Eight Decades of Innovation - A Kohler Timeline

Kohler has an industry leader for over eighty years by consistently offering innovative, reliable products and exceptional customer service. Curious about how a company stays in business across generations? Here's a timeline of Kohler events throughout their eighty years of innovation.

The 1920s
Kohler's first generator, released in 1920, was designed to serve rural markets. Kohler's first generator set, the KOHLER Automatic Power and Light Model "A," used a 1500-watt engine to deliver a 110-volt DC current.

The 1930s
In the 1930s, Kohler introduced their range of liquid-cooled diesel engines. Kohler engines also turned up in some unlikely places during this decade: Admiral Richard Byrd took several Kohler generators with him on his second expedition to the South Pole in 1933, even naming a mountain range after the company.

The 1940s
In 1948, Kohler opened a factory dedicated to the manufacture of small engines and began to develop a range of engines designed for industrial use.

The 1950s
Kohler introduced a single cylinder cast iron air-cooled engine, known as the K90, in 1951. The company introduced more K series engines throughout the 1950s, culminating in its interchangeable engines, which offered the convenience and flexibility of a common mounting foot pattern and crank height.

Kohler also exported its products overseas in the 1950s, particularly to Vietnam and Thailand. The company's small engines were used to power air compressors and small boats, and to pump water through irrigation systems.

The 1960s
In 1960, the company opened a brand new Engine and Electric Plant and built production facilities in Canada and Mexico. In 1965, Kohler introduced Automatic Compression Release (ARC), which featured more effortless recoil starts; and in 1966, Kohler proudly announced that engine number 1,000,000 had just rolled off the production line.

The 1970s
For Kohler, the seventies were a period of continued expansion into international distribution and snowmobile engine sales. Kohler's one-millionth international sale was shipped in 1976.

The 1980s
During the 1980s, Kohler introduced a newly designed connecting rod, full-pressure lubrication and a crankshaft design that featured steel-backed sleeve bearings at both ends. Kohler also introduced improved air filtration and electronic ignition during this time. In 1986, the company unveiled its line of Command engines, which featured hydraulic valve lifters and OHV design.

The 1990s
In 1991, Kohler released a line of vertical shaft twin cylinder engines designed for lawn mowers. In 1995, Kohler marketed the first overhead cam engines (OHC) in the industry; and in 1998 Kohler received an award for its OHC 18 HP engine. In 1999, the first liquid cooled Aegis engine was introduced.

The 2000s
Today, Kohler offers a wide variety of commercial and industrial engines, including lawnmowers, heavy-duty concrete saws, industrial welding equipment, generators and pressure washers. In late 2008, Kohler pushed the engine industry toward environmentally-safe innovation when it announced that over the next two years, all of its Aegis liquid-cooled and Command Pro engines will utilize electronic fuel injection, meaning lower fuel emissions as well as improved performance. The 2000s also saw Kohler participating in the war effort in Iraq by powering machines used to remove potentially lethal debris from roadsides. Just as Kohler has filled Americans' private and commercial engine needs for the past eighty years, it continues to exemplify the American dedication to innovation and self-improvement.

~Ben Anton, 2009

Find a Kohler lawn mower engine kit online at the Repower Specialists site specializing in mower, truckster and golf cart engine repower kits

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By Ben Anton

Fixing the Real Problem - Roadside Assistance and Not Just Towing

When you are travelling to and from work, and the car breaks down, it may be necessary to tow the vehicle home. But towing is something you only want to do if absolutely necessary, because towing can be fraught with problems depending on the situation. But there are two terms that have managed to get mixed together and they are really entirely different things: roadside assistance and emergency towing.

Calling for roadside assistance does not necessarily mean calling for towing services when you choose a professional and qualified mobile car service. You might need your car towed, but that should always be a last alternative and not a first choice. Roadside assistance should provide real help and not just a hook-and-tow solution.

Driving Away the Problem

In other words, roadside assistance should include true service which focuses on repairing your car so you can drive it away. This requires an experienced and trained mechanic and sophisticated mobile diagnostic equipment that can be used to identify the source of the problem. In up to 85% of the cases where emergency assistance has been requested, a repair could have been performed on the spot and towing avoided.

