Diagnosing a missing and popping sound on a John Deere L110 with Kohler Command Engine. This can happen to any single cylinder or even the twin Kohler Command engines. FLYWHEEL KEY PART# Kohler X4215S. amzn.to/3OnWk7u
I ran into one last week on a briggs and stratton single cylinder. It actually broke the flywheel. I've been repairing lawnmowers for about 12 years and this is the first time I've seen this happen. Great video. Keep up the good work.
You are the biggest inspiration!! Recently had a friend take his life from a small disability setback. Subscribed to you for your content and ability. Keep them coming.
I wish I found this video before watching Taryl's. Cost me $125 for a new coil I didn't need. So thanks heaps to Johnson's Small Engines for this correct broken key diagnosis....absolutely spot on.
Hi Bruce, I’m glad you came across this and it was helpful. Thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow. It would be greatly appreciated:)
I've watched some 50 + lawn care / service videos the last 2 years and yours is one of the best. You are clear, concise and thorough. I'm going to subscribe. I picked up a Kohler twin cylinder engine that has the same issue and I'll go down the list. Thanks.
I get a lot of ideas off of these type of youtube videos. They're like little detective stories for the mechanically inclined trying to figure out problems. Thanks!
Love your videos they are very helpful,you and others have made it easy for me since I had a hart attack to work on small engines.keep up the good work
Very nice fix. Some of the earlier models did not have that ground connection on the voltage regulator and when the bolt failed to ground it , you had to add a short ground wire. The Kohler Courage engines are even worse, many issues and crankcase leaks, carburetor issues etc. Thanks for the video, Great work.
Thank you, I know all about the bad Kohler Courage engines. Cracked blocks, bad valve covers, just a very bad engine. I'm happy they do not make it any longer. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this video. That was exactly what was wrong with mine. I wish I had found this sooner. You would have saved me a LOT of frustration.
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I have been doing this for more years than I will admit I enjoy watching the younger generation working with their hands getting things done rather then having someone to do it for them if they are willing. Well done very informative anyone following along should not have any problems performing this modest repair. So again well done only thing I could add would be maybe a little 242 blue loctite on the flywheel bolt. Very good job keep up the great work.
This is one of the best videos for repairing Kohler engines I’ve seen. You are clear and right to the point. Other videos try to be funny and do character bits, and that’s not why I search for videos. I’m bookmarking your page. Thanks for your great work!
Great video, helped me solve my issue with my john deere L110. The bolt holding flywheel down was not tightened at all. Thanks for the video saved me time .
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Thank God for you and this video. I've been pulling my beard out trying to figure out what was wrong with my motor. Got a great deal on the 16hp version to put in my racing mower and have spent 2 days trying to get it to run when I found this. Exactly my problem, thank you.
I’m glad this was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give this video a like and tell your friends about the channel to help it grow! It would be greatly appreciated. I would like to see a few pictures of your racing tractor if possible??
I’m glad this video was helpful! t Thank you for the very nice comment!! and spreading the word about my channel. Give this a like to also help the channel. It is greatly appreciated:)
AWESOME job on the conveyance of information and hands on doing the job. Very well thought out video. No one should have a problem doing the same job after watching your video!!! Thank you and its time to round up my tools needed for the job you've shown me how to complete. Have a GREAT DAY!!!
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@@JohnsonsSmallEngines I will for sure and I also have a L130 with the 23hp Kohler cmd motor. Would it be a wise thing to do if I checked the flywheel bolt on it if tight? Its running fine now but was thinking like preventative Maint.
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines I got the new key in after having it overnighted and it started right up after following all your advise (especially for reinstalling the magneto) Thanks again!
Another way to quickly check for a broken key without taking off the flywheel is to put the piston tdc then look at the magnet, on the flywheel, it should be right at the magneto.
