LT1042 pressure cooker

betterdays · Apr 18, 2012

I bought an LT1042 at a sale a few weeks ago. The engine sounds like my Grandma's pressure cooker on top of the stove. I changed the head gasket but still sounds the same. No knocking or clanging, just a hissing sound. The more throttle the louder it gets. Is that what a Kohler courage sounds like or should I keep looking?

JTKub · Apr 19, 2012

You're sure it's not a rubbing sound?!? Something under the flywheel cover or at the PTO end?

I'd be surprised if it ran at all if it was some type of compression leak.

Is this a Courage single or V-twin?

On the singles, you want to make sure the bolts that secure the two block halves are nice and tight- preferably with some blue-loctite. Unfortunately the bolts are under the flywheel. Block flex under heavy PTO loads is what caused the majority of the early Courage single failures. I guess the early blocks had some "twisting" issues.

Joel

betterdays · Apr 19, 2012

It's a single cylinder. I'm sure its not in the PTO area. It's engine related. I was thinking
about a bad muffler but I did not remove the heat shield to check it just yet. It's that sort of sound as in a car if the muffler splt at the seam. Would I have oil leaks if the block halves were loose? This motor has no drips anywhere. A real puzzler for me at this
point.

betterdays · Apr 19, 2012

Follow-Up:went to a TSC store this morning and got a demonstration on one of their new single cylinder Kohler Cub's. The sound I heard on the new one is similar to my 1042 but not near as loud as the used 1042. It could be a case of this Cub Cadet guy getting use to newer technology. Thanks for your input JTKub !

JTKub · Apr 19, 2012

betterdays said:
... Would I have oil leaks if the block halves were loose? This motor has no drips anywhere. A real puzzler for me at this
point.

No you wouldn't have oil leaks because of the design of the block. Think of it like shoe-box. The lower block half is the box, the top is the box top. Kohler made them with the 'inverted' design to reduce oil leaks. The only way you'd have an oil leak is through the shaft seal or if the block had porosity to it.

No idea on your tea kettle problem though!

Joel