Our lawn cutter is an Ariens Zoom 54XL zero turn, purchase in 2015. The motor is a Kohler KT735. Been a reliable machine, except for a persistant oil leak from the head gaskets that I have never quite fully tamed.
During the last mowing session, the wife hit something, most likely a rock. She said the engine ran rough right after. She motored back to the shed and turned it off. I tested an hour later, started up okay, ran smoothly. I put it away. Today, she went to mow again, mower started and ran normally, but died after about 15 minutes. I checked the oil. Very low. I added oil, started it up, idled and powered up fine; no unusual noises and seemed to be running normally. Few minutes later, died again. And the oil was low again. Added a bit more oil, motor doesn't want to start, but will catch briefly at low rpm for a few seconds, blows fairly blue smoke and dies.
I have to assume a catastrophic internal failure, and the oil is going somewhere, either out the exhaust or somewhere onto the ground.
The shop I previously used for a mower engine repair has changed hands, don't know the new folks. I'm asking around on social media for recommendations for small engine repair shops. We'll see where that goes.
In the meantime, I'm also just considering a drop-in replacement for the Kohler. The mower is a good machine, has upraded transaxles, welded deck, and is in great shape, so it's worth repowering or repairing the motor. If Harbor Freight still sold the Predator vertical v-twin, I'd probably already be on the way to the store. But they don't seem to have them anymore.
Any comments on repair issues, or recommended potential replacement motors, would love to read 'em.
During the last mowing session, the wife hit something, most likely a rock. She said the engine ran rough right after. She motored back to the shed and turned it off. I tested an hour later, started up okay, ran smoothly. I put it away. Today, she went to mow again, mower started and ran normally, but died after about 15 minutes. I checked the oil. Very low. I added oil, started it up, idled and powered up fine; no unusual noises and seemed to be running normally. Few minutes later, died again. And the oil was low again. Added a bit more oil, motor doesn't want to start, but will catch briefly at low rpm for a few seconds, blows fairly blue smoke and dies.
I have to assume a catastrophic internal failure, and the oil is going somewhere, either out the exhaust or somewhere onto the ground.
The shop I previously used for a mower engine repair has changed hands, don't know the new folks. I'm asking around on social media for recommendations for small engine repair shops. We'll see where that goes.
In the meantime, I'm also just considering a drop-in replacement for the Kohler. The mower is a good machine, has upraded transaxles, welded deck, and is in great shape, so it's worth repowering or repairing the motor. If Harbor Freight still sold the Predator vertical v-twin, I'd probably already be on the way to the store. But they don't seem to have them anymore.
Any comments on repair issues, or recommended potential replacement motors, would love to read 'em.