kohler 16hp overhead cam

yzeffer

hey guys i just picked up a kohler v twin 16hp overhead cam to replace my opposed twin briggs i have in my cart now. well i have been reading up on that engine and im not seeing real good things about it. im thinking a golf cart would be a great application for that engine because they dont see full throttle all the time. the engine i got is pretty clean. just wanted to see if anyone had any experiance with these engines. thanks.

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

BigBlockMan

Definatley does not live up to the normal reputation of a Kohler. Most blew up while still under warranty.

yzeffer

Yeah I kinda went and bought it not really knowing to much about it but I figured it was a kohler. My mistake. Not sure what to do there. I may just sell it. Kind of a bummer, thought I had something there when I first got it. What made them so unreliable?

yzeffer

I did a bit more research and it seems that a lot of the problems are from chaff getting stuck in the engine from mowing causing the casting to get hot and creating all kinds of problems from there. Also a very bad design with the air cleaner as it blew the chaff right into the air filter. The valve cover gaskets are also prone to leak making the chaff stick to the engine that much easier. I think if I make some thicker cork gaskets or something I could prolly get around that.

I'm thinking I may end up going over this engine real well and using it. I think maybe in a golf cart environment it would be kind of a perfect because it doesn't get left at full throttle for its whole run time and it doesn't see all the chaff from mowing. Also I have to build an air filter system for it so the air filter problem is no longer there either. Ahh for what I got into it, it may end up being kinda cool. I also read it was designed to be quiet because of having the timing belt. It also has the same footprint as the briggs twin so if it goes I can plop a replacement in there easy.

sho305

If you are sure that is the only issue, I'd use it. Check here and look at the chevy cavilier airbox I used. I piped that to the front of the cart, filters are $6.

Get some good RV and glue those gaskets right on, keep an eye on them for leaks. My G9 leaked yes it plugged the fins with mud. I had to use a can of brake clean and screwdrivers to get it clean again. However grass will plug the fins on its own, that is a different deal than dust/dirt collecting on oil. I had equipment that plugged the opposed onan was a good one you had to take the shrouds off every couple years and clean them of grass. Its far better to make the cooling air intake not able to suck up grass, put a screen on it if you must. The onan even had an overtemp sensor on it that shut the engine down if it overheated, was kohler too cheap or what. Anyway if you keep an eye on it and set it up right, you can get around those issues. What I don't know about is what rpm it can run and how to mod it.

yzeffer

I'm not really to worried about spinning to many rpms over stock. My opposed twin didnt even really sound like it even made it to 3600RPM and I still went 27mph with the 25" tires I have on it and that was plenty fast enough. I keep the engine pretty clean for the most part considering what that cart sees, may even plumb in an oil cooler. That engine was designed after a car engine so I think it should be pretty decent for this application. Never thought about using some type of car air filter. I'm a dirtbike guy so it may end up getting an airbox from a bike and making that work. I just about finished my tubing bender so I will be able to make some kind of cool intake.

Hey maybe I'll be the only guy on the internet to have something good to say about it. haha. Hopefully. If not I'll gain some knowledge anyways. My cart was the first thing I built so it was pretty slow going. I'm pretty quick now so It wont take long to set that engine down in there. I got the engine torn apart at the moment cleaning it all up new timing belt maybe dust the cylinders with a hone and throw a set of rings on it and call it good.

csason

I love this video Kohler engines rock, imo..

csason

another one

yzeffer

Oh I'm a big fan of Kohler engines myself. Wasn't until I researched that all I saw was negative stuff about that model of engine. I really do think that it may work awesome in a golf cart. Its oil fed and has overhead cams which is kinda cool. Heck I'm all about doing stuff that most people wouldn't think is a good idea cause you never know till you try. That briggs opposed twin treated me pretty good its just really tired and all the valve guides are shot so it was time for something different. I put a lot of hard time on it.

I really wanna put a backup pull starter on it. Last time my battery died at a party in my field I just left it there with my cooler on the back and a case of beer in it. Well came back in the morning to grab it, no cooler. Some kid ran off with my cooler. At least I know who it is. Hoping to see him again this summer.

yzeffer

Heres the old G9 it will see.

Attached Images

0423101848.jpg (142.4 KB, 24 views)