Troy-Bilt

[jerkputter123]

My neighbor bought a 2013 Troy-Bilt exactly one year ago today. It has the 19 ho Kohler engine. He calls me over to take a look as the mower all of sudden starting making a noise and quit. It had oil all over the rear of engine. I cleaned it off and noticed a nice little hole in the rear of block. I assume it came apart and threw a rod. He said he had only used this mower about 6 times and had checked the oil just before he started cutting grass as he always does . It still looks new but the engine is shot. The marking on the engine said China Family ??? ,model SV590- family- DKHXS.5972GN, also China family- GZ0D83S05972GB. Now the problem comes if this engine is under warranty. I asked the people at Lowe's where he bought it and could not get a good answer. Does anyone here know if the engine would be under warranty, otherwise I got a nice piece of metal. thanks

[KE4AVB]

Normal Engine warranty for consumer use is 2 years: unless, otherwised specified in the mower owners manual. You would documentation of purchase and need to contact Kohler dealer or service center for repairs or replacement.

Link to help closest dealer or service center
http://www.kohlerengines.com/wheretobuy/landing.htm

[bgsengine]

Kohler Courage is made in China. You need the spec and serial number - we can tell you the year it was built by serial number, if you don't have a proof of purchase for the machine, the engine warranty is 2 years from the serial number, or 2 years from date of sale to original buyer.

But from the sound of your explanation, it may possibly be one of those bucket engines that had the problems with block cracking.
Could have had an oil pump failure, could have overheated from a mouse nest in the cooling fins.. Only an authorized Kohler dealer can inspect the engine for possible warranty - you'll want to leave the machine untouched - cleaning the oil off was not a good move, and if you disassembled anything, unless the dealer is real nice about it, you may be S.O.L. Failure diagnostics procedures require a careful inspection of the entire unit, and the less that has been altered since the time of failure, the better.

[jerkputter123]

No mouse nest. The mower has been kept in my basement which is clean and dry. I called a dealer today and they told me I would have had to buy it from them. I know that is not right. I will call Kohler tomorrow as I have the number to reach them. I hope they pay for it. I bet this mower has less than 20 hours on it. The engine was made May 1st 2013 so It should be covered. Thanks.

[bgsengine]

No mouse nest. The mower has been kept in my basement which is clean and dry. I called a dealer today and they told me I would have had to buy it from them. I know that is not right.

Not really - Dealers may make the choice to refuse to service machines that they did not sell (Although, under their MTD Contract, they are required to accept for warranty ANY MTD product even those sold in box stores, for warranty.. But, your problem is KOHLER ENGINE related, and as far as I know there;'s no such provision in the Kohler dealer contract to service any Kohler that comes through the door.... )

I will call Kohler tomorrow as I have the number to reach them. I hope they pay for it. I bet this mower has less than 20 hours on it. The engine was made May 1st 2013 so It should be covered. Thanks.

They very well might cover it, but hours on it means nothing - an engine that is not properly set up or used the wrong oil, wrong filter, aftermarket parts in service - whether it was installed by you or by a dealer or even by the retailer during setup, can throw a rod in as little as 10 minutes after first start up, so it will still require a failure analysis, but Kohler will probably send you to a dealer. (and be sure to mention to them what that dealer you first tried said.)