Jump to content

Unofficial Home of Old Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractors

Gene's Shop

  • entries
    21
  • comments
    113
  • views
    26,478

Sovereign Repower


gwiseman

5,207 views

Everyone has them if they admit it. My money pit long-term project is about to get re-started. I've been lurking around eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and on-line classifieds. Patience... I won the Ebay auction the February 16, shipments only on Fridays and for some reason not on all Fridays...Confirmation received item was shipped March 1 from Portland OR and on March 8 the box arrived via Old Dominion at my work in Jefferson City, MO.6B11CE31-A6FD-4E42-BF61-1E839B0B63A4.thumb.jpeg.36873324721d87f4a12a381d37d7db9b.jpeg

 

Box unloaded in the shop.

 A98BEA76-575F-47EA-9FC0-F4639DF920A2.thumb.jpeg.ec76f65c66ed2b3a9d3d083ec4320a21.jpeg

 

Lots of screws and staples

B0D07FD8-ECF6-49DC-9780-C058CB8D9D30.thumb.jpeg.e14c86ed1c01e83c43956b3a1d3c6758.jpeg

 

Contents and project hint

62FAA2E7-BAD2-402F-9DC1-73F76D80305D.thumb.jpeg.0c70da579fcc340a177ef95281132281.jpeg

 

Contents revealed: Kohler CH-18  that has been setting in a warehouse with some parts taken off. I worked out a deal to trade the vendor the muffler I didn't need or want for a valve cover that was robbed for parts. Got lucky - was supplied with a newer one with yellow o-ring. A3E95D06-23B0-4BAD-B0E4-5F1E90300BA8.thumb.jpeg.d325a7e26190990230b88640cfbf04d6.jpeg

 

Engine is 2004 vintage. Its clean inside but I'll run the first oil a short time and change along with filter to rid of dirt and dust particles that I am sure have accumulated.

 5DDAA292-9FF2-45C4-8C0F-4FA28B2AE5AB.thumb.jpeg.ba1dc525039703921b79fec9bff1c6eb.jpeg

 

Modifications begin. I have most of the parts needed to make it Simplicity worthy

A5E2945D-5BAE-4E20-A4F9-011BFD868A72.thumb.jpeg.d3531723e80c5c8787ec0e60e621cb7b.jpeg

 

Will change out ignition coils with newer Kohler replacements I have on the shelf. F0AE0990-7404-44F8-8AB6-6DCDE93DE8A4.thumb.jpeg.5b45d091dc54d4813e9429d99251d102.jpeg

 

Ordered inspection plates from OPE Engines and headed to Destin, FL. Project to resume upon return

As usual I practiced installation to get it right. Somehow I didn’t consider the engine might not be wired correctly for my application. Here is a picture of 1st install. If you look close you can see extra wires at the starter. Not shown are the extras in the connector. 

0CFC6C73-7F39-4DEA-B2C8-DE85E3F70988.thumb.jpeg.fcbf78f8be9450054abd659f2f8b26d2.jpeg

So I uninstalled the engine and stole from the shot parts Command that was in the tractor when I bought it. I planned to build my own new harness but my local O’R does not stock Delphi-Packard connectors do I installed the old Simplicity application harness. 

617283A4-DA6C-4227-80D0-2C38BDA57AA7.thumb.png.1b3d093077d23f8b560c74a39cb44ad8.png

2113095D-7336-44AD-9E39-CFFCD5CDAECF.thumb.jpeg.38642edba668d719182c191a8559dd81.jpeg

I have a video of it purring after initial sputters😮 what a nice sound. Wish I could upload from my iPhone but a screenshot and your imagination... Next the hood.

I used @PhanDad Kohler muffler idea.

E688B15C-AE10-49B0-A838-DC870DD65A51.thumb.jpeg.747f2caeb25fe5f7240c47c29d3377f8.jpeg7468DEE1-E5E1-443B-B798-CE6F10DF3D38.thumb.jpeg.16fd38025393de143907bbee7238927e.jpeg

Notice, I didn't bend the exhaust outlet exactly correct so the exhaust pipe I had made at a local muffler shop is resting on the frame. May have to adjust with the gas wrench later.  I will not install light bulbs in the headlights until I know the heat situation up front. The muffler is noticeably located higher than OEM. I expect I’ll be removing the old recessed bezels and adding something outside the hood. Anyone have a set from a 75th🤔?  

Update:  headlights cannot connected. The hood would not close due to muffler rubbing on the light. 83F958AB-43B4-40F3-AC92-C1B7BAB76914.thumb.jpeg.017e259e7de8501fc60b2e9578d78237.jpeg

66427F77-6632-4B96-B201-C06AC3282234.thumb.jpeg.d69cb71a87504b2073b5b423e779e7e2.jpeg

The hydro needed adjusting to center neutral. I used HF chocks to secure the tractor while working on it in the shop but at startup it climbed out easily (in neutral). Blocked up the tractor so the transaxle was off the floor, adjusted per service manual, and off to work.!

