MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine

   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine #1  

LXT

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
14
Location
PA
Tractor
too many to list
haven't posted in a long time, recently I had some issues & thought I'd share, over the past year or so I've noticed the Kohler command 25 would just shut off in the middle of working, jiggle a few wires & bam fires up and runs well. next day try to start & no go, jiggle some wires and off to the races again.

so about 3 weeks ago I'm grading a section of my driveway around the shop to expand parking & blow a track off (why didn't they put the mud scrapers on standard) you get mud in the sprockets it builds up, freezes with some rock int there (like cement) and basically raises the track off the sprockets enough that when you turn it aides in offsetting the track. so, I get it back on (by myself & cursing the whole time) next day.........you guessed it, no start - well it started then immediately shut off over & over.

Been here before, so on the coldest day here in PA I re wire it all up, still the same result, check carb solenoid (got power) so I'm thinking this 20+ year old engine SAM unit went bad & down the rabbit hole, my dad has a stump machine with Kohler 25 so I'm thinking Ill modernize..... plus a good carb, change out carb, flywheel & coils - runs good but no ability to increase throttle. Long story short - you need the conversion Fly wheel & coils so that didn't work. spark timing & Cam timing off and RPM increase makes it worse (research SAM unit) meanwhile I find out the hot wire to the Carb solenoid is intermittent - buy a new switch & that was it all along.

Now here is some info I found in my wonderful endeavor; they no longer make this particular engine & when you are asked for the Spec number be prepared to hear sorry can't help you. on mine they cut the rear crank & left 1 inch stick out with a female 13tooth receiver for the hydraulic motor to plug in too. this engine is only good to run the hydraulic motor (which apparently Struck grinds off the serial numbers) why wouldn't they just use a coupler? thus leaving the crank shaft alone, and the smart spark is non supported while the conversion kits are out of stock.

For those with older models & this set up I found a guy who is modernizing these, once this Kohler command 25 goes we are out of luck & will need to modify the engine unit if we wish to keep em going. Im already preparing to do a future engine swap/Upgrade, the guy I mentioned is currently making the coupler to attach the engine crank to the Hydraulic motor, got the foot mount Hyd motor mount & ill see how long the Kohler has, but nothing is worse than an un supported engine specific to operate the way they designed it leaving the end user to modify the machine...... OK rant over

BTW - this Machine has been incredible & this is the only real problems I have had, other than the track spring replacements which is a PITA, the Mud scrapers are over $300 & im not sure to make them or buy them??? anyway if any of you have the older machines with the Kohler Command 25 W/SAM unit (mine is working ok for now) just thought this info might help - these machines are pretty costly now & with the new owner not sure what parts supplies will be like.
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine #2  
If you don't mind would you post the model and spec number from the engine tag so I can see what it looks like. Kohler now Rehlko was known to make custom engines for specific equipment and in some cases they made only 1 with its own unique spec number. Basically you could take a list of parts for a certain engine and throw them together in any configuration that suited you and they would build 1.
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine
  • Thread Starter
#3  
20241212_094810.jpg
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I have a seep in the rear seal, its not to bad - ill keep an eye on it and replace it when weather breaks.

Hopefully the seal is not some special thing, I doubt it and will order one to have on hand
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine
  • Thread Starter
#5  
20241213_165013.jpg
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine
  • Thread Starter
#6  
This female splined shaft, good luck finding that.

I can't complain I mean 20 plus year old engine and I didn't baby it. So its been awesome.

There is a guy I found online who makes that shaft on kohlers but the engine is $3200 plus S&H and comes with no muffler, I'd rather get the guy in Illinois to do the diesel upgrade (former struck employee) for not much more.
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine #7  
This female splined shaft, good luck finding that.

I can't complain I mean 20 plus year old engine and I didn't baby it. So its been awesome.

There is a guy I found online who makes that shaft on kohlers but the engine is $3200 plus S&H and comes with no muffler, I'd rather get the guy in Illinois to do the diesel upgrade (former struck employee) for not much more.
Definitely one of the Kohler oddball engines. Looks like the ASAM to DSI kit is in stock for at least the Western US at the Kohler distributor. The CH730-0086 superceded to CH730-3240 replacement engines are NLA. But I would say you got your money's worth out of that 24 year old engine.

Looks like there is 1 crankshaft available at my warehouse. And short block NLA. So parts are limited but not surprising. My nephew has a 10 year old briggs Vanguard on his stump grinder that the carb repair kit is NLA and have to repair with complete carb.
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine #8  
Fwiw I converted both of my mh5000 units to Honda gx630 engines and Lovejoy type jaw couplers.

The power is ample the reliability much better.
 
   / MH 4800 / 5000 Kohler engine
  • Thread Starter
#9  
agjones,

how did the love joy connectors hold up or how are they holding up? I looked into those & the horsepower/RPM rating with the elastometric spider failures caused me to go a different direction.

Mine is basically a 5000 (4800 with upgrades) how did you deal with the hood & grill, as I measure my new configuration out it sets the Hydraulic motor forward about 4 inches which the grill needs moved forward & an extension on the hood, even the kohler muffler hole in the grill on mine will be useless.

Right now - I got the Kohler 25 running good - just need to replace rear seal, but no doubt Ill be needing to do the engine upgrade & modify some body panels. if you have pics of what you did that`d be awesome, might help me with what ill need to do.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2021 Peterbilt 579 Tri-Axle Dump Truck (A39234)
2021 Peterbilt 579...
Future Excavator Ripper (A41856)
Future Excavator...
Lilluston 3 Row S-Spider Cultivator (A39161)
Lilluston 3 Row...
(3) MINERAL FEEDERS (A40517)
(3) MINERAL...
NEW 1,000 LB WHEEL DOLLY NEW SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (A40023)
NEW 1,000 LB WHEEL...
Kubota RTV1140 (A39160)
Kubota RTV1140...
 
Top