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Looking at garden tractor, need opinion

I

IHRedRules

Member
To keep this tractor related, I'm looking at adding an IH 782 (Red) garden tractor to the shed to keep my tractors company. It has the original Kohler KT-17 Series I motor, 44" deck, 36" snow blower. I've talked the gentleman down to $750. The biggest worry from what I've read is that the series I Kohler's were rather notorious for starving for oil and throwing rods (only partial pressure lubrication). It starts easy, runs well and doesn't smoke, should I be concerned because of the motors reputation? Are there any oil adatives that could be added to help ensure lubrication, even if the oil should run to one side and temporarily starve the other side of oil? Everything seems to work as it should and the tin is all in good shape. I would appreciate any and all opions.
 
I used to use Shaeffer Oil and they would boast how it would not run down after shut down. That's one of their big selling points.
 
(quoted from post at 11:02:54 08/18/14) To keep this tractor related, I'm looking at adding an IH 782 (Red) garden tractor to the shed to keep my tractors company. It has the original Kohler KT-17 Series I motor, 44" deck, 36" snow blower. I've talked the gentleman down to $750. The biggest worry from what I've read is that the series I Kohler's were rather notorious for starving for oil and throwing rods (only partial pressure lubrication). It starts easy, runs well and doesn't smoke, should I be concerned because of the motors reputation? Are there any oil adatives that could be added to help ensure lubrication, even if the oil should run to one side and temporarily starve the other side of oil? Everything seems to work as it should and the tin is all in good shape. I would appreciate any and all opions.
Click to expand...

It's ran this long just fine, why worry? I thought it was a Onan Twin used in the Deere 317 that threw rods ?
Just don't the oil low and then mow and extended stretch on a side hill.
Use the correct viscosity oil. Too thick and too thin prevents a proper oil wedge for the rod bearing to surf on.
Mobile 1 synthetic is better than hocus pokus additives and mineral oil.
 
I have run many, many Kohler's for years, never have had a problem with a thrown rod on any one of them that I took care of. Currently have a Kohlver v twin aluminum block that I do not care for though, but it is a late 90's vintage and was not taken very good care of before I obtained it.
 
I used Shaeffer oil years ago and it is a good product. Only reason I got away from it was dealer quit and new dealer didn't stock so it took a week or two to get order. I went to Shell oil and added a product called Motor Kote ( can't find it any more ) and when I couldn't find it I went to Lucas oils Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer. The Motor Kote & Lucas stopped those noisy start ups in the spring from seating all winter.
 
BUICK, the rod-tossing Kolher KT17"s were the original engine in the 317"s. At one time DEERE offed an update kit the the more reliable Onan, and quite a few were converted.
 
The Series I Kohler will starve for oil if ran on anything other than flat land. If you are in the hills and mountain country, like I am in VA, you will have trouble with that engine. Probably if you are in the flat midwest, you'd be OK - but just know the Series I KT17 had problems.

Good luck,
Bill
 
I go along with adding Lucas Oil Stabilizer to all engines, It coats tthe engine insideand never has a dry start or loses pressure on a hill side.
 
I would think that after almost 40 years that tractor has had the engine replaced with the series2. I done a lot of replacements in the late 70's working for a dealer.
 
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