EBCF55B6-ABA9-487A-AD65-491EC121AA6A.thumb.jpeg.897f6a3fb0e4575ac12ae20173005870.jpeg

Worked Saturday clearing the yard  of sticks and mowing the first time. 

Engine ran really hot and I noted the exhaust getting cherry red while not working the tractor hard at all. Discussing at length with @CarlH only 3 causes: too much fuel-carb, timing-wrong ignition coils. Took a look again at paperwork from OPE Engines & yes I bought & installed wrong replacement coils! @PhanDad is correct. So, coils I took off are 14yrs old but essentially new. Tear down time8F9DF84C-4806-4F65-B9C0-380540923B80.thumb.jpeg.2abe8a843ef3d3a93d8db07e112c3e7f.jpeg9B39F12D-CF6C-44E4-9937-D4A4E031BC9B.thumb.jpeg.9f2e2bace3dcf5415ba4c87be0f7b80d.jpeg

Original coils in and it runs lots cooler! I’m excited to begin using it harder around the yard & lots.

October 10, 2019

2F8B5067-E730-4EB9-A34B-97B72E5741D2.thumb.jpeg.e782ab5ad647ba9bb599e3607c80b437.jpegAE5D16C9-E6F1-4E59-9B14-BC20885C17A1.thumb.jpeg.536b11d609f1c122802c782ff9e8acf4.jpeg

 I really enjoy working with the Sovereign now. Engine purrs and performs as it should. I had to remove the lights from the hood because the Kohler muffler addition invaded the light's space. I covered the area with sheet metal and plan to add lights outside the hood sometime in the future. Really like the power steering. Have a transaxle leak that I'm not sure if a hose, connection, or seep from a gasket area. When hot the oil spots the drive quite a lot. Found I just cannot pinpoint the leak and, spots look worse than reality.
7172CC5A-50C2-4D80-B5A0-766C9B57363A.thumb.jpeg.1dd25facb1c6357ac06c5f19ce42dac7.jpeg

6C53A6C0-CE40-4D30-B452-923D172F1E03.thumb.jpeg.b08da7aa33879b022aae690754b5f91e.jpeg

I moved a lot of snow the last week of Feb 2021. Not as nice as the newer foot controlled tractors to operate but still enjoyment. While the engine is out of my Conquest. Hydraulic lift is a plus too!  Found an original muffler & pipe in eBay so (see above) the lights are installed and operable.64410264-A216-4973-AB4B-91BB676DB5C8.thumb.jpeg.c190acb78b8abaa0c8e7716af20f0c5b.jpeg

 

  • Like 5

5 Comments


Recommended Comments

maxwood

Posted

Hello, Good to hear you got an engine . Is that a power steering  Sovereign ?  What parts  do you need ?

I have an extra aluminum  Drive shaft adapter ,that bolts to the kohler flywheel .

Thanks Ken in Mi

Link to comment
ShaunE

Posted (edited)

Gene I'm very happy for you!  That was a GREAT find!

Now if you chose, you can take your time sorting through the old Command & not feel "Under the gun".

 

Edited by ShaunE
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
gwiseman

Posted

On 3/17/2019 at 5:58 PM, maxwood said:

Hello, Good to hear you got an engine . Is that a power steering  Sovereign ?  What parts  do you need ?

I have an extra aluminum  Drive shaft adapter ,that bolts to the kohler flywheel .

Thanks Ken in Mi

Yes it is a power steering Sovereign @maxwood. I ordered the access panels for the blower housing; not sure I am going to mow with it much but these dudes kick up a lot of dust & debris and I want to be able to blow it out. I have an aluminum connector. I will need to pick up a grass chopper screen and blower housing for the engine I have at the machine shop. Also will need to pick up an oil drain valve.  

Link to comment
PhanDad

Posted (edited)

Looking great; coming along nicely. 

Your engine spec number is one digit different from the repower engine that was installed in my first 75th.

IMG_4623a.jpg.2280dc0d448eb91a7978acaf09aeb9fd.jpg

It had a on/off/start switch and throttle/choke controls that had the carb/choke ends of the cables cut off and the control levers abandoned in place:

IMG_4690.thumb.jpg.85afc91a4a17a780b47daccf5e4fde1f.jpg

As best I can tell from looking at pics of that engine, by 2008, the ignition coils were the newer part number (I wasn't aware of the issue when I did the reinstall and didn't check them).  

Looking forward to reading more. 

 

Edited by PhanDad
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...