Engine install

[Guest 88vic]

Installing a kohler command twin 18 engine on this 414-8 but the mounting holes dont line up. Has anyone else been down this path before ?  What did you guys do to make it right ?   Thank you in advance.  *Wheel Horse or die fan club*  😎🐎💪🤠

[Guest 88vic]

[953 nut 60,083]

With any engine swap your goal should be to have the crank shaft be right where the old one was so the drive system will work properly.

[ebinmaine 72,727]

9 hours ago, WHEELHORSEFAN*16 said:

Installing a kohler command twin 18

I've read the phrase Kohler Command many times but I'm not familiar with the nomenclature of the different series of twin engines over the years.

Is that the same size and shape as the 18 horse Kohler twin that Wheelhorse used in the 418 ?

If so, maybe you could have someone take measurements or pictures of their own 418?

 

I'll be following along with great interest to see what you come up with. Please do let me know how you solve this.

Over the next few months I'm going to be, hopefully, putting a k23 horse into a C Series chassis.

 

I can't get anywhere near the original line up position as @953 nut Richard suggested above because the Kohler single crankshaft is about 1.5" lower than the twin that I have. I'll have to make up my own belt guard or modify one.

 

[953 nut 60,083]

45 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Kohler Command many times but I'm not familiar with the nomenclature of the different series of twin engines over the years.

It is a "V Twin" configuration with overhead valves. They are much more compact.

[PeacemakerJack 10,743]

Eric...I don’t claim to be a guru of Kohler engines, but here is what I have learned over the years of messing with them.  The old single cylinder K series motors were THE STANDARD of what a durable, reliable, and buildable small engine should be.  The results speak for themselves.  Nearly every main line GT company used them for their tractors in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Not sayin’ that other brands weren’t good, just that the K series was king at that time.  They also had the awesome “commercial” series twins like the one that you are reviving but from what I have read those didn’t end up in very many GT’s (guessing because of the price point).  So it was big news when they released the KT-17 opposed twin for mass production in the Cub 82 series and the JD 317.  A decent motor but by oiling issues with only about 5psi of oil pressure and insufficient oil passage ways.  That fateful release was in the late 1970’s and singlehandedly sent Kohler from the penthouse to the outhouse in many peoples eyes.  It went through several revisions which developed into the Magnum opposed twin in the mid 80’s. Magnums were really good motors in my opinion.

(a Command that I just installed in a buddies Cub Super a couple of weeks ago)

 

 I’m not sure of the exact release date, but I believe it to be around 1994, Kohler introduced the Command V-twin.  It is a very durable and stout OHV motor, full pressure lube, spin off oil filter, equally adept to vertical or horizontal applications.  They have found a huge market in Zero turns.  More importantly, they have found huge favor with the GT puller crowd and have a massive support market for performance upgrade parts.  They sound a lot like a Harley at idle and make good power for their size.  They were offered in the XI series Wheel Horse but I don’t recall ever seeing them in a Classic series...

[953 nut 60,083]

12 minutes ago, PeacemakerJack said:

KT-17 opposed twin for mass production in the Cub 82 series and the JD 317.  A decent motor but by oiling issues with only about 5psi of oil pressure and insufficient oil passage ways.  That fateful release was in the late 1970’s and singlehandedly sent Kohler from the penthouse to the outhouse in many peoples eyes.

And  to!                 The series Two overcame the oil pressure issue.  

[PeacemakerJack 10,743]

 Richard—do you know what the first  model was to have the KT-17 installed in it.  My Super C obviously has the 19 and so I’m assuming it was one of the black hoods...

[Ed Kennell 42,047]

1980  C-175