What Oil in Cold Weather in Kaw 14hp

[luckylawnboy]

On one of my walk behind mowers, an Exmark Viking 52" we are having problems starting in cold weather. It has the kaw. FC420V,14hp. I use the release spring under the mower but it still about breaks your arm when it jerks the rope out of your hands. I was told to switch to a 10W-30 weight oil instead of just 30 weight. They told me that the auto decompression spring is not heavy enough to pull through 30 weight oil when cold. I have been through about 6 ropes in the past couple weeks. I also figured out that the eyelet on the starting housing was wore through. So you have to order a whole new assembly just to replace an eyelet.. So does any one know if a 10W-30 should cure my starting Blues.

[eskals]

If oil is the problem: How about trying Mobil 1 Extreme Formula. Its 0W-30.

I dont know if oil viscosity is the problem in this situation or not.

Eric

[BUSHMASTER]

here's another thing you could do.....
store your mower inside,if not wrap the engine in a thick blanket over night and put a tarp over that in case of rain. this should keep the engine a few degrees warmer for that first start. also you could purchase a dip stick warmer in install it at the end of the day and plug it in they cost about $25.00 check at napa.that way you can keep the straight 30w

[John DiMartino]

your engine manual is the best place to find out what oil to run,since i do not have a 14hp Kawi I cant help,but most small aircooled OHV engines can run 10w30 as long as temps are not above 85 degrees.I have a FE350 and FE 290 Kawi's we run 10w30 all year in them,with no trouble at all.The synthetic Mobil 1 will make starting much easier.

[luckylawnboy]

Is ok to switch to synthetic oil after using regular oil for about 1500 hours. I have never had one problem out of this engine yet.. Except for cold weather starting.

JC's Lawn Service

[Richard Martin]

10W-30 or 10W-40 is acceptable for use in the Kawasaki FC420V from -4 degrees to around 95 degrees.

LuckLawnBoy also said:

<i><b>I use the release spring under the mower but it still about breaks your arm when it jerks the rope out of your hands</i></b>

This is a problem that occurs with all Kawasaki singles. I only use my left arm to pull start these engines.

[jaybee]

I have the 14 hp Kawi in one of my walk behinds. It's a hard starter when it's cold. It is actually my spare mower now so it sits for a long period of time between starts. I use the reccommended 30 wt. oil. I pull the compression spring out and then squirt a little gas down the carbeurator and it usually starts.

[landscaper3]

Well being up in Maine im quit familar with cold weather and we run many machines in winter including Walker mowers, USE 10W-30 straight 30 is for warmer temps.

[TJLC]

I have the 14 kaw on my exmark 48" viking. When it drops below 60 down here, it's real hard to start. 1 day last week I sprained two fingers trying to start it.It snaped back on me. They are still sore this week. My dealer said the new 15 kaw twin is better in colder weather. My next viking will have the new 15 on it.He recomended I stay with straight 30 weight.

[luckylawnboy]

Glad I am not the only one Who has been bitten by that D** thing. I would like tom stick that new 17hp twin on it. Not sure how the pullys would fit the crank shaft. They start easier.

[Richard Martin]

LuckyLawnBoy wrote:

<i><b>Not sure how the pullys would fit the crank shaft</i></b>

The Kawasaki 17 is a direct swap for most engines in it's class including Kohler engines, B+S engines, Kawasaki engines ,Techemseh engines and Robin engines. Fortunately for us the engine manufactures are all using the same crankshaft diameter and length specs. The only thing you will need to modify to swap a 17 Kaw for a 14 Kaw will be to get longer fuel line and throttle cable. I will be ordering my new 17 Kawasaki from Alamia tomorrow to replace my 14 on my Gravely and then the 14 will go on my Exmark in place of the 12.5 Kaw.

[lawrence stone]

Richard there are cooling system issues with the 15hp Kaw twin that might apply to the 17hp.

All air that cools the 15hp kaw must pass thru the top of the engine under the recoil starter. If this happens to block up with leaves and grass and you don't remember to clean it all the time the engine will get so hot it will seize.

Plus you can almost buy two 16hp OHV tecumseh engines ($530@) vs. on 17 hp kaw at $950.

