Kohler command 38 pro efi fueling problems.

[Peter 1955]

13 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

It’s a float in the pump rather than the carburettor. 

Ah. Then I am missing something. Learn something new every day. Certainly fits with the video you posted. 

[Ty Korrigan]

13 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Thanks for asking.
Got tomorrow booked off to have a crack at it.

 

I could take it to a garden machinery place (and this still might happen) but I’m worried they’ll play ‘parts bingo’ and présent me with a massive bill.

 

I’ve done research on the internet (yeah, I know!) we’re looking at a leak in the float causing over fuelling.

 

If it gets too deep we’ll put it back together and drop it off.

I previously found that no local 'moto-culture' the usual small engine outfits wanted to touch Efi.

Whilst my area is thick with diesel mechanics serving the agricultural and construction industries.

I do know that Kohler have a large office in Brest.

Perhaps contacting them to find a dealer local to you ?

 

[skc101fc]

1 hour ago, Ty Korrigan said:

I previously found that no local 'moto-culture' the usual small engine outfits wanted to touch Efi.

Whilst my area is thick with diesel mechanics serving the agricultural and construction industries.

I do know that Kohler have a large office in Brest.

Perhaps contacting them to find a dealer local to you ?

 

I had same experience here in  Ireland,  where my nearest kohler approved dealer didn't have the ability to interrogate the engine, and wanted to send complete engine away to the UK.  God knows what it would have cost me, never mind the time lost. Resolved my underfueling issues with YouTube and a new pair of genuine fuel filters rather than the cheapos I'd put on at an earlier service. These engines are very sensitive to fuel pressure issues! 

[Mick Dempsey]

Well we took off the pump and found no obvious reason for the overfuelling. 
So off it goes to my local motoculture repairers. 
Wish me luck!

[Peter 1955]

15 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Well we took off the pump and found no obvious reason for the overfuelling. 
So off it goes to my local motoculture repairers. 
Wish me luck!

 

If it comes back with a new O2 sensor, I shall consider a new career, working from home diagnosing small engine faults, with help from Google! 😂 Seriously, hope you get it sorted, and it doesn't cost too much. 

[Mick Dempsey]

Update..

We had a chat in front of the machine with their best mechanic and the diagnosis is not good.

After hearing the way it suddenly happened and all the other symptoms he is of the opinion that one of the cylinders/pistons are fooked.

He also described the problems the efi presents in terms of internal governors, impossible diagnostic software etc, if I looked over his shoulder I’m sure I saw @Ty Korrigan jumping from one foot to the other in a Yosemite Sam dance of glee/I told you so type thing!:)

So he’s going to try and confirm before I decide what to do.

 

Not a happy day!

[Ty Korrigan]

58 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Update..

We had a chat in front of the machine with their best mechanic and the diagnosis is not good.

After hearing the way it suddenly happened and all the other symptoms he is of the opinion that one of the cylinders/pistons are fooked.

He also described the problems the efi presents in terms of internal governors, impossible diagnostic software etc, if I looked over his shoulder I’m sure I saw @Ty Korrigan jumping from one foot to the other in a Yosemite Sam dance of glee/I told you so type thing!:)

So he’s going to try and confirm before I decide what to do.

 

Not a happy day!

 

Hey !

 I'm no gloater, so no schadenfreude from me !

The only positive I can get behind is that now someone respected and vocal is now able to recount his own Efi woes.

 It's not like Efi is a new tech either.

Cars have had Efi since the 80's

Just why the ECU software requires regular updates is beyond all ken.

It's not as though it's connected to the internet and subject to viruses.

Nor is the engine self tuning to any meaningful degree.

It seems to me to be a weird ploy to get you to use dealers.

Dealers who are virtually nonexistent by the way.

   Keep us informed, no shame in letting rip on here.

   At least the mechanic was knowledgeable and honest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ty Korrigan]

2 hours ago, Peter 1955 said:

If it comes back with a new O2 sensor, I shall consider a new career, working from home diagnosing small engine faults, with help from Google! 😂 Seriously, hope you get it sorted, and it doesn't cost too much. 

 

At one point, I was on the phone to GA Groundcare getting them to disconnect the O2 sensor live to prove to the Efi mechanic that it was not the source of the problem.

 

 

[Ty Korrigan]

One thing about the 37hp Vanguard Efi was the number of engines that failed due to running out of oil. Often with the space of a blade change so 40hrs I found to my cost.

I myself came very close twice to this yet the oil pressure sensor did not pick this up resulting in several reported cases of total engine failure not covered by warranty because you are supposed to check your oil level daily.

Well, any engine in the 21st century that requires a daily oil check must be very poorly engineered indeed.

Since the introduction of the 40hp version, internet chatter concerning 37hp Efi engine issues has been nonexistent.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Oh god!

TBH, I’d rather track it off a cliff than go through what you did.