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Hello-

I recently bought a Craftsman DGS 6500 fairly cheap. It has a 26 hp Kohler motor. It's in good condition but hard to start and runs rough. The previous owner says it needs a carburetor. I've already changed the spark plugs. Not much improvement. I've been searching the internet and found several but not confident it's the right part. Can anyone help me with the right part number for a new carburetor? Thanks!!

That engine uses the 32 853 12-S carb. Not cheap so I would start with a carb rebuild, but also need to check to make sure there aren't other things going on also. Compression, valve clearances, spark. Also I would pull the blower housing and check the part numbers on the ignition modules to make sure they match, and to make sure somebody hasn't tried to convert the DSAM or DSAI to the fixed timing ignition modules instead of the MDI modules.

ILENGINE said:

That engine uses the 32 853 12-S carb. Not cheap so I would start with a carb rebuild, but also need to check to make sure there aren't other things going on also. Compression, valve clearances, spark. Also I would pull the blower housing and check the part numbers on the ignition modules to make sure they match, and to make sure somebody hasn't tried to convert the DSAM or DSAI to the fixed timing ignition modules instead of the MDI modules.

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Thanks for your input I'm ordering a compression tester. I am getting spark. I confirmed that using a spark plug/ coil tester. Previous owner said he had replaced ignition coil packs back in 2023. I'm going to take it apart the next weekend or so and will check the valve clearances. Do you happen to know with that is is?

.004-006 intake and exhaust

ILENGINE said:

That engine uses the 32 853 12-S carb. Not cheap so I would start with a carb rebuild, but also need to check to make sure there aren't other things going on also. Compression, valve clearances, spark. Also I would pull the blower housing and check the part numbers on the ignition modules to make sure they match, and to make sure somebody hasn't tried to convert the DSAM or DSAI to the fixed timing ignition modules instead of the MDI modules.

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Ok, so I bought a 32 853 12-S carb from Amazon and installed it this past weekend. Installed a new fuel pump, gas filter, and a fuel shut-off valve. All came with the carb kit. I've never done a carb replacement before so took my time installing it to make sure I didn't miss anything or lose parts. I watched a youtube video beforehand how to do it. I thought it went pretty smooth. To my delight, it started after a couple of cranks. It ran nicely for about 1 minute then died. I tried to re-start it but it just turned and not start. I let it rest for a few minutes then tried it again. It started immediately but died again in like 10 seconds. Did this a couple of more times and it would start then die almost immediately like it's not getting gas to the carb. I disconnected the hose from the fuel pump that connects to the carb and started it to see if fuel is coming out. Gas is flowing. So, the fuel pump is good. What's the next step for me to troubleshoot? Is my new carb possibly defective? I'm a newbie at this. I hope it's something stupid that I just missed.

Is the fuel solenoid on the bottom of the carb clicking or can you feel it click when the key is turns on and off. I am thinking there is an issue with the afterfire solenoid on your new carb.

ILENGINE said:

Is the fuel solenoid on the bottom of the carb clicking or can you feel it click when the key is turns on and off. I am thinking there is an issue with the afterfire solenoid on your new carb.

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I don't know but I will test it. If it does not click, I guess it's bad? Is this a common issue? Can I bypass it somehow while I wait for a replacement?
If it is clicking, what else should I look at?

Not a common issue but I have had issues with Amazon Kohler carbs with faulty fuel solenoids. You maybe able to use the solenoid off of your old carb. If it doesn't click need to check to make sure there is battery voltage getting to the solenoid. Have seen a few key switches energize the solenoid in the start position but not in the run position.

ILENGINE said:

Not a common issue but I have had issues with Amazon Kohler carbs with faulty fuel solenoids. You maybe able to use the solenoid off of your old carb. If it doesn't click need to check to make sure there is battery voltage getting to the solenoid. Have seen a few key switches energize the solenoid in the start position but not in the run position.

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Great suggestions. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks!

JP98 said:

I don't know but I will test it. If it does not click, I guess it's bad? Is this a common issue? Can I bypass it somehow while I wait for a replacement?
If it is clicking, what else should I look at?

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Anti-afterfire solenoid on carburetor gumming up and not working is a fairly common problem. People also don’t understand how they work. The four options for a non working solenoid: 1) replace 2) clean and replace 3) bypass 4) replace with exact size bolt and gasket.

Tiger Small Engine said:

Anti-afterfire solenoid on carburetor gumming up and not working is a fairly common problem. People also don’t understand how they work. The four options for a non working solenoid: 1) replace 2) clean and replace 3) bypass 4) replace with exact size bolt and gasket.

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Thanks. I just watched a couple of youtube videos how to bypass it. I'm going to try that this weekend just to confirm that it is the issue.

You can't do that on here. It is a felony. People will get upset if you bypass it.

slomo said:

You can't do that on here. It is a felony. People will get upset if you bypass it.

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I said bypassing an anti-afterfire solenoid is an option. So can you show me the statute law that states this is a felony? Are the carburetor police going to come arrest you? This is like specialized screwdrivers for adjusting handheld equipment. I remember people saying how using these was against the law, and you could be fined, blah, blah, blah. How would you prove this, are the carburetor police coming again?

Tiger Small Engine said:

I said bypassing an anti-afterfire solenoid is an option. So can you show me the statute law that states this is a felony? Are the carburetor police going to come arrest you? This is like specialized screwdrivers for adjusting handheld equipment. I remember people saying how using these was against the law, and you could be fined, blah, blah, blah. How would