which engine?

[corax]

Any advice is appreciated, recently I bought a mini towable backhoe with a seized 18hp Kohler engine - if I can't fix/rebuild the engine that's on it, what are my options for a cheap 18 hp horizontal crank engine? Are there any brands I should stay away from? I've been looking at Kohler, Briggs, Tecumseh, and Honda - all seem to be about $1,300 +/-, but that's a bit out of the budget. Are there any good places to find a used engine?

 

[splitshot]

We've had good luck with Hondas and B&S on our spray rigs which run 5 to 6 hours a day/5 days a week. Our local dealer even beats the Northern Tool prices, might check it out. Always leary on used, unless it's from a reputable dealer.

 

[Weedhopper]

We used to have the 18 hp. Kohler Magnum engines on our old Scag riding mowers. It is a rebuildable engine. If it's seized you can pull the cylinders, have them honed, get new rings, pistons if necessary, put it back together and off you go.

I have done it in a weekend. You do not have to remove the engine.

 

[tonkota]

Call some small engine shops in your area.

 

[corax]

Cool, thanks for the info and advice

I'm thinking I might be able to pick up the beast this weekend, if I can we'll see what's in store for me when I get it home - I'm thinking if it isn't completely destroyed I'll rebuild. It helps that my roomie has a full race shop with an engine bore/hone machine - maybe I'll even get a bit stupid with a port & polish, polish / balance the rods, etc . . .

 

[Weedhopper]

port & polish, polish / balance the rods, etc . . .[/QUOTE]


On a Kohler ???

 

[splitshot]

port & polish, polish / balance the rods, etc . . .

On a Kohler ??? [/QUOTE]

Seriously, think of it...I wonder if Basset makes a header for them..

 

[Weedhopper]

Depending on the configuration it does have headers...or dual exhaust...

 

[D'Animal]

X 2

Also check into a shortblock at www.smallenginewarhouse.com

We used to have the 18 hp. Kohler Magnum engines on our old Scag riding mowers. It is a rebuildable engine. If it's seized you can pull the cylinders, have them honed, get new rings, pistons if necessary, put it back together and off you go.

I have done it in a weekend. You do not have to remove the engine.

 

[Weedhopper]

Those cylinders come off the block just like a Piper Cub. If he seized the engine... in my experience... the crank and lower end could very well be OK. Pretty tough engine.

Chrome headers are always a nice touch.

 

[D'Animal]

I bought a 25hp V-Twin Honda electric start for $1,200

I would not spend that kinda of money on an 18hp anything.

 

[D'Animal]

It cound be a command series which is one big low budget POS.

Those cylinders come off the block just like a Piper Cub. If he seized the engine... in my experience... the crank and lower end could very well be OK. Pretty tough engine.

Chrome headers are always a nice touch.

 

[Weedhopper]

Yep. Command was supposed to be super quiet. I never had any of those.

 

[corax]

just got the new toy today - I took off Friday to start tearing it apart and finding parts in a junkyard (exhaust, fan shield, air cleaner, maybe a hydraulic pump, etc)

The guy who showed me where it was told me the engine runs but backfires, so there's some hope for it yet - just gotta find replacements for all the missing parts now

 

[Weedhopper]

If it's a Kohler 18 Magnum and it backfires, it's the valves. BTDT.