14hp Tecumseh to 25hp Kohler help

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Thread: 14hp Tecumseh to 25hp Kohler help

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18

    14hp Tecumseh to 25hp Kohler help

    I recently purchased a old maxll with a Tecumseh 14 hp engine that does not run. The trans had a stuck plunger. It has sat for years.. I have always wanted one of these machines and this one came my way and for a very few hundred bucks I figured I'd never get the chance again. Long story short I removed the engine and transmission. I have freed the plunger the bands seem to be in good shape it shifts freely. I have replaced the fluid and added friction modifier and will be installing back into the max ll this week.Next I traded some wheels for a 25hp Kohler command the crankshaft was to big for the pulley so my friend run it down on a lathe and machined a new keyway so that it all fits and I have put new rings and gaskets. I would greatly appreciate any insight, suggestions from anyone who has done this as to what I'm in for as far as modifications or trouble I will face installing this engine.. that is NathanK

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    1,108
    Congratulations on your first machine. I don't know about what trouble you may have but I can tell you some things you need to do. Post some pics so we can see what you have.

    Check your chains and bearings. With the engine and tranny out now is the time to replace bearings and chains if needed. Get all six wheels off the ground and spin them. Listen for clicks and pops and try to move the tires up and down for slack in the bearings.

    When you mount the engine, it needs to be adjustable so you can fine tune the belt tension. I think on max machines the engine sits above the tranny and you can shim the engine to get more belt tension. If so that's good. If not, figure out a way to make it adjustable.

    Also, with a different engine your belt length will probably have to change. If you have to
    fabricate your engine adjustment you need to start with the correct distance between the engine and tranny. Report back on what you have. Good luck.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18
    Copy, I will and am doing those exact things. As it is I got the trans put back together and now one side does t shift properly so I'm gonna take it back apart tomorrow to see what's up. It will shift from neutral one way but not the other.. the other side shifts as it should.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18
    The plate below the drums was in with the beveled edge the wrong way. Go figure. I reckon that answers weather it has been taken apart before I got into it.. nevertheless. I hope to get it back in my machine by the weekend..

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,161
    Most of the Max 14hp machines had hollow axles until fairly late in the production years. The power of a 25 Kohler will soon show you where all the weak areas are. I have such a machine and upgraded to 18hp only as a work around. If your's has hollow axles, the upside is that you can manage to shape those back to normal without too much effort if they get bent. Solid axles, not so easy.

    Does your's have discs or drums in the front?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18
    It has drums

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,161
    Somewhere in 1995 they switched to discs usage from the factory, your's must have been produced prior to then.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18
    the serial number is 6493 idk what year that makes it. Early 80s I reckon.. I'm looking forward to getting the trans back in it this afternoon.

  9. #9
    Do you have any pictures of this whole operation? I'll most likely be doing a similar swap soon.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Madisonville KY
    Posts
    18
    I will get some pictures soon. This whole operation has been slow cause I have rebuilt the Kohler at work a little everyday on my lunch break and I tinker on the machine at home what I can before it gets dark... To that end I've made steady progress. My next task is to mount the engine on the brackets that came with the 14hp. Best I can tell I will just drill knew holes to move the engine to the right in the tub cause the Kohler is wider than the old Tecumseh.I have big dreams of getting it rite at the shop and bringing it home and fitting the first time... It could happen. The Kohler is just a little bit taller at the shaft maybe a inch give or take. So I'll let you know how it all shakes out. But so far it has all been pretty straight forward. I'm not sure what to do about exhaust yet that I feel is gonna be my next big issue in that I just don't know how things will fit and I don't yet have any exhaust for the engine or what I will have to modify or engineer to get it in there... The Kohler is a lot lighter than the old Tecumseh by far though.

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