I agree to a point but if the key doesn’t shear all the way most people cannot see the difference except to the trained eye so opening it up and taking off the flywheel is in my opinion the way to go plus if it is sheared your able to repair quickly:)if it’s not then you move on to the next possible issue and you have just learned a lot about your engine :)
Hey mate. I watched your video and you saved me a lot of time. This is what was wrong with my L110. Pulled it apart and changed the key way and problem solved. Thanks for the video.
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Great video. You saved me some serious $$$. I bought a 3/16" x 3/4" woodruff key at my local hardware store for 99¢. Ground it down a bit on a bench grinder and it fits perfect. Thanks again.
Glad to hear! Thank you for watching and the kind comment. Please give this video a like and share the channel to help it grow. It would be greatly appreciated.
Great video very good explanation subscribed. I have a 2003 JD L110 model same engine bought it new still runs great. Had to replace the transaxle last year upgraded to a brand new Tuff Torq K57R for $269.95 from Surplus Centre Lincoln NE. I got lucky even with shipping to Canada and exchange it was way cheaper than the JD dealership. Looking forward to seeing more of your content.
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Just saw ur channel for the first time. I'm glad u don't do alot of unnecessary talking, u go straight to the point. Guys like me who fix there own stuff don't have time to hear about someone's lunch and pause to talk about it. Can a blown head gasket cause similar symptoms. I subscribe also. Thx stay on point like ur doing.
A blown head gasket most of the time would not make a popping and missing sound. It would sound like air puffing out when you turn the key to the off position while engine is slowing down. If the flywheel key is ok? It will normally be ignition, try replacing spark plug, carburetor, rebuild it or possible a valve issue but valve issues are rare with the Kohler command engine. Thank you for subscribing, commenting and watching.
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Thumbs up to you what you are doing with one hand and very explained video I've been working on small engines for years and im still learning every day im mostly working on four wheeler's now best video I've seen in awhile keep up the good work
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Hi Justin, I’m glad you kept at it! and found this video. It doesn’t happen often but it does happen. Thank you for commenting. Please give this video a like to help my channel. It would be greatly appreciated.
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Thank you for the very informative video, it helps alot when people do tutorial videos to exclude the annoying music! And it helps the viewers when you do speak the commentary! I have this same exact mower, I've had it since 2010. Bought it used at approximately 300 hours. It now has 537.6 hours. I'm just now starting to have issues with the motor, the deck/mower parts I've replaced as needed over time. My issue with the motor is the last time I mowed (I have 1 very rough terrain and dusty acre) I was approximately a little more than half done when it made a pop sound (sounded like it was internal and wasn't very loud) it had been smoking for a bit but once it popped it started getting sluggish. So instead of pressing on thinking that it blew a gasket or piston ring I just shut off the engine for fear of it locking up. I let it cool down went back and tried to crank it. All it did was turn over but no start. Next day tried it again and same thing! This was 3 weeks ago, I had a friend of mine that is small engine literate come take a look. He first tried the spark test ( gets excellent spark)then pulled the valve cover (all looks good). He then took the cover off to expose the flywheel and checked for compression (all good). He ran out of time because he was in the process of moving to a new place and had to go get a key and would be back to go deeper in to find the problem when he had time and I had money to pay him! Lol. He did say that it could possibly be a carburetor/choke/solenoid issue??? He then said if that wasn't the case then it would have to be internal (my guess is full motor rebuild???) To my knowledge this motor has never been opened up but we did find that there where a few small rocks on top of the fly wheel where the fins are??? But none of the fins are chipped or broke! Could I have sheared that flywheel pin??? Or would it be a best assumption to try the carburetor/choke/solenoid first??? On a normal mowing routine this motor does smoke for about the first 3 or 4 laps then quits. I have noticed that it does burn oil it has to be because I dont see where its leaking or puddeling, It stays parked on concrete???
I would pull the flywheel and and check the key before getting into the carburetor. You said it started loosing power after the first pop. A sheared flywheel key will make the engine sluggish because the timing will be off. Thank you for the kind words, please give this video the thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow. It will be greatly appreciated !