Unfortunately there are companies which believe towing should come first. Cars are often damaged in the process too. The whole event becomes even more distressing after discovering a simple repair such as a battery replacement or a simple belt replacement was all that was needed to get the vehicle running again.

Of course, you can also call for roadside assistance even when you are not travelling on the road! Roadside assistance is not only different from towing services; it is different from strictly emergency services. When your car needs maintenance or repair, you can call a mobile mechanic no matter where your car is located. Your car may be sitting in your driveway or at work where car repairs can be completed by a mobile auto mechanic. It doesn't have to be sitting on the side of the road.

Getting "Real"

Roadside assistance is "real" auto repair intended to last. It's not a quick fix intended to get you from point A to point B. It's truck or car repair that fixes the real problem so you don't break down again in the near future.

You might need a simple battery replacement, lock out services, fuel, or a flat tire fixed. But you also might need a tune-up, air conditioning work, electrical repairs, timing belt replacement, transmission adjustments, or new brakes installed. You can use emergency services for the first set of problems, but will need roadside assistance for all on-site long lasting repairs whether the site is 50 miles from home or in your garage.

It's like the difference between saying you are going out to eat, and eating fast food versus eating a healthy meal made with high quality ingredients at a regular restaurant. The fast food quickly fills you up, but you'll soon be hungry again. The healthy meal takes a little longer to eat, but you will not be hungry for hours and will get more nutrition.

A tow is a quick fix. Roadside assistance solves the real auto or truck problem so you get back on the road knowing the repair will be enduring.

Mobile Car Care is a fully trained Mobile Mechanics and Auto Electricians servicing company. Our Mobile Mechanic Service Units are fully equipped to perform all car repairs, auto electrical repairs, and car, commercial and 4WD service. For more information, visit Mobile Mechanics Melbourne

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By Martin Mansour

You Can Save Money on Car Tires

Let's face it: buying car tires isn't the most exciting thing that a consumer has to do. But, it can also become one of the more expensive shopping trips you make if you blindly go out and shop without knowing what your buying options are.

You can save money on tires for car, truck, van, crossover or sport/utility vehicle. Prices are all over the place, but why should you pay a premium for something you can easily save money on?

Please read on and we'll examine some simple, yet important tips for you to take when you shop for automotive tires:

Replace All Four Tires - If you need new tires, replace all four tires at the same time. Generally, tire retailers will give you the best price when you buy a complete set, often offering supporting advertising such as buy four tires and pay for three. Besides, when you replace your tires at once, you can ensure that they wear evenly too.

Shop Online, Clip Coupons - I like to shop online for just about everything including car tires. No, I don't buy my tires over the internet, but I do use the worldwide web to show me the best prices locally. The same brand tires at one store could be sold for a vastly different price elsewhere.

Choose High Mileage Tires - If you plan on keeping your car for a long time, don't settle for tires with a 40,000 mile warranty. Instead, check out the various 60-, 70-, even 80,000 mile tires available for your car. Chances are you won't pay a whole lot more for higher mileage tires, but you'll recoup that expense over time.

Get Other Work Done - If you are replacing your tires, use that opportunity to have the shop check you brakes, your suspension and related parts at the same time. As long as they have your car on the lift, you might as well combine tasks which will save on labor costs.

Finally, make sure that the tires you buy are the right set for your car. Check your vehicle's owner manual for guidance as well as take a look at the inside of the driver's door for tire information.

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Toyota rims and Mercedes rims

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By Matthew Keegan

Get Your Perfect Car From Government Car Auctions

It is no secret that government agencies at the local, state and federal levels regularly hold used car auctions. However, most people do not know where to find these kinds of auctions or how to be a participant. The government car auctions can be a wonderful source for getting your hands on a tremendously discounted vehicle. It is well worth the time to learn about them.

Many people are only interested in a government car auto to get a reliable car for the family and save some money in the process. However, there are some people who turn big profits by frequenting these government auctions, snapping up all the deals they can, and then turning around and selling these same vehicles at their used car dealership for twice the price, or more, of what they paid at the auction.

