Anyone know Kohler engines?
 

The old cast iron K series. Have a 12HP K301 in a 67 Ford 120 lawn and garden tractor. I just replaced the head gasket and was adjusting the points, timing, carb etc. It appears the governor is not functional. Tried adjusting it according to the book and get nothing out of it.

What I really want to know is has anyone torn one of these engines apart? From what I've read they start with the governor gear and assemble the engine around it. Well not really but sounds like the engine needs to be completely disassembled to replace the gear. If anyone has rebuilt one, how tough is it? Any special tools required just to replace the governor gear?

I'd be looking at eliminating the governor altogether. Can you disconnect it at the carb and get the engine to run? I eliminated it on my roto-tiller engine and it is much better.

Is that what makes it a SS? I can just picture you with a tricked out Roto-Tiller digging the hell out of the yard.

Tony, can you beat this women....she has Nitro on her Roto-Tiller.

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The engine runs fine. Problem is if you crank the gas up with no load, then apply a load the engine slows down. You can give it more gas so it speeds up but then when the load goes away the engine can over rev.

If everything is working correctly you should be able to max out the throttle, should be set to run at 3,600 rpm. Then when you apply a load as the engine starts to slow the governor will back off, giving it more gas and maintain the 3,600 rpm. With no governor you're constantly adjusting the throttle to keep it going or keeping it from over reving and blowing up the engine.

Oh. I see the problem then. I run my stuff WFO, no need for a governor that way.

Ric, she has that thing hauling ass!

Go for it Tony! You can whoop her a**.

The Kohler's top RPM is 3,600. You can destroy the engine if you go over that, don't want to do that. Our yard is not flat, just driving up and down a slope makes a big difference in the RPM's. I'm getting tired of always having to adjust the throttle. Snow blowing is even worse.

Your retired, so you have time to adjust the throttle...I'm just saying. Or you could wire up a MSD 6AL with a rev limiter and a 8" Super Tach....that would be cool.

This could be you after the govener is removed running at 3800 rpm.
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I'm retired so I also have time to tear the engine apart. That sounds like more fun than playing with the throttle all the time.