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines we did a little more investigation yesterday and we found that when we pulled the spark plug out with a flashlight we could see that the piston/arm is not moving when motor is turned by hand. We think it might have broke the piston arm!😥😫☹ So if thats the case then that would mean that the motor ran without oil but that doesn't make any sense bcs I know for a fact that it had oil every time I'd get ready to mow! What would cause the use of so much oil to burn that it would run itself dry within the 1 1/2 hour mowing time??? We haven't actually dove in to the guts yet, that will be our next investigation. Probably today! Also since I bought this mower used 10 years ago it doesn't have a service manual. I've been on the Kohler website but haven't found exactly what I'm needing, do have a suggestion of a source? Thank you!
@@kevinbrister8801 There are many different reasons why your engine can burn oil. I can say that most small engines do burn a little oil while running and if you went a very long time without adding it or changing the oil and oil filter? It can run low and lack of lubrication will happen, then boom the connecting rod will break. Which in your case may have happened. Not much to do now. Repair it or just fine a used engine and install. You should be able to find a service manual online. Just google Kohler Command Manual PDF and many should pop up. You may need to enter the model of your engine that should be on the silver sticker on the side of the engine to get to the correct manual. One manual may also cover many models.
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That laugh was most appropriate when you gave the most brief description ever of microfiche. Miicrofiche disappeared from existence faster than quaaludes
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ive been trying to revive a cv15s that has been sitting for 4 years...new carb....new fuel pump...cleaned out the fuel tank....but ive been messing with it for 3 days now...when cranking it would gulp gulp gulp then pop from the carb and the exhaust...i just couldn't figure it out...when you mentioned that flywheel bolt being loose...that is what i have,...but didn't pay it any attention...first thing tomorrow i will check the woodruff key...and will report back...in the mean time thank you for the great content
Young man. I can’t even tell you how many screws, bolts, and washers I’ve dropped with two hands. I can only imagine how hard it is with one hand. As you were working I though that a long thin magnet on some type of leather “sleeve” that slides over your forearm would give you an added degree of dexterity. Does that sound practical at all? My hat is off to you my friend.
I was born with only my one hand and they “Doctors “ tried to make me where a artificial slide on prosthesis with a hook/jaw that opened and closed. Kids when I was young called me captain hook. That didn’t go well with me and I never wore it. I always did the best I could without it and managed well for 53 years. I do appreciate your thoughtfulness and thinking of me that way! Just like they say, “you can do anything if you put your mind to it”. I hope my videos inspire more people to work on there own equipment. Thank you for watching!
Years ago ( 1990s) I had the same problem with a tecumseh engine , started ran about 1 minute and stopped. Took the flywheel off same thing. The flywheel bolt has to be torqued properly or the key will break. I know I'm late , but its a great informative video.
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines The tecumseh I worked on was on a roto tiller . Regardless of what I work on I make sure the flywheel is good and tight. Great video sir
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@@JohnsonsSmallEngines it helped alot. Mine only wants to run on choke. Put on new fuel filter, new plugs, has spark on both cylinders, and the electronic thing on the carb bowl clicks as you said it should. I'm down to thinking it may be some dirt in carb. ?? Seeing your video helped me check a couple things as I would have missed.
Yes, you have dirt in the carburetor or if you have a fuel pump on the side of the engine, sometimes that may fail but not often. Running the machine in the choke position to compensate is most likely a dirty carburetor.
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You are good at this, fixing and teaching. Thank You. My elder neighbor has a similar JD rider and everytime he takes it out the best way to get it started is spray fuel in the carb then runs fine entire mow. Fuel filter mess cleaned, replaced. Wondering whats going on, on such a newer machine.
