Recent content by Richard320

Could be the gas cap isn't venting. No air gets in, so no gas gets out. Next time it dies, open the gas cap, wait a minute, then put it all back and try starting it.

Look for a loose bracket or mount somewhere. Maybe a bolt fell out somewhere. Things could get cocked sideways and throw the works out of adjustment.

Without the exact model number, I'm just guessing. But the exploded diagram looks like there is a stud that screws in the block, which then has the fan cover on it, then the recoil starter, and lastly the nuts. So the whole stud is unscrewing. If you can unscrew all three, then you can probably...

Sounds like hydrostatic lock -- oil is inside the cylinder. And it won't compress, hence, it fights back when you try to start it. Pull the spark plug and see if it cranks better then. I'll betcha a whole bunch of oil gets blown out. When you do finally get it started, expect massive clouds...

If you had the carb off and started disassembly, could you have messed up the float somehow?

It sounds like the drive isn't disengaging before the brake engages.

This? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Recoil-Starter-for-Kohler-14-165-06-S-14-165-11-S-14-165-21-S/251599096554?hash=item3a94798aea:g:2nIAAOSwnHZYdae3

You might want to doublecheck that. Remember, you get a spark every revolution, whereas a lot of engines (automotive) only get a spark every other. The tach may be reading double.

Put a voltmeter or a test light to the starter solenoid and see if it gets power when you turn the key. If it doesn't, work backwards through the various safety switches to see which one is open. If it does get power, you'll have to dig a little to see if the starter failed, you've got poor...

Well, the owner's manual on searspartsdirect has a copyright of 2005. It's not listed as self propelled. . And I think the build date is January 9, 2005. Operative word think.

I'd begin with jumper cables. It sounds like nothing more sinister than a bad battery.

This looks really familiar. Reminds me of an ancient lawnmower I took apart when i was about 14. It didn't go back together, but that's another story... Anyway, I have an old book so I looked a little. Looks to me like that housing with the four bolts screwed into it is the flywheel nut. I'd...

I think it's more likely lean fuel than air leak. If it sits a lot, as generators do, gas evaporates and varnish grows in the carb and plugs circuits. Get a gasket kit and a can of carb cleaner.

Absolutely. And for adjusting floats.