cod 121 #1 Posted January 6, 2016 Looking for some machine shop recommendations for rebuilding a Kohler 18hp twin. The hour meter says 1968 (a good year) and I'd like to get it rebuilt as my other Kohler is just over 1100 hours, so this will serve as a backup. I live in Harford country MD and I've got no problem with going to Cecil or Baltimore counties or up to PA in either York or Lancaster counties. Originally I thought I'd try it myself but I just don't have the time and I'd rather take to someone who works on Kohler's as they'll have more experience on what needs to be done. As always any advice is greatly appreciated. Cod Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,196 #2 Posted January 7, 2016 May be out of your circle of travel... but I'll send you the link to a new C/L ad for a local rebuilder here. Never know...you two might be able to work something out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,177 #3 Posted January 7, 2016 Assume youre talking about Kohlers K482 18hp?? -- you might prepare your self for a shocker! , parts for it and its mate, the K532 are almost extinct. Pistons will interchange with a couple of the single cyls but connecting rods are not availiable anywhere except the occasional used pop up on ebay. With some perserverance you might can run down some of the gaskets. Da** shame too, they are some fine engines. A few months back I set out to rebuild my 20hp K532, just doing a piston/ring job and replace one rod - found .020 pistons/rings pretty quickly, bit more difficult to get head, pan and exhaust gaskets rounded up (all from different places) spent about 6 weeks prowling ebay for the rod when a used John Deere one showed up - I quickly jumped on it! Good luck!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,344 #4 Posted January 7, 2016 Never had a complete rebuild don't, but this guy does my machining. He knows Kohler. One warning, he is good, but he's not cheap. http://www.marksmallmachine.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #5 Posted January 7, 2016 The same connecting rods are shared by a few small block chevy engines, not really a problem, except asking the parts counter guys, they only know what they have in the book. Brian Miller from A1 engines in Missouri has a huge website and also builds engines sent to him from all over the nation. Not including shipping a complete rebuild runs under 600.00 on a 16hp. http://gardentractorpullingtips.com/engine.htm I can understand not being able to find NOS blocks, but the same or very similar pistons, rings, rods are often found in other applications. It really depends on whether you as a collector want to keep things stock or as a user that wants his machine as a everyday primary user. In the latter role, no machine is going to be saved from the scrap yard as transmissions, chassis, and other parts will wear out after 50+ years of hard service. I doubt many machines can be saved if they are required to perform extended and multiple year round activities on their own, several machines may be needed to reduce the work load. A lot of bad press has gone to people that sell parts from salvaged machines, but the owner who expects a WH 1054 to plow/remove snow, garden/disc/till, and mow/collect lawn and leaf debris cant really expect his machine to last very long, after all it has performed these duties for 40+ years and is being asked to perform the same duties in advanced age. If this is difficult to understand one might have a discussion with ones significant other about performance levels and physical attributes. It is what it is, but time stand still for no man or machine, the earth will reclaim what is hers. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedRanger 1,469 #6 Posted January 7, 2016 1 hour ago, tractorhogg said: If this is difficult to understand one might have a discussion with ones significant other about performance levels and physical attributes. It is what it is, but time stand still for no man or machine, the earth will reclaim what is hers. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,177 #7 Posted January 7, 2016 Regarding Brian Millers site -- when I was building my K532 recently I tried every way I could think of to get a reply from him and .... never happened!! from reading other posting regarding him, apparently 'no response' is very common. Crying shame too, from reading his sites along with - at one time - offering a multitude of engine parts/components/repair, he has a wealth of information in all the many writings he has on the site 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #8 Posted January 7, 2016 15 minutes ago, pacer said: Regarding Brian Millers site -- when I was building my K532 recently I tried every way I could think of to get a reply from him and .... never happened!! from reading other posting regarding him, apparently 'no response' is very common. Crying shame too, from reading his sites along with - at one time - offering a multitude of engine parts/components/repair, he has a wealth of information in all the many writings he has on the site He has had phone issues, I have had the same problem, but other times he answers the phone right away, not sure of the problem, but well worth being persistent. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 18,190 #9 Posted January 7, 2016 5 hours ago, tractorhogg said: He has had phone issues From what I remember reading, he has more issues then just the phone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #10 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) On 1/7/2016 at 4:30 PM, wallfish said: From what I remember reading, he has more issues then just the phone I'm not sure that we should be posting information about a man's personal/business life unless it is a matter of public record, maybe not even then. For all we know the information posted could be inaccurate and persons reputation would be smeared. I have talked to Brian on at least 6 occasions, mainly for advice and information about rebuild costs. Once it took me several weeks to get a hold of him, he could have been on vacation or had phone issues, I don't or wont keep track of those that I'm not married too, that decreases the amount I have to worry or think about. I understand he has a life too, sometime we forget that many of these small business people are called seven days a week, even late and early. All that said, it has been a year since I talked to him, but I do have all the info on the website and a machinist that can do the work during the off season for the same price, and hopefully have the same expertise. Just sayin', I would hate to see this thread move from trying to give engine rebuild advice to talking about someone in possibly unflattering ways. EDIT: I think it is good advice, but in this instance, I probably should have dug deeper before posting. Edited January 9, 2016 by tractorhogg 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,771 #11 Posted January 7, 2016 Anybody that is in business is going to not please everyone 100%. I never have even though I've tried pretty hard... Brian Miller's site is awesome and he's on Yahoo groups constantly offering so much help and guidance that I don't know how he would have time to work! I've never exchange a part or a dollar but he certainly gets my "Thumbs Up!" from what I've seen! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,344 #12 Posted January 8, 2016 Mr. Miller's information is a matter of public record. