Kohler MV16, MV20, MV18 Manual

OWNER'S MANUAL

MAGNUM 16,18,20 HP

VERTICAL CRANKSHAFT

Safety Precautions

To ensure 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 can cause severe personal injury, death, or substantial property damage if the warning is ignored.

CAUTION

Caution is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that will or can cause minor personal injury or property damage if the caution 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.

WARNING

WARNING

WARNING

Explosive Fuel can cause fires and	Rotating Parts can cause severe	Hot Parts can cause severe burns.
severe burns.	injury.	Do not touch engine while operating
Stop engine before filling fuel tank.	Stay away while engine is in	or just after stopping.
	operation.

	Explosive Fuel!	Rotating Parts!		Hot Parts!
	Gasoline is extremely flammable	Keep hands, feet, hair, and clothing		Engine components can get
	and its vapors can explode if	away from all moving parts to		extremely hot from operation. To
	ignited. Store gasoline only in	prevent injury. Never operate the		prevent severe burns, do not touch
	approved containers, in well	engine with covers, shrouds, or		these areas while the engine is
	ventilated, unoccupied buildings,	guards removed.		running–or immediately after it is
	away from sparks or flames. Do not			turned off. Never operate the engine
	fill the fuel tank while the engine is			with heat shields or guards
		CAUTION
	hot or running, since spilled fuel			removed.
	could ignited if it comes in contact
	with hot parts or sparks from
	ignition. Do not start the engine			California
	near spilled fuel. Never use			Proposition 65 Warning
	gasoline as a cleaning agent.
		Electrical Shock can cause injury.		Engine exhaust from this product
		Do not touch wires while engine is		contains chemicals known to the
				State of California to cause
		running.		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.

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	Safety Precautions (Cont.)
WARNING	WARNING	WARNING

Accidental Starts can cause severe		Carbon Monoxide can cause		Explosive Gas can cause fires and
injury or death.		severe nausea, fainting or death.		severe acid burns.
Disconnect and ground spark plug		Do not operate engine in closed or		Charge battery only in a well
				ventilated area. Keep sources of
leads before servicing.		confined area.		ignition away.

Accidental Starts!	Lethal Exhaust Gases!	Explosive Gas!
Disabling engine. Accidental	Engine exhaust gases contain	Batteries produce explosive
starting can cause severe injury	poisonous carbon monoxide.	hydrogen gas while being charged.
or death. Before working on the	Carbon monoxide is odorless,	To prevent a fire or explosion,
engine or equipment, disable the	colorless, and cause death if	charge batteries only in well
engine as follows: 1) Disconnect the	inhaled. Avoid inhaling exhaust	ventilated areas. Keep sparks, open
spark plug lead(s). 2) Disconnect	fumes, and never run the engine in	flames, and other sources of ignition
negative (-) battery cable from	a closed building or confined area.	away from the battery at all times.
battery.		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:

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

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

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

•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.

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Spark Plug

Cooling

Fins Oil

Drain

Blower	Air Cleaner
Housing
	Spark Plug

Cooling

Fins

Carburetor DO NOT remove

this plugs.

DO NOT use these feet to mount the engine.

Electric

Starter

Oil Pan

Air Intake

Screen Oil Fill/

Dipstick

Oil

Filter

Oil

Drain

DO NOT remove these plugs.

Figure 1. Typical Magnum Vertical Shaft Engine.

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.

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

EXPORT OR

REPLACEMENT ENGINE

Figure 2. Engine Identification Label.

Record your engine identification numbers on the identification label illustration (Figure 2) for future reference.

Oil Recommendations

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

Before each start, make sure the crankcase is filled with proper type and quantity of oil.

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 table.

*Use of synthetic oil having 5W-20 or 5W-30 rating is acceptable, up to 4°C (40°F).

**Synthetic oils will provide better starting in extreme cold below -23°C (-10°F).

Figure 3. Viscosity Grades Table.

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Straight 30-weight (Kohler "Magnum") oil is preferred. SAE 10W-30 oil is not recommended above 32°F. Using this oil substantially increases oil consumption and combustion chamber deposits.

NOTE: Using other than service class SG, SH, SJ or higher oil or extending oil change intervals longer than recommended could cause engine damage which is not covered by the engine warranty.

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

Figure 4. Oil Container Logo.

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

Fuel Recommendations

WARNING: Explosive Fuel!

Gasoline is extremely flammable, and its vapors can explode if ignited. Store gasoline only in approved containers, in 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; wipe up spills immediately. 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 your fuel system and to ensure easy starting.

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. Leaded gasoline may be used in areas where unleaded is not available and exhaust emissions are not regulated. Be aware however, that the cylinder head will require more frequent service.

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 Tertiary 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.

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