However, it should be noted that these dealers don't always make a windfall profit when they buy vehicles from government car auctions. This is because the cars sold through these public auto auctions are sold on an "as is" basis and they do not have any kind of guarantee or warranty on the condition of the vehicle; all sales are final.

For the car dealer who uses a government car auction to get a number of cars for his dealership on a regular basis, this means that there will be a percentage of the cars that are in need of a considerable amount of repair work before they can be resold. Most of the time, these dealers have a staff of mechanics that can deal with these problems, so in many ways it can be better that the dealers get these cars that have hidden problems because they can handle these issues more easily than an average consumer can.

For people who have the skills and equipment to work on cars themselves, a government car auction can be the perfect way to get a car at a price that is almost a steal. But, if you don't know a lot about the mechanical workings of a car, then it might not be quite as wonderful.

The car you end up bidding on and winning may be reliable, or it could be a lemon. Just keep in mind that it is the responsibility of the bidder to determine the condition of the vehicle before they start bidding on it. Once you are awarded the winning bid, you are committed and the car is yours.

If you can get a hold of a government car auctions listing that isn't publicize widely, then you will have the best opportunity for getting the best possible price. This will entail undertaking a bit of sleuthing work to track down the government auto auctions that are local to you, instead of waiting to hear an advertisement about it, but the extra effort you put in could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars when you go to the car auto auction.

Educate yourself further about government car auctions from Mike Selvon articles portal. Your feedback is valued and appreciated at our wholesale auto auction blog where a free audio gift awaits you

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By Mike Selvon

You Can Find Your Automobile of Choice From Japanese Used Car Auctions

Used car auctions are getting to be a very popular way to buy cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and other types of vehicles these days. People enjoy the process of a car auto auction, which usually means they are able to get a better price that they would from a dealership, plus they can avoid haggling with a salesman. A Japanese used car auction is one of the best ways to pick up your favorite model of Japanese vehicle and get a good price.

While all kinds of different auctions are getting increasingly popular, from the online auto auction sites to the functions held at car auction houses, it seems the Japanese car auction events are gaining in popularity even faster than other types. Part of the reason for this is the general popularity of the Japanese cars these days because of their overall reliability and because they get better gas mileage than many American made vehicles.

Because of these factors, many more people are starting to consider Japanese models, as they represent some of the best values on the market today. Combine that with the prices that people can get through a Japanese used car auction and it makes a lot of sense to try to locate these special types of used auto auctions in your area.

There are many different types of vehicle auctions these days that will often feature Japanese automobile models, as well as many others brands of vehicles. A great number of the cars that are sold at any kind of car auto auction are seized cars and repossessed cars. These are cars that have been seized by a governmental agency because of some type of illegal activity on the part of the owner, or they have been repossessed by the financial lending institution because of failure to pay on the debt.

No matter what type of public car auction you attend, whether it is for a used Japanese car or a collector car, there are some basic things that must be understood about how all motor car auctions work. First of all, you need to either have cash, a cashier's check or a pre-approved loan before you can even register at the auction and participate in the bidding.

The reason why you have to have the money upfront is that all sales at auto auctions are final and you are expected to pay for the vehicle as soon as the auction is over. Because sales are final, you also need to be confident in your ability to spot any problems that a used car has during the brief inspection time that you will have before the bidding starts.

The bottom line is that a Japanese used car auction has the potential to help you get our favorite model of Japanese vehicle at a better price than you will find anywhere else. The tradeoff is that all of the cars that are sold through used car auctions are sold "as is" and they don't come with any kind of warranty or guarantee. And sales are final, so once you win the bid, any problems with the automobile are yours to take care of without any support from the seller.

Educate yourself further about the Japanese used car auctions from Mike Selvon articles portal. Your feedback is valued and appreciated at our wholesale auto auction blog where a free audio gift awaits you

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By Mike Selvon

Online Car Auction Websites Can Help You Find Your Car of Choice

Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases that most people make, second only to a house, and everyone hopes to find a steal of a deal when it comes time to buy. These days, thanks to the internet and online car auction websites, there are even more options for checking out a large selection of seized cars, repossessed cars and vehicles that are being sold through the various kinds of used car auctions, both online and off.