Gracias por el video amigoThanks for the video Migo very helpful I do appreciate your time and definitely subscribe and follow all of your videos 100% recommended keep up the good work bro
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I’m glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching and the kind comment. Please give this video a thumbs up, subscribe and tell your friends to help my channel grow. It would be greatly appreciated:)
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Have a question. I have a 48" walk behind with a 15 hp Kohler it misses and pops set the coil gap with a business card and still does the same thing. Do you think the marks are off on the timing gears. Guy said he rebuilt the engine? Maybe he did something wrong. Thanks.
Thank you! This time and most I have seen are from a loose flywheel bolt. Belts will give before the flywheel on tractors. I’ve seen a lot of sheared flywheel keys on walk behind mowers where the blade is connected to the crankshaft and the blade stops dead and the flywheel will keep rotating to shear the key.
I've had mice chewing the insulation off wires. The simplest way I've found to re-insulate them is by using the 3M liquid electrical tape. Just apply a thin coat, do something else for about 30min, apply a 2nd coat! Works, EASY!
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I'm glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind comment. Please give video a like, subscribe and tell your friends to help the channel grow. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching :)
I recommend putting a 75-85 micron fuel filter right before the carb where the rubber line is. The steel fuel line rusts & causes rust particles into the carb. I had this issue so I sand blasted the fuel line then did the filter. Oh, & cleaned the carb. I know this isn't the subject of this video but would like to contribute some information about these designed kohler's.
Thanks for the great video. I have popping on one cylinder of a 24hp twin B&S. The push rod was off on one cylinder which seemed obvious. Put it back in, adjusted the valves to .04 and problem still occurs. I'm assuming a sheared key would affect both cylinder's performance. Could this be a bad valve adjustment still or possibly a bad ignition coil on that side? The popping gets worse with time (seems to run fine for 30 seconds or so) and gets worse, fairly quickly. The valve head on that side also seems hotter than the other side. thanks for any ideas.
If the push rod was out of position. Check to make sure it’s not bent, then you need to find out why it happened? Check the rocker studs to make sure they are not loose. Checked spark on both cylinders at the same time with two inline spark testers to make sure your ignition is ok. Check valve lash again. Install a new set of spark plug. If it still is popping and missing, you may have a valve seat came out of place and the only way to check is to remove the head to see. You may also have a valve guide that worked its way up but that doesn’t happen often.
Correct, on the single cylinder Kohler command engine there is no adjustable valves. They have hydraulic lifters. I can say that sometimes the valves will sound horrible “loud tapping “ noise until the lifters get pumped full of oil. If your experiencing loud valves? Run the machine by cutting grass for ten minutes then listened your engine and it should be quiet by then. Also make sure your using 10/W/30 oil and it is at the correct level.
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Funny thing is i have the dame mower and exact same engine and i have to choke it every time i start it. Mine runs fine but then boggs for 3-4 seconds then runs fine again. Plug, air filter, fuel pump(x2, doesn't play well with non-John Deere parts) and just changed voltage regulator (separate issue). Not sure where to turn next. Great video BTW
Thank you for this video I have a kohler command cv15s that idles fine but when you put it under a load it misses pops and backfires. I thought the carb needed rebuilding so I did that and replaced the plug and coil but it still does it, I'll check the key and see if it is sheared some or all the way. is there any other things to check for with an engine running like this?
I have a kohler command 25 that will fire right up but will not stay running longer than 15 seconds. It goes from full idle to sputtering out. I've changed with new factory parts the carb (and did a rebuild kit) the fuel filter, fuel tank cap, spark plugs, fuel pump. This is at full choke as well, won't start any other way... thoughts?
Impossible without seeing the machine but I would suggest checking fuel flow from fuel tank to fuel filter to make sure there isn’t a blockage OR you may have blown head gaskets so the compression is so low the engine will not stay running.
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines thanks for answering, it was both head gaskets. one was leaking externally and one was internal. Replaced and running like a champ now.
