Kohler is louder than usual, tapping sound...Lifters?

[UGA]

My 22hp Kohler is on a 52' Great Dane Surfer and I am only running about 100 hrs a year doing my yard(3acre), work, mother-in-law,church,etc. Before I put it up for the winter it became louder tha usual and I have been listening all around it trying to figure out where it is coming from and I can't seem to locate it. It is starting to sound more like a diesel or something...sort of a tapping. I kept thinking it was from the muffler which I had removed and had rewelded last year after it had ashaken off due to a crack in one of the spindle housings which made everything shake more than it should. My question is for any of you guys running Kohlers....is this common? or should I get it looked at. I have a very good Kohler mechanic nearby but if it is probably those self adjusting lifters then I'll let it go for awhile and see how it goes. What da'ya'think? Thanks

[Green Care]

I really can't tell you exactly but I can tell you that I have a kohler

on a older mower an it sounds the same It is very loud

Take it to your mechanic.

[TLS]

Is it a valve tapping noise? Or is it a muffler that is shot? Kohler mufflers arent known for their loggevity, especially with the constant backfire upon shutdown. The less you use a mower, the more prone to rust the muffler has.

[UGA]

I think it sounds like it is definitely coming from the engine .

[mowerconsultant]

Drain the oil and put in Kohler oil.
I know this sounds stupid, but the Kohler oil has some type of non-foaming additive to it, and it will quiet those lifters down if this is the problem.
What is happening is the oil is foaming up, and letting air into the lifter bore, causing it to bleed down, thus you are hearing the ticking.
This will be a cheap way of determining if it is lifter noise you are hearing
Hope this helps.

Later
Pj

[Jerrys Lawn Service]

UGA, Had the mower not been run for a while? If so Kohlers have hydraulic lifters and need to be pumped up by oil pressure , try letting it run for 15 min or so and see if the noise doesn't go away. Switching to Kohler oil is a great suggestion also!

Jerrys Lawn Service

[wattsup]

Sounds like trouble. My engine started making a funny noise last year. I did not pay it enough attention and it cost $900.00 to get it fixed. However, Kohler payed for the repairs without any question. I would take it to a mechanic. Go Vols!

[Toad]

She's ready to blow herself up. Happened to me on my scag last year. Just part of life. Live and die , but cut lot's of grass in between!!!!!!:angel:

[Jman]

Change the oil to a fresh 10W-30. The suggestion of going to the Kohler oil is a very good one. Run it up to an hour wiht the new oil and see if the noise goes away.

[mowngrow]

the oil thing sounds like a good idea to me. i own two kohlers and a kawasaki. just replaced the kawasaki last summer. try the oil and good luck.

[Oldtimer]

Change the oil & Filter using Kohler Command oil and a Kohler oil filter. Add a bit of Seafoam to the oil and the lifter noise will probably go away when the engine gets warmed up.

[cajuncutter]

Ok I really hate to post this reply but here it goes. I have the exact motor on my Hustler Shortcut. As the season went on I had the same exact thing happen. I about died when it started that, my warrenty had just passed. I figured it was a lifter but dumb me was wrong. Yeah I admit it I forgot to change my air filter when I changed my oil. My air filter got really dirty, motor could almost not breath. So it started that horrible tapping noise. I noticed it the most early in the morning when I would first use it. It would spit and sputter while blades were engaged so I would release the blades and let it do its coughing for the day and then it would clear up as the motor warmed. Well this became more frequent. So anyway I decided to change my air filter and what do ya know, it stoped. So now I change the air filter every time I change the oil and also change it during the fall and spring clean up, when the dust is really bad. So as they say lesson learned:rolleyes: I hope this helps you out.:blob3:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Go with the Kohler oil.

You will have to run it for a much longer time than 15 minutes.

What has happend is like the others said with the oil foaming.

Because you run it for such a short period of time it has progressed worse as time went on.

Run it with the Kohler oil for at least an hour. It will take that amount of time to get all the foaming out mixed in to the Kohler oil. Then let it cool down a bit and change it again with Kohler oil.

I played with a few brands of oil till I got it to quit using Havoline.

No garunte's Havoline will do the same for you.

Also we had a debate on this, check oil with the dip stick scewed down. Over filling it with oil will make it tick also.

Cajuncutter, sounds like to me you sucked the oil down low throught the PCV crank case vent. Did you notice any unusual smoke?

I had this happen to me once on a Kaw 14hp not thinking and it sucked the oil out and you had trouble breathing while running the mower.

[John DiMartino]

I never used Kohler oil,but I use Shaeffers,and i nticed when i started running it after break in,that most of the noises went away.Also if your in a warm area,you can use any diesel 15w40 has the antifoaming additives in it,so they can be run in the Powerstroke diesel,the 15w40 is a little thicker,but in warm area's it shouldnt be a problem down to freezing temps.

[Dave]

pull the valve covers to see if one of the rocker arms loosened up,very common

[cajuncutter]

LGF believe it or not it never really smoked from what I remember. It may have puffed a little due to it chokeing to death trying to breath. All I know is I changed my air filter, which was horribly dirty, and noise went away and it ran better. This past fall was a bit more busty than usual and air filter got clogged sooner than expected. Symptoms came back, I removed filter and blew as claean as I could with my EB7000 til I could get to parts house. Again noise went away. Both times oil levels were fine. I have yet to encounter oil consumption (knock on wood).