One of the best things about the online auto auctions is that, while browsing the internet for just the right vehicle to meet the needs of you and your family, you can also take advantage of that same technology to do the investigation that will help you to know whether or not you really are getting a great deal on the car. Having that kind of research in hand, which includes digging up the Kelly Blue Book price to give you a good knowledge of the fair market price of the vehicle, will help you know when to stop bidding so that you don't get carried away and end up paying too much because you got sucked into a bidding war.

One of the reasons why online car auction websites are becoming more and more popular all the time is that they eliminate the hassles of dealing with a car salesman. There is actually a lot of truth to the old jokes about the various sales tactics that car salesmen employ, and you can avoid all of that when you make your purchase through a car auto auction.

As you prepare to make your first vehicle purchase through an online used car auction, you should register with at least a few of the different online car auction websites and spend some time getting familiar with every aspect of the website and the online auto auction proceedings and policies. Watch a few auctions on all of the sites that you are registered with to see how things progress and to get a feel for the "culture" of the different online auto auction sites. You will more than likely start to feel that one of the sites feels like the best place for you to try your hand at getting the winning bid on a car.

The websites that run the online auto auctions usually have a filtering function that will allow you to look for certain types of automobiles and to search in a certain region near your home. You might find that you have plenty of options within just a five mile radius of your home, or you may have to extend the search criteria for areas that are quite distant from your location. You will want to restrict the search area to a distance that you are comfortable driving to so that you can do an inspection and take the automobile for a test drive.

There are also vehicle history reports that are available online that can give you additional information on the vehicle you are interested in bidding on. Some online car auction sites provide those reports for an additional fee or have links to help you find such services. Do as much homework on the vehicle as you can upfront and keep in mind that with any type of used car auction, all sales are final.

Educate yourself further about the online car auctions from Mike Selvon articles portal. Your feedback is valued and appreciated at our wholesale auto auction blog where a free audio gift awaits you

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By Mike Selvon

What Pitfalls You Should Avoid With Auto Warranty Plans

"I think you have to automatically assume a 100 percent markup," Phil Reed, consumer advice editor at "Edmunds", said about car dealerships offering warranty plans. The misconception about shopping around for an extended warranty quote online is that all the companies operate solely on the internet, with no formal establishment.

However, car dealerships spend a good deal of time "shopping around" online as well. One of the most lucrative aspects of the car sales industry is the extended auto warranty. Many consumers are shocked to learn that car dealerships function like any other retail outlet, marking up not just the cars but all of the finer details as well. It makes sense, then, to do a little homework online and figure out what a reasonable price should be, prior to hunting for cars.

One common problem people run into is to fail to read and understand the agreement before they get work done. Knowing the right questions to ask your warranty company is crucial, experts say. For instance, ask if you can get the work done at any shop, or do you have to look for a certain certification, or in some cases return to the dealer? Additionally, is your car covered for "wear and tear" damage or just mechanical failure? You should have a comprehensive list of all the parts that are/aren't covered!

Sometimes you'll get a "bumper to bumper" warranty that covers everything except for the wear items, like brakes and tires, while other times you'll get a "power train" warranty, which covers the engine and transmission. While it's rare to find a company that offers coverage for everything, you should ensure that some of the most expensive repairs will be taken care of.

Secondly, you should find out if there are certain stipulations that would make you ineligible for utilizing purchased warranty plans. In some cases, consumers have had their claims denied because they continued driving after their engines overheated or they attached unauthorized tow hitches to their cars. Sometimes, if you don't get regular oil changes or fluid top-ups, then you could be at risk for vetoing your right to coverage as well. Know the rules and stick to them!

Warranty plans can be intimidating at first, especially because there are so many companies to choose from. You may want to try "Auto Warranty Reviews" or another comparison site. Look at how long the warranty company has been in business and how many claims they've addressed, their BBB rating, if they have clients like car dealerships and banks, if they fully explain their plans with details, if they offer written terms and conditions, if they cover all 50 states (in case you're traveling and have a problem) and if there is some sort of money back guarantee.

We offer a free extended warranty audio gift. Learn more about the automotive warranty plans pitfalls at our portal, and drop us a note at our wholesale extended warranty coverage blog

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By Mike Selvon