HP 18-26 User Manual

C

OMMAND

H

ORIZONTAL

18-26

C

RANKSHAFT

O

HP

WNER'S

M

ANUAL

1

Safety Precautions

To insure safe operations please read the following statements and understand their meaning.
Also refer to your equipment owner's manual for other important safety information. This manual
contains safety precautions which are explained below. Please read carefully.

WARNING

Warning is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that
death, or substantial property damage if the warning is ignored.

CAUTION

Caution is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that
or property damage if the warning is ignored.

NOTE

Note is used to notify people of installation, operation, or maintenance information that is
important but not hazard-related.

For Your Safety!

These precautions should be followed at all times. Failure to follow these precautions could result
in injury to yourself and others.

can

will

cause

or

can

severe

cause

personal injury,

minor

personal injury

WARNING

Explosive Fuel can cause fires and
severe burns.

Stop engine before filling fuel tank.

Explosive Fuel!

Gasoline is extremely flammable
and its vapors can explode if
ignited. Store gasoline only in
approved containers, in well
ventilated, unoccupied buildings,
away from sparks or flames. Do not
fill the fuel tank while the engine is
hot or running, since spilled fuel
could ignite if it comes in contact
with hot parts or sparks from
ignition. Do not start the engine
near spilled fuel. Never use
gasoline as a cleaning agent.

WARNING

Rotating Parts can cause severe
injury.

Stay away while engine is in
operation.

Rotating Parts!

Keep hands, feet, hair, and clothing
away from all moving parts to
prevent injury. Never operate the
engine with covers, shrouds, or
guards removed.

CAUTION

Electrical Shock can cause injury.

Do not touch wires while engine is
running.

WARNING

Hot Parts can cause severe burns.

Do not touch engine while operating
or just after stopping.

Hot Parts!

Engine components can get
extremely hot from operation. To
prevent severe burns, do not touch
these areas while the engine is
running–or immediately after it is
turned off. Never operate the
engine with heat shields or guards
removed.

California

Proposition 65 Warning

Engine exhaust from this product
contains chemicals known to the
State of California to cause
cancer, birth defects, or other
reproductive harm.

Electrical Shock!

Never touch electrical wires or
components while the engine is
running. They can be sources of
electrical shock.

2

Safety Precautions (Cont.)

WARNING

Accidental Starts can cause
severe injury or death.

Disconnect and ground spark plug
leads before servicing.

Accidental Starts!

Disabling engine. Accidental
starting can cause severe injury or
death. Before working on the engine

or equipment, disable the engine as
follows: 1) Disconnect the spark
plug lead(s). 2) Disconnect negative
(-) battery cable from battery .

WARNING WARNING

Carbon Monoxide can cause
severe nausea, fainting or death.

Do not operate engine in closed or
confined area.

Lethal Exhaust Gases!

Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is odorless,
colorless, and can cause death if
inhaled. Avoid inhaling exhaust
fumes, and never run the engine in
a closed building or confined area.

Explosive Gas can cause fires and
severe acid burns.

Charge battery only in a well
ventilated area. Keep sources of
ignition away.

Explosive Gas!

Batteries produce explosive
hydrogen gas while being charged.
T o prevent a fire or explosion,
charge batteries only in well
ventilated areas. Keep sparks, open
flames, and other sources of
ignition away from the battery at all
times. Keep batteries out of the
reach of children. Remove all
jewelry when servicing batteries.

Before disconnecting the negative
(–) ground cable, make sure all
switches are OFF. If ON, a spark
will occur at the ground cable
terminal which could cause an
explosion if hydrogen gas or
gasoline vapors are present.

Congratulations – You have selected a fine four-cycle, twin cylinder, air-cooled engine. Kohler designs long life
strength and on-the-job durability into each engine...making a Kohler engine dependable...dependability you can
count on. Here are some reasons why:

• Efficient overhead valve design and full pressure lubrication provide maximum power , torque, and reliability
under all operating conditions.

• Dependable, maintenance free electronic ignition ensures fast, easy starts time after time.

• Kohler engines are easy to service. All routine service areas like the dipstick, oil fill, air cleaner, and spark
plugs are easily and quickly accessible.

• Parts subject to the most wear and tear (like the cylinder liner* and camshaft) are made from precision
formulated cast iron. Because the cylinder liner* can be rebored, these engines can last even longer.

*CH25/26 engines have POWER-BORE™ Cylinders. These cylinders are plated with nickel-silicon to give
increased power, virtually permanent cylinder life, superior oil control, and reduced exhaust emissions. These
cylinders cannot be rebored.

• Every Kohler engine is backed by a worldwide network of over 10,000 distributors and dealers. Service
support is just a phone call away . Call 1-800-544-2444 (U.S. & Canada) for Sales & Service assistance.

To keep your engine in top operating condition, follow the maintenance procedures in this manual.

3

Dipstick

Electric
Starter

Side Oil Drain Plugs

Figure 1. Typical Command Horizontal Shaft Engine (CH18-25).

Oil Cooler

Oil Fill

Fuel
Pump

Oil Filter

Rectifier-Regulator

Air Cleaner

Ignition Coil

Oil Filter

Throttle Body Intake Manifold

Ignition Coil

Fuel Injectors

Oil Cooler

Rectifier-Regulator

Figure 2. CH26 Command Horizontal Shaft Engine.

4

Oil Recommendations

Using the proper type and weight of oil in the crankcase
is extremely important. So is checking oil daily and
changing oil regularly. Failure to use the correct oil, or
using dirty oil, causes premature engine wear and
failure.

