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 12-07-2020, 01:09 PM
Timn8r66 Timn8r66 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3
Default Seized Kohler Courage 20 hp

Hello all,

I have an LTX1045 that I purchased in mid-2013 from one of the big box stores. It came with a 20hp Kohler Courage single lung engine. It has less than 100 hours on it.

In October it developed a miss. I got it back to the garage and shut it down. I found the problem: a critter had chewed through the plug wire. But after the repair I found that somehow, in those last few seconds of operation, the engine had seized.

My questions are around how to proceed:
- I could rebuild what I have, but it would be a first for me to do (~$400 maybe), but I'm not so inclined to try this
- I could buy a replacement Kohler engine (~ $800)
- I could buy a replacement engine from Harbor Freight for about the same amount
- I could sell the rider outright and probably not get much out of it.

What advisements might you provide? Is there another option I haven't considered?

Thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-07-2020, 01:46 PM
ol'George's Avatar
ol'George ol'George is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 6,610
Default

If we may ask, how do you know it is seized?
A critter chewing on the spark plug wire is not going to seize the engine.
I will believe the wire has been chewed for a while and you happen to find it after looking for a running poor problem.
Did you try to turn the engine over by hand and it will not turn,
or it will not turn with the starter?
or you removed the head and the cylinder is scored, or went farther and the rod is welded to the crank?
I'm hoping for your benefit, that is is not a catastrophic seizure but something simple that got overlooked.
How many hours on it? was it full of oil? or you ran it out of oil ?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:20 PM
Cubcadet_107's Avatar
Cubcadet_107 Cubcadet_107 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 571
Default

Courage engines aren't known to be the best engines, but I gotta agree with George, a little critter chewing a plug wire won't seize your engine.

Now if that little critter managed to get into the cylinder, maybe. But by the sound of it you were using the machine just before it "seized".

You said you made the repair, assuming you removed the coil, when you put it back on, maybe you didn't gap it from the flywheel? If it's rubbing directly on the flywheel the engine ain't gonna wanna turn over.

Going off what George said, when you say it wouldn't turn, was this trying by hand, or trying with the electric starter? If the starter won't turn it then most likely you've got an electrical issue, say bad solenoid, key switch, or maybe you left the PTO on or have it in gear. Could be as simple as you forgot something and a safety switch is preventing the starter from cranking the engine.
__________________

'70 107 with k301 engine swap
'71 106 with 38" deck
'70 147R with factory replacement k321, 42" deck
'61 Original with 38" timed deck
'63 70 "pinkie"
1863 with 54" deck
'46 Farmall H, '50 Farmall Cub

105 x2 (parts)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:29 PM
crazycubtrio crazycubtrio is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Indiana
Posts: 74
Default

Be advised also that a cylinder full of gasoline will make it seem seized too. A courage 19 I had did that until the fuel pump got replaced. Good luck and hopefully it’s something simple
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:46 PM
Timn8r66 Timn8r66 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3
Default

After I replaced the coil pack / plug wire, it wouldn't turn over. Replaced the battery. Then replaced the starter. Then I tried to turn the engine by hand. It's firm, there is no budge. Before replacing the wire I had the plug out of the engine and no gas came out. I checked the PTO, the mower is not engaged. I can't think of any other electrical safety switches - sitting on the seat, brake engaged. There is less than 100 hours on the engine.

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:51 PM
R Bedell R Bedell is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,693
Default

Quote:
Before replacing the wire I had the plug out of the engine and no gas came out
.

Did you roll over the engine to determine this ??
__________________
Roland Bedell

CC Models: 100, 105, 1450, 782, (2) 784, & 2072

Buy: Made in the USA
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:57 PM
Cubcadet_107's Avatar
Cubcadet_107 Cubcadet_107 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 571
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Timn8r66 View Post
After I replaced the coil pack / plug wire, it wouldn't turn over.
I go back to, did you gap the coil properly? Usual recommendation is .010" between the edges of the coil and the flywheel. Easy way to make sure it's gapped right is loosen the coil, pull it back, insert a piece of like card stock (thick paper, basically) and rotate the flywheel to the magnet. The magnet would pull the coil in towards the flywheel, but the card stock keeps a gap between the 2 surfaces. Tighten the coil down good, and rotate the flywheel until you can pull the paper out.

Now if you haven't gapped it right, and it's just rubbing right on the flywheel, the moment you loosen the coil mounting bolts and pull it back, the flywheel should now spin freely as will the engine. The situation would be even worse if the coil is rubbing on the flywheel in the spot where the magnet is, because then you have the combined force of metal-on-metal friction AND the magnet's pull, keeping the engine from spinning.

Again, not saying this is the case, but in my opinion it seems rather likely.

Here's a pic I stole from the webs:



Just a piece of paper is all it takes to gap it properly
__________________

'70 107 with k301 engine swap
'71 106 with 38" deck
'70 147R with factory replacement k321, 42" deck
'61 Original with 38" timed deck
'63 70 "pinkie"
1863 with 54" deck
'46 Farmall H, '50 Farmall Cub

105 x2 (parts)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-08-2020, 03:27 PM
Timn8r66 Timn8r66 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3
Default

Thanks. I'll give it a try.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-08-2020, 05:12 PM
darkminion_17's Avatar
darkminion_17 darkminion_17 is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 10,984
Default

I agree what ol' George said about the wire, if were chewed on it would still run.
I am surprised you put a new stater in it without seeing if the engine would turn buy hand even when you had the old starter out. More than likely it is seized
__________________
Up to 530 and counting...
I give up updating my profile!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-10-2020, 06:26 AM
Billy-O's Avatar
Billy-O Billy-O is offline
Grand Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,750
Default

I have to imagine a brave little critter chewing on a plug wire while you are mowing the grass....... Is it still alive? I meant the critter!

It had to be something else that caused the miss.
__________________
Two 125's and a 124 all with 42" decks
Plow blade
#2 Cart
QA36 snowthower
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
kohler courage, ltx1045, seized

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 11:02 AM.


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.