Kohler motor, wouldn't know why you couldn't on a CH.) If I had a CH handy, I'd double check, but the only one I have is buried in the back of the storage shed. Next time I'm in there I'll look. I empty it once a week to get yard equipment out.

[SS5150]

My CH has that rotary linkage at the front of the engine (this is my 1st CH so I don't know if that is the norm). I know the 2185 cable/lever was quite a bit different than the 782 one, but I didn't actually run the 2185 assembled for more than about a minute before tearing it apart to note how the throttle lever felt/responded. Maybe I can modify the 2185 lever with the cable I made and the throttle handle from the 782.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by SS5150

My CH has that rotary linkage at the front of the engine (this is my 1st CH so I don't know if that is the norm). I know the 2185 cable/lever was quite a bit different than the 782 one, but I didn't actually run the 2185 assembled for more than about a minute before tearing it apart to note how the throttle lever felt/responded. Maybe I can modify the 2185 lever with the cable I made and the throttle handle from the 782.

All the CH motors have that rotary linkage. What I can't recall is if there is more than one hole for the governor spring, or the cable. I do recall, that the rotary linkage moves far more than the governor linkage. The rotary linkage stops contacting the other lever as you move toward idle. It only needs to go low enough to set the low idle stop screw. Adjust the cable accordingly.

[cubby102]

The factory 782 throttle lever doesnt quite have the throw that's needed. If you set the cable/linkage up so that it starts to rev up as soon as you move it you will have WOT right about the half way mark on the lever. I just lived with it on mine. But you may be able to drill a new hole on the lever to make it work as it should. I never got around to doing it. But yeah the cable can be moved where it clamps to the engine to adjust it to move right away