Or for about $1050 you can get a 18 HP kohler magnum.

I have a 12.5 hp tecumseh ($370 w/free shipping) on a 44" and it rocks. I will buy a 16hp tecumseh if I need a engine for mower with 52 or 62 inch deck.

And to all tecumseh bashers the new engines are of a completly different design that the old dogs.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

Tecumseh is a whole new breed now, It's a lot better than what they were years ago? That's a Fact Jack!

I wanted to buy a generator, the one I found that I liked was one that was Tecumseh powered & I didn't think twice about. I bought it.

We work on all kinds at the shop & I have no problem with using one? LOL, I hardly ever do engine warranty on these either. They stand behind their warranty too.

Some of the others are overpriced & parts are not as readily available as others. The price of their engines & parts can save ya lotsa MONEY!

BTW plenty of units come in our shop with these engines on them, NO PROBLEM at all!

Bash em all you want if you do not use them & go by hear say from others only. Then you probably use after market air & oil filters too. To save a few bucks on OEM parts no way! I love my engines to much & I care about them too! OEM all the way.

You want to save money stay off the cell phone, buy your guys drinks instead of letting them go to the store, keep your own ice, stopping at the store once a day cost you 2 1/2 hours labor on the average weekly per employee. There is plenty more. Plenty of ways to save money without killing your engine!

[Richard Martin]

Lawrence Stone wrote:

<i><b>Plus you can almost buy two 16hp OHV tecumseh engines ($530@) vs. on 17 hp kaw at $950.</i></b>

I'm not sure who you're buying engines from Lawrence but Alamia has 17 Kaw. twins for $799.00. And I think I will reserve judgement on the <i>new</i> Tecumseh engines until they've been out a while. And thanks for the heads up on the cooling issues with the 15. I will be buying a new 17 Kaw. for my GRAVEly on Friday.

[lawrence stone]

Does the $799 engine have an alternator and electric starter?

[Richard Martin]

Nah, I think that option runs about $50.00 more.

[TGCummings]

My dealer said the new 15 kaw twin is better in colder weather

Nope, I have the same problem with the 15 kaw twin on my Turf Tracer that you're having with your 14. I think I'll be trying Eric's Extreme Formula Mobil 1 advice before long, because it's only getting colder and we cut right through the winter out here...

-TGC

[lawrence stone]

Richard

http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/engineinfo.asp

Has a Kohler 18 twin command with electric start and alterntator for $900 that includes freight.

I have one with 900 hours and it does not use any oil and uses 3/4 a gal. of fuel per hour on a 62" deck.

They also have 16hp single cyl commands with electric start for $500 including freight.

I am not sure if a muffler is included.

[John DiMartino]

A warning to those thinking about buying from the small engine warehouse.I bid on a pressurewasher last year on E-bay,my mailbox got overloaded with warnings from people on E-bay who had bought from them and had problems.It seems the biggest problem is that 95% of what they sell is reconditioned and you need to use their warranty service if you have a problem,i got horror storys from buyers about it costing them a 150 to ship the pressure washer both ways-to find out that it wasnt the engines fault the rearseal went-pressurewasher head blew out because set screw wasnt tightened,honda denyed warranty on motor-it took 9 months and 300 to get it back.They use the cheapest pumps available and after you win the bid-they tell you how cheap it is by e-mail and try to sell you an upgrade for 100 more-Jusr a warning,I dont think any of this would apply to new engines or other parts-but they sell a ton of reconditioned(used)stuff that is priced to good to be true.It usually is.

[Edited by John DiMartino on 10-21-2000 at 12:52 PM]

[Richard Martin]

Lawrence wrote:

<b><i>Has a Kohler 18 twin command with electric start and alterntator for $900 that includes freight.</b></i>

That is certainly an excellant price! I prefer to use recoil start engines because of the weight factor on wet soil (these 6" wide tires don't provide much footprint) and the relatively weak Peerless trannys that my gear drives have. The less weight the tranny has to drag around the longer <i>I</i> think they will last.

[Lawn Cruiser]

How did this go from what oil to use to changing engines. Use 10-30 or if really cold temps in the morning use 5-30