Kohler Engine is a Nightmare

[nativewolf]

Some of you guys might not like this but the more liberal states have done something about this, like MA which has a right to repair law.  Every state just needs to copy MA right to repair that makes companies give consumers ability to repair. 

That's why there are lots of tesla repairs in MA for salvaged cars.

Anyhow, if you feel very strongly organize and promote laws that require consumers to be able to repair by themselves.  I would support that.

[starmac]

Poston. It is easy to blame the kohler techs, but even the best trained is going to run the codes,and when it comes up a bad tps, that is what they will replace, that is just the way it works. Not saying that they should decide they won't help anymore, or not work on one just because it is on a mill, that is a different story.

Now where I do blame them on yours, is along about the third one (anybody can get a bad part) they should have checked all grounds, and the complete wiring harness, they knew something was killing it.  I am not taking anything away from the tech that finally found the bad ecu, but to tell the truth it makes it 100% easier to find the problem once it gets bad enough to finally QUIT until it is fixed.
As far as woodmiser going all out for you, that is their job, they are the ones that sold you the mill, decided whose components to use on it, and so on.

If I buy a new KW, the only part of the truck that KW builds is the cab, and parts of the suspension, but they are responsible for every itty bitty piece of it, right down to the paint. If I buy a cat part, I buy it from KW or Freightliner, etc instead of cat. The reason is they will warranty it when it, if it goes bad, if I buy from CAT, then the part has to be sent back to emporia to be analized before cat will authorize the cat dealer to replace it, maybe a month or more. I do not have any buying power from Cat, KW does, so they can get it taken care of now. All that said, there are some dealers that will give you the run around at times.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I know STARMAC.....but I guess everybody would have to walk a mile in my shoes to understand.



 

[thecfarm]

As long you are happy,that is all that counts.
I have had some people try to tell me a better way to do something. Of course they know a better way,they only saw about 5% of the way I do it,but they know a better way.  :

[hersnsh#590]

 In regards to Cfarm's last post, an old saying I like is "Every job is easy for the man who doesn't have to do it"

dale

[YellowHammer]

I don't know.....after seeing Poston's shoes,  I'm starting to think it may be operator error.   :D :D :D
Remember, if ever attacked by a bunch of clowns, always go for the juggler.

[ladylake]

 Poston   (What hissies me off is the first Authorizer Kohler Mechanic  finally told me that their new policy is NOT to work on any engine that has to do with a sawmill.)

  That statement tells me you are not the only one having trouble by far. I'm still going with the high powered alternator putting out voltage spikes when you are working the hydraulic hard knocking out the sensitive electric components.  Steve

[tawilson]

Poston   (What hissies me off is the first Authorizer Kohler Mechanic  finally told me that their new policy is NOT to work on any engine that has to do with a sawmill.)

  That statement tell me you are not the only one having trouble by far. I'm still going with the high powered alternator putting out voltage spikes when you are working the hydraulic hard knocking out the sensitive electric components.  Steve

I have a pickup truck that has a glitch caused by the same thing. Smaller battery combined with high output alternator shuts down some of my electronics when using the plow. It's an issue with Fords and  Chevy's. Ford came out with a software fix that didn't work for me. Chevy invented a new wiriring harness that I heard did work. It happens when the load is taken off the alternator. The computer senses the spike and shuts things down to protect them.

[4x4American]

Steve may be onto something...they make EMI insulator device thingys to help protect against that I had to put something like that on my 98 dodge cause the alternator was making the torque convertor lock and unlock randomly

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The alternator has been off the mill and checked twice my an Althorized  Alternator. Checker.
Been through 5 TPS parts.
Do you think twice on the alternator is enough.
Nothing found wrong.

[WDH]

You better get your butt to work.



 

[ladylake]

  Not saying the alternator is bad just putting out a voltage spike when you take the load off the hydraulics.  If you have trouble again I'd put on one of Emi insulators like  4x4 mentioned or something similar.  Steve

[Crusarius]

Simple test for that would be a simple multimeter connected directly to the alternator.

[Kbeitz]

Poston   (What hissies me off is the first Authorizer Kohler Mechanic  finally told me that their new policy is NOT to work on any engine that has to do with a sawmill.)

  That statement tell me you are not the only one having trouble by far. I'm still going with the high powered alternator putting out voltage spikes when you are working the hydraulic hard knocking out the sensitive electric components.  Steve

I have a pickup truck that has a glitch caused by the same thing. Smaller battery combined with high output alternator shuts down some of my electronics when using the plow. It's an issue with Fords and  Chevy's. Ford came out with a software fix that didn't work for me. Chevy invented a new wiriring harness that I heard did work. It happens when the load is taken off the alternator. The computer senses the spike and shuts things down to protect them.

You need a clamping diode...

[ladylake]

 It would have to be hooked up and recorded while sawing , I'd think a voltage spike would happen when you bottom out a cylinder or maybe a real heavy log.  I don't think a voltage suppressor cost a lots and if it was my mill I'd give it a try.  Steve


  (Simple test for that would be a simple multimeter connected directly to the alternator.)

[tawilson]

Yes. I always figured some sort of surge suppressor would fix it. I just turn on everything I can to take the load. And more careful about when I let up on the load. What I am not sure is if it's a voltage or amperage spike.

[pineywoods]

I have followed this thread with great interest since the first post. If the problem (or something similar) shows up again, here's a simple way to isolate it. Disconnect the +12 volt lead from the ecu. Hook it to an external 12 volt battery that's grounded to the head frame and bungee corded to the mill. Saw..If the problem goes away, the ecu computer is being clobbered by voltage spikes from external sources. NO, a voltmeter won't show a thing, voltage spikes from dc motors and alternators will be only milliseconds in duration. This situation smells like a spike from the hydraulic motor. When that motor (or motors) turn off, they will spike the mill electrical system with what could be a couple hundred volts of very short duration. Nothing wrong with the motors, it's just the nature of the beast...I have a mill with that kohler coming to my shop sometime next year, as soon as the owner digs it out of the sawdust and trash pile. Only problem it's a manual mill, no hydraulics, but I do have the necessary electronic test equipment. Continued later..

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I'm sawing wide open right now. How long should it take for the ECU to go ot again?
If it's surges from the ALT it shouldn't take long.

I'm I right? I don't know. But I would thing 1 electrical surge would interrupt something.

[Hilltop366]

If this is the cause my guess is it could take lots of voltage spikes to weaken the circuit or component in the board to the point of causing a failure Other wise it would have quit long ago the first time around.

Vibration can also cause electronics to fail over time and often starts intermittently.

Time will tell.

[starmac]

Alternator is a possibility, but spikes can be caused by other things too. it has been my experience that low voltages causes as many or more problems and many times it is grounds causing it.

I do not think what is going on is a design problem with the machine, the kohler electronics or the alternator used, or every mill would be experiencing the same thing.

Hopefully it was a bad ecu, possibly dasmasged by running it with the first bad tps, popping and skipping, time will tell.

[redprospector]

Poston, just saw and enjoy the fact that things are going your way (finally).
If it starts acting up...well, cross that bridge when you get to it. A man can spend a lot of money trying to cross bridges before he gets there.

[Kbeitz]

Can all this new stuff be stripped of the engine and ran without it?

[4x4American]

Exactly what Steve said..and for once we agree on something!   8)


Before I bought the insulator I tried wrapping the wires coming off the alternator with tin foil...it didnt seem to fix the problem though

[WDH]

One must hold one's mouth right.  Old saying. 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The Alt has a resistor in it keeping the Alt from spiking.
I've had it checked twice.
It is impossible to hook a bunch of electronics up to an engine and watch for voltage variations and saw at a the same time.
Thats a good way to really tear something up.  :D