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #13 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, wallfish said: From what I remember reading, he has more issues then just the phone I'm not sure that we should be posting information about a man's personal/business life unless it is a matter of public record, maybe not even then. For all we know the information posted could be inaccurate and persons reputation would be smeared. I have talked to Brian on at least 6 occasions, mainly for advice and information about rebuild costs. Once it took me several weeks to get a hold of him, he could have been on vacation or had phone issues, I don't or wont keep track of those that I'm not married too, that decreases the the amount I have to worry or think about. I understand he has a life too, sometime we forget that many of these small business people are called seven days a week, even late and early. All that said, it has been a year since I talked to him, but I do have all the info on the website and a machinist that can do the work during the off season for the same price, and hopefully have the same expertise. Just sayin', I would hate to see this thread move from trying to give engine rebuild advice to talking about someone in possibly unflattering ways. 53 minutes ago, rmaynard said: Mr. Miller's information is a matter of public record. Then should people start posting public records of any and all people/members they want here? It kind of changes the theme of the forum if we go down the low road. I for one would like to keep it about tractors not someones person problems, public or not. EDIT: I understand now, did not know. I really do not know what to say, except I am shocked Edited January 8, 2016 by tractorhogg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 18,190 #14 Posted January 8, 2016 2 hours ago, tractorhogg said: I'm not sure that we should be posting information about a man's personal/business life unless it is a matter of public record, maybe not even then. For all we know the information posted could be inaccurate and persons reputation would be smeared. I have talked to Brian on at least 6 occasions, mainly for advice and information about rebuild costs. Once it took me several weeks to get a hold of him, he could have been on vacation or had phone issues, I don't or wont keep track of those that I'm not married too, that decreases the amount I have to worry or think about. I understand he has a life too, sometime we forget that many of these small business people are called seven days a week, even late and early. All that said, it has been a year since I talked to him, but I do have all the info on the website and a machinist that can do the work during the off season for the same price, and hopefully have the same expertise. Just sayin', I would hate to see this thread move from trying to give engine rebuild advice to talking about someone in possibly unflattering ways. I didn't post ANY information in the first place and was very vague! Probably wouldn't have even brought any attention to it until now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agage1 83 #15 Posted January 8, 2016 Morris machine will work on Kohler's. I know a lot of pullers who send their motors to him. He did work on the heads of my duramax a few years ago. When I dropped them off I noticed dozens of Kohler's waiting to be rebuilt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cod 121 #16 Posted January 9, 2016 Thanks for all the info! Drove out to Westminster yesterday and talked with Mark Small about the engine and I'll file it away for the time being. I also need to call the number from Craigslist and chat him up later today. Late yesterday I got a tip on a place just north of Baltimore on Rt. 7, JB's Auto Machine and I'll check them out as well. I'm also considering a Honda replacement motor (which sounds like blasphemy) but it looks like the Honda GX630RHTXF2 from Northern Supply would work as it matches the rotation, crank diameter and crank length. I suspect the Honda "might" be easier to get parts for but no amount of paint is ever going to hide the fact that it's not a Kohler... Cod Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #17 Posted January 9, 2016 The Honda's used to be great small engines, and they were more expensive. Japan outsourced their building to another Asian country with cheaper labor and the reliability and durability has really fallen off. Their reputation hasn't taken a hit so far for two reasons, the drop in quality hasn't reached much more people than who have had problems, and they have changed markets, that's why you see them being sold in places they weren't before, and on machines they weren't before. The quality issue is not just Honda's problem, the Kohler Command and Briggs Vanguard have performed well when new, but do not have the longevity one would expect from a 1500+ engine. Right now the Kawasaki's maybe the best engine out there, but you will pay for that quality. The newer more fuel efficient engines have gained popularity only because there are less and less people that repair or rebuild engines. In fact, there are less and less people that work at repairing or rebuilding anything. Our society throws away everything we use. The biggest lawn and garden dealer around these parts has a pile of late model v twins that would fill a dump truck from just the last year, none of them over 5 years old, now granted over half of them were used commercially, but they also didn't even last half of the 5 years. These newer engines wont give you near the hours the kohler will and it will cost you more now AND later, as while you can get a external parts for them, for the most part they aren't being internally rebuilt either. If your worried about the cost of fuel don't drive a Cadillac, maybe a Hyundai would be better, If your worried about the cost of rebuild, get a cheap Korean car, not a classic American muscle, you really can't have it both ways. Going cheap doesn't always mean we pay less money sometimes we are convinced to go a route that is more expensive, but does not last, this paying more and getting less is what the manufactures are basing their businesses on. Saving money means doing it yourself, because while we all want a good deal, more often than not going cheap doesn't last, not in outdoor power equipment, good vehicles, homes, electronics, or spouses. I really hope you find someone that can do a quality job and give you many more years out of the kohler and your machine, because in the end, your using an old classic depends on whether or not you can keep her running, errors or mistakes, either in your judgement or others workmanship (more likely) may determine if that continues to happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,214 #18 Posted January 9, 2016 I'm not certain about the Honda Twins but the singles (GC and pretty sure even the commercial grade GX) are outsourced like tractorhogg implied. The B&S Vanguard are built in a B&S factory in an Asian country so hopefully better quality. That said, I like the Robin Subaru engines and would consider them as a replacement. The Gravely logsplitter I have uses a Subaru single. Speaking with the mechanic at the dealer that I purchased it from, he extolled on the features it has and did a comparison to the Honda. The one major item is the timing chain instead of the Honda timing belt. We all know what happens to rubber when run in oil. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 612 #19 Posted January 9, 2016 I think a big issue is that very few people have a choice or opportunity to have machine shop work done anymore. Once choices and opportunities are reduced or eliminated the customer always suffers. If I have the EQUAL opportunity or choice to rebuild or replace, then competition favors the customer, you take away that opportunity or choice, the lack of competition favors business. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites