my 2009 Mudd OX

[Moallen]

soot

Hello All,
Mine has soot but does not seem to hurt it, sometimes it drips on the rub rail and I have to wipe it off, as for the oil temp mine barely moves off the cold mark, the most it has moves is like 125.
Allen

[Roger S]

I didn't realize they were carbureted engines. Argo sold me a briggs jet for high altitude. Kohler must do the same thing. I can see it in Wyoming, don't know if jetting is the problem in Iowa.

[hancock]

I haven't seen it more than a quarter of the way or so up the gauge. I can't remember exactly what temp that equates to, (220ish maybe?).

I couldn't remember exactly what the first couple of reference numbers on the gauge were, but I took a look this morning to refresh my memory. With 200 being a quarter or so up the gauge, the needle has never topped that, (at least that I have noticed), and usually tops out in the 150 to 180 range, similar to what you guys have seen. We have had outside temps in the 60s during the time frame I have owned it, not often, but it has been warmer than what you guys have seen and even after a hard work out it didn't break that 200 mark.

Hancock

[Moallen]

Soot

Hey all,
I cant see my post so I will jump in again, mine has black soot and drips it on the rubrail (I just wipe it off) my oil temp stays very low gage barely moves. Make sure your fins are clean, it really helps to have a prefilter on the right intake side.I would also add seafoam in the gas tank, I also use T-9 on the chains it forms a coating and will stay in/on the chains for a few months, water proof. (they use it in major alines) inside the wings to stop white rust.
Allen

[hancock]

Mine has soot but does not seem to hurt it, sometimes it drips on the rub rail and I have to wipe it off,

Allen, I remember you telling me you had soot off the exhaust shortly after we received our machines. I still have never had issues with this, but it does seem to possibly run a little rich at times. On some, (rare), occasions it seems to be less responsive to throttle inputs than it should be (like it is having problems adjusting air/fuel mixture). This is usually immediately after engine start, and after the engine has already been warmed up and driven for awhile and is usually very short lived. It also used to almost always backfire during shutdown. I discussed this with Matt and he said Kohler recommends revving the engine to at least half throttle during shutdown. This seemed a little odd to me but it actually works and stops the backfiring.

Hancock

[tbunce7]

soot

Hey guys,

I checked my exhaust not really soot, just slightly black inside pipe. Hydralic
oil temp got its highest when we ran it down the road about two miles, 150 degrees. The altitude in Ia. is not different enough to make a difference. Mudd-ox is running great, we have had fun trying to see where we can't go.
No mud this time of year, everything is frozen.

[tbunce7]

Terry - I'm in Pine Bluffs Wyoming. I was out at Tims loading mine when you were getting ready to take delivery of yours and drop Matt's trailer in Des Moines

Travisch,
I've been through Pine Bluffs several times. My son went to mechanic school in Laramie at Wyotech. We have also back packed in Medicine Bow Nat. Forrest a few times. Great country, love the mountains.

Terry

[liflod]

Why does the fan continue to run when the engine is shut off? Once the engine is off, its not going to get any hotter and without the oil circulating through the cooler, it doesn't seem that it would help anything. Slow to heat and slow to cool is less shock on a system.

[tbunce7]

cooling fan

I 'll have to let Matt answer that for you.

[hancock]

I may stand corrected on this, but I don't believe it is the hydraulic fluid that is being cooled, (if that is what you meant by "oil"), but rather the main hydraulic pump. The fan is to cool the pump, not the engine. It cools while the engine is running, and the fan blows after shutdown to keep it from heating further. That's my understanding, but I could be wrong.

Hancock

[Moallen]

Hello

I think the fan runs to just cool the engine compartment, It has heat shielding but i bet in the summer it gets really hot in there. It is a great way to keep things cool.
Allen

[hancock]

Yep, I think maybe you are right, Allen. I just noticed today it is the engine compartment cooling fan, and not the hydraulic fan that has the cancel position. I had been thinking all along it was the hydraulic fan that was running after shutdown.

Hancock

[tinman]

Was wondering if any other of the Mudd Ox owners have had the issue of back firing when shutting down? While by no means am I much of a mechanic this seems odd to me. Thanks Tinman

[Mike]

From the previous page:

... It also used to almost always backfire during shutdown. I discussed this with Matt and he said Kohler recommends revving the engine to at least half throttle during shutdown. This seemed a little odd to me but it actually works and stops the backfiring.
Hancock

[Roger S]

Today's emission standards are part of the problem for small engines.. although car makers don't seem to have this problem. Burning lean and hot is good for emissions, but not for drivability, power, and cool running exhaust gas temperatures. Argo had years of production with briggs that would backfire in the muffler when turned off. Some said wire feed welded mufflers with glowing hot wire feed scraps were the problem. Some briggs 14-18 hp 1 barrels had fuel shutoff solonoids that screw in where the main jet plug is. They were on mowers and such, not aatv apps at least the ones I've seen. Without a fuel shut off when the key is turned off, the engine keeps pumping air (and fuel) into the engine until it quits turning. Even though the spark plug isn't firing any longer, if the exhaust system is hot enough to light the mixture on it's way out.. boom. So fixes like the kohler one, or idleing a bit before shutdown come into play. Mine did it stock, but with engine running adequately rich and the stock exhaust in the trash.. never have that prolem any more.