I have exact mower it poots pops and misses while sitting. I've does all filters cleaned carb replaced plug and replaced head gasket and exhaust gasket. Still missing while sitting still. Gonna do this next
You should look up your engine model to make sure you are getting the correct torque value. The correct torque for the engine flywheel bolt in my video is 49 foot pounds.
Does it run? Perform simple first. Install a new spark plug, check to make sure carburetor is 100% ok, check the choke and throttle plates on the carburetor inside to make sure they are tight on the shafts. Other than that you only have the valves that would make the popping and missing, you would need to tear into it to see what’s up like a valve seat loose etc.
@@cravenmoorehead5636 Doubt it. The next step is to take head off. You may have a valve seat popped out but I cannot confirm any of what you have done without seeing it so good luck and keep on working in it until you find out what has happened.
When I run at full throttle, and engage the blades...the engine will run at reduced rpms for about 15 minutes. Then the rpms go up to where it usually runs as if by magic. It will stay perfect for the rest of the mow. But on the next mow? It does the same thing again for about 15 minutes. Would you have a good idea where I should start looking? Thank you, in advance!
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Thank you, sir. I will check those in the order you stated. Never had symptoms like this with an engine ever...a self correcting condition really messed with my very basic skillset!
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Throttle plate and governor were OK. So the 1st mow out this season I mowed a half inch. The mower bogged way down...but this time the rpms never came back. I bet you know what's wrong with it now! And @SuperDave742 I always put a new plug in every year. Again, sorry to you both for the overdue update.
@@superdave4725 I do change the plug every year. The pto was way out of adjustment. That was my problem. Thank you for the help, as well! Never get too much advice!
Use a credit card for your gap on your coil just an idea for you mate 👈🤔 thats more or less what i use.ps thanks for the tip of what to look for it will save me.
Hello Sir, i has been watching a lots of your repaired video you are doing a very great job. Sir I help your help I just bought a john deere L110 model everything is just exactly the same as in this video now I trying to start it up but it don't get no Spark. Can you Please help me, Thanks!
If you have a ignition spark tester? Check the spark after installing a new spark plug. If you have no spark, disconnect the ground wire from the ignition coil. Check for spark again. If you do not have spark. You have a bad ignition coil. Replace ignition coil.
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines i just ordered a new ignition coil and should be here in Charlotte NC on tomorrow then I will install to see if it get spark. I'll let you know soon I finish install. Thank You so much Sir!
It could be many things and would need to see the engine to diagnose properly. The easiest and simplest would be if you are turning off the engine at full speed ??, it can have that issue or way too high of an idle. Check you idle speed for your specific engine model and always shut off your engine at idle. That may help.
You should NEVER hammer on the crank shaft. You would be amazed the microscopic damage that occurs on the bearings, which will reduce the life of them.
HELP... Have the 17.5 Pro.. and it runs then stalls when it warms up.. put a new carb on it same thing.. runs warms up stalls wont start cools off, fires up.. runs stalls.. I need her for my leaves.... LOL HELP
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines thanks for the response believe it or not I kept working on her and seems it was the gas cap...vent hole was plugged with dirt....make sense???
It’s running lean (lack of fuel). See if it will get better compensation with using the choke. If it gets better using the choke, you need to rebuild the carburetor.
@@JohnsonsSmallEngines Thank you! Would a sheared keyway under the flywheel give similar symptoms or just a no start popping. Wish I had oem carb. It came with an Amazon special and I bought another new to try as well. I suspected fuel too but from tank to carb is all new including fuel lines, filter and shut off valve. 🤷🏻♂️
I would pull the flywheel if it isn’t to hard for you and check the key. Also check to make sure the fuel is flowing good coming out of the fuel line right before the carburetor. If the flow is good then it will go back to what I said about the lean condition in the carburetor. I tried a aftermarket carburetor one time and it did not work and now I only use OEM on the Kohler command engines or try and rebuild them first. You may be able to find a good used OEM on eBay or purchase a blown engine that would be cheap that may have a OEM carburetor on it.
