Shynon 7,459 #1 Posted April 24, 2016 Thought I would share this picture. Building a Kohler for a friend. Pulled the head and found this. Piston top was eaten away from the carbon buildup at the top of the cylinder. This is one of the reasons I pull the head on any new to me/used tractor I get you never know what you will find. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,548 #2 Posted April 24, 2016 Pulling the head and discovering what's inside is like an autopsy. It can give you insight into not only what's wrong, but the kind if life it's led. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #3 Posted April 25, 2016 Boy I sure wouldn't take that thing plowing, imagine the damage ! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,761 #4 Posted April 25, 2016 22 hours ago, oldredrider said: Pulling the head and discovering what's inside is like an autopsy. It can give you insight into not only what's wrong, but the kind if life it's led. Yeah kinda like that tv show where they look at bones and tell ya whats going on!! Interesting that the carbon trail leads to the exhaust valve and from the top it looks like the wall it out of round there...maybe an optical delusion tho...Could this have running a little lean? Isn't there was a tool out there for removing ridges from the tops of cylinders? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,548 #5 Posted April 25, 2016 Yup. Interestingly enough, it's called a ridge cutter! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welderman85 53 #6 Posted April 26, 2016 What causes carbon buildup like that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,761 #7 Posted April 26, 2016 The burning of a fossil fuel in a enclosed space welderman... pretty much the normal, worse in some engines better in others. Depends alot on fuel grades, carb settings, rpms the motor is run at & the like. Our over the pond brethren call it coke so de-coking a head is not trying to get you horse off an addiction! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buffaloman 295 #8 Posted April 27, 2016 I wonder if its worth runninh some of that sea foam through em every so often to Help remove that stuff? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newtowheel 6 #9 Posted April 29, 2016 I tried sea foam and it cleared everything out on my other mower. I am a firm believer in it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
