Kohler 18hp

[mort 24]

I have a Wheel Horse 414A-18 with a Kohler engine.

Last year the flywheel turned freely.

This year it seems to be seized. I keep it under my deck so there is a little bit of protection but apparently not enough.

What is the best way to get it unseized?

I have tried a few things that were online but still can't turn it

 

Thanks,

Mort

[Pullstart 59,722]

I have filled an entire engine with motor oil and let it sit for a year with great success.  I filled EVERYTHING, even where oil shouldn’t normally be.

[mort 24]

I was hoping I could free it up within a week or so. Any ideas on how I could do that?

[Sailman 1,129]

Marvel mystery oil in the spark plug hole is one option.

[SPINJIM 1,978]

Kerosene & Marvel Mystery oil in cylinder for about a week, then put a breaker bar & socket on the flywheel nut.   Work it slowly. small amounts in both directions.  Soak it some more.  Work it some more, small increments at first.  Good Luck.

[c-series don 7,812]

I have an 18HP Kohler that I thought might be seized. I was getting ready to do the whole Marvel Mystery Oil thing and then my son in law took the tins off and found this mouse nest. It was so packed that the flywheel wouldn’t even budge. After a thorough cleaning we got it spinning over and running perfectly. The tractor had been sitting for a few years and the acid in the mouse urine actually ate into the block. Not enough to do any damage but enough to pit it. 

[953 nut 51,682]

Rodents love to nest in engine tins.          "The oil in the cylinder" idea works well with single cylinder engines because the cylinder is vertical but your opposed twin cylinders are horizontal so @Pullstart has the right idea if it is rusted.

[Handy Don 10,597]

1 hour ago, mort said:

I was hoping I could free it up within a week or so. Any ideas on how I could do that?

Mother Nature took a while to seize it. I’ll take some time to get it unseized without damage.

Even once you have it turning, there’s no guarantee that the cylinder wall, rings, and piston won’t need work/replacement.

 

I read the story of a fellow that unseized a 4-cylinder Allis-Chalmers tractor engine over a two-year period. That particular tractor meant a lot to him and he wanted to save it.

Lot of determination and patience

[SPINJIM 1,978]

Yep, definitely check for a mouse nest first.  If you left it outside, you were inviting the mice to build a nest under the tins.  Let us know your results.

   Jim

[953 nut 51,682]

6 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Mother Nature took a while to seize it. I’ll take some time to get it unseized

That can be said another way.         

[mort 24]

I just went down and put some Marvel Mystery oil in the spark plug holes. I did clean out the mouse house too 

I saw some people online use ATF and diesel fuel. What makes them so special ?

[Achto 26,556]

46 minutes ago, mort said:

I saw some people online use ATF and diesel fuel. What makes them so special ?

 

Basically they are light oils that soak into the rusted areas to help free things up.

[WHX?? 46,774]

1 hour ago, SPINJIM said:

Let us know your results.

  

[mort 24]

Sounds good. Hopefully something will work.

Thanks,

Mort 

[c-series don 7,812]

I engaged the PTO and then put a pipe wrench on the PTO pulley. Worked well just going easy back and forth. 

[mort 24]

Thanks!

[Wild Bill 633 768]

11 hours ago, mort said:

I saw some people online use ATF and diesel fuel. What makes them so special ?

Auto recycling facilities put ATF in the cylinders prior to storage because ATF sticks to the cylinder walls.

[mort 24]

That explains ATF but why diesel or kerosene?

[Achto 26,556]

5 hours ago, mort said:

diesel or kerosene?

 

Lighter oils have a better creeping ability. Gasoline is an even lighter oil but it evaporates quickly, diesel & kerosene do not. 

 

Thinning ATF 50/50 with acetone makes a good penetrating fluid. 

[peter lena 8,067]

@mort   get some KROIL PENETRATING OIL , incredible  creeping  lubricant , watch the oil stain  start to move ,  they also have a fuel version of that  , to keep things free . pete 

[mort 24]

Sounds good!

Thanks,

Mort 

[mort 24]

I got it free. Not sure if it was the marvel mystery oil or the Blaster oil or if it was the nest. It sure was stuck!!!!

 

What do I need to do before trying to start it? 

[953 nut 51,682]

2 hours ago, mort said:

What do I need to do before trying to start it?

You should do the best job possible to clean out the cooling fins on the engine.

Drain the gas tank and use non-ethanol gas with Seafoam or the gas treatment of your choice.

I would remove the plugs, turn it over by hand or the starter for short periods to get the oil distributed. Change the oil and put in some new spark plugs.

[Handy Don 10,597]

4 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I would remove the plugs, turn it over by hand or the starter for short periods to get the oil distributed. Change the oil and put in some new spark plugs.

Having dosed this thing with penetrants, and being unsure of what other contamination might be present, it is ESSENTIAL that you change the oil before it runs. Hand turning or using the starter with the spark plug removed for a couple of 5-10 second sessions will help the existing oil start clearing the penetrants.

[mort 24]

Sounds good!

 

Thanks,

Gary