Oil Type

Use high quality detergent oil of API (American
Petroleum Institute) service class SG, SH, SJ or
higher. Select the viscosity based on the air

temperature at the time of operation as shown in the
following table.

**

*

Fuel Recommendations

WARNING: Exp losive Fuel!

Gasoline is extremely flammable and its vapors can
explode if ignited. Store gasoline only in approved
containers, in well ventilated, unoccupied buildings, away
from sparks or flames. Do not fill the fuel tank while the
engine is hot or running, since spilled fuel could ignite if
it comes in contact with hot parts or sparks from
ignition. Do not start the engine near spilled fuel. Never
use gasoline as a cleaning agent.

General Recommendations

Purchase gasoline in small quantities and store in clean,
approved containers. A container with a capacity of 2
gallons or less with a pouring spout is recommended.
Such a container is easier to handle and helps eliminate
spillage during refueling.

Do not use gasoline left over from the previous season,
to minimize gum deposits in fuel system and to insure
easy starting.

*Use of synthetic oil having 5W-20 or 5W-30 rating is
acceptable, up to 40°F.
**Synthetic oils will provide better starting in extreme
cold (below -10°F).

Figure 3. Viscosity Grades Table.

NOTE: Using other than service class SG, SH, SJ or

higher oil or extending oil change intervals
longer than recommended can cause engine
damage.

A logo or symbol on oil containers identifies the API
service class and SAE viscosity grade. See Figure 4.

Figure 4. Oil Container Logo.

Do not add oil to the gasoline.
Do not overfill the fuel tank. Leave room for the fuel to

expand.

Fuel Type

For best results use only clean, fresh, unleaded
gasoline with a pump sticker octane rating of 87 or
higher . In countries using the Research method, it
should be 90 octane minimum.

Unleaded gasoline is recommended as it leaves less
combustion chamber deposits and reduces harmful
exhaust emissions. Leaded gasoline is not
recommended and must not be used on CH26 engines.

Gasoline/Alcohol blends

Gasohol (up to 10% ethyl alcohol, 90% unleaded
gasoline by volume) is approved as a fuel for Kohler
engines. Other gasoline/alcohol blends are not approved.

Gasoline/Ether blends

Methyl T ertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and unleaded
gasoline blends (up to a maximum of 15% MTBE by
volume) are approved as a fuel for Kohler engines. Other
gasoline/ether blends are not approved.

Refer to “Maintenance Instructions” beginning on
page 8 for detailed oil check, oil change, and oil
filter change procedures.

5

Engine Identification Numbers

When ordering parts, or in any communication involving
an engine, always give the Model, Specification, and
Serial Numbers of the engine.

The engine identification numbers appear on a decal (or
decals) affixed to the engine shrouding. Include letter
suffixes, if there are any .

Operating Instructions

Also read the operating instructions of the equipment
this engine powers.

Pre-Start Checklist

• Check oil level. Add oil if low . Do not overfill.

• Check fuel level. Add fuel if low.

Record your engine identification numbers on the
identification label below (Figure 5) for future reference.

MODEL NO.
SPEC. NO.
DISPL (CC)
SERIAL NO.

REFER TO OWNER'S MANUAL FOR
SAFETY , MAINTENANCE SPECS AND
ADJUSTMENTS. FOR SALES AND
SERVICE IN US/CANADA CALL:

1-800-544-2444

KOHLER CO. KOHLER, WI USA

IMPORTANT ENGINE INFORMA TION
THIS ENGINE MEETS U.S. EPA
PHASE 1 AND 1995-1999
CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL

REGULATIONS FOR SORE*

FAMIL Y
MODEL NO.
SPEC. NO.
DISPL (CC)
SERIAL NO.

REFER TO OWNER'S MANUAL FOR
SAFETY , MAINTENANCE SPECS AND
ADJUSTMENTS. FOR SALES AND
SERVICE IN US/CANADA CALL:

1-800-544-2444

KOHLER CO. KOHLER, WI USA

• Check cooling air intake areas and external
surfaces of engine. Make sure they are clean and
unobstructed.

• Check that the air cleaner components and all
shrouds, equipment covers, and guards are in
place and securely fastened.

• Check that any clutches or transmissions are
disengaged or placed in neutral. This is especially
important on equipment with hydrostatic drive. The
shift lever must be exactly in neutral to prevent
resistance which could keep the engine from
starting.

WARNING: Lethal Exhaust Gases!

Engine exhaust gases contain poisonous carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless,
and can cause death if inhaled. Avoid inhaling exhaust
fumes, and never run the engine in a closed building
or confined area.

Cold Weather Starting Hints

1. Be sure to use the proper oil for the temperature
expected. See Figure 3 on page 5.

2. Disengage all possible external loads.

3. Set speed control at part throttle position.

4. Be sure the battery is in good condition. A warm
battery has much more starting capacity than a
cold battery.

If your engine has this identification label, it is
certified to meet EP A/CARB standards.

*Small Off-Road Engines

Figure 5. Engine Identification Labels.

6

5. Use fresh winter grade fuel. NOTE: Winter grade
gasoline has a higher volatility to improve starting.
Do not use gasoline left over from summer .

Starting

CH18-26 Engines:

1. Place the throttle control midway between the
‘‘slow’’ and ‘‘fast’’ positions. Place the choke

control (CH18-25 engines only) into the ‘‘on’’
position. See Figure 6.