You sir, found a real GEM! That is one clean machine. It has a great powerplant...the Kohler Command. You can add a front PTO, but really don't need to go through the expense. A snowblower will run off the Mid PTO, same as your deck does. Plenty of those out there, too.

 

Yes, very nice indeed.

 

Very nice. One caution - keep your foot off that pedal under your right foot. It's there for emergency use only (like if the hydro linkage somehow comes apart and you can't stop the tractor). Don't try to start forward motion by using it as you would use a clutch in a car - it's not the same thing and this can harm the hydro pump.

Just do all control using the hydro lever. I never... and I mean NEVER, touch that pedal. Ever.

 

That's interesting to note about the pedal. The owner's manual simply refers to it as a brake and to aid in cold weather starts, that should be pressed to unload the engine. I'll bear that warning in mind, though, being my first hydro I don't want to screw anything up. I'm used to shifting a gear on my old stuff - "shifting" and speed control with one lever is going to take some getting used to!

 

There really aren't any gears, it's a continuous speed increase from zero to max speed simply by moving the lever from the center position to full forward (or reverse).

Some people press in the pedal when starting, to offload the engine. Nothing wrong with that except if the linkage sticks you then end up with a belt that isn't tight. So I never use mine.

You want to come to a stop (using the hydro lever) before changing directions. Meaning if you are going forward come to a stop before backing up. You can throw the lever from fwd to rev without stopping first but that puts stress on the axle tube.

 

:trink39: I wouldn't even think of trying to go from forward to reverse without a stop in between. I have to sneak up on reverse as it is...

 

The brake is for parking the tractor when not in use. Hydros will allow the tractor to roll if parked on a grade for a period of time.

At all other times, the hydro will supply all the braking force that is necessary for the tractor simply by easing the drive control back to the neutral position.

Stepping on the brake pedal for starting ensures that the hydro's main pump is not moving fluid (if the linkages are correctly adjusted), even though it is still directly coupled to the engine. If it also has a charge pump, that is still moving fluid.

Foot controls are more intuitive for the operator, especially when the task entails multiple direction and speed changes, but the hand control has advantages as well. You can set it and forget it for long runs at a consistant speed.

 

Thanks, Bob, for a little more input on how these hydros operate. I do have to fix the parking brake. The threaded shaft the lever is on is froze on the rod end, so I'll have to get some penetrating oil and/or heat to it to see if I can get it to bust loose and tighten up the linkage a little. The PO said he never used it, and I probably won't either, but it's just piece of mind to know it's there!

 

The clutch/brake pedal is for panic stop only. Once you have used it you should shift to neutral release the pedal then start the tractor moving again with the hand lever. I like the shuttle as you can use either he lever or the pedal and can use the pedal to moderate ground speed while maneuvering in tight places.

 

Hi all. Almost a year into owning this tractor and no problems until now. I think my starter went - turned the key and a thunk and nothing. Caught a wisp smell of fried something electrical. I checked all the wiring, took the starter out and checked that the Bendix was free (it was), and tried to "start" it with the starter out and grounded... nothing. Now, the problem is the data plate on the engine is worn away so I can't get a model or serial number off of it. Does anyone have the replacement starter number for this particular model? They all appear similar on several retailer sites, but I want to make sure that what I purchase is the correct one.

Thank you!
Rick

 

Diving in deeper to the issue, turns out it was not the starter, but the main plug connector on the key switch. Over the years the waterproofing crud appeared to be melting on the connections, and eventually one or more of those connections ceased to function. A quick clean out and we're back in business!

 

Resurrecting a thread.. geez, has it been 5 years already? Looking for input on the engine on this beast. I *think* it's finally starting to go. Not that it's loosing power, but my overall feeling is it's on limited time. The manufacturer's plate on the side of the housing is too far gone to see any model number, and the PartsTree search just indicates that the engine is NLA. Without tearing it apart before it's time to see what the keyway size is, does anyone happen to know an appropriate replacement engine for the Kohler Command of this vintage?

 

time flies while having fun
im of no help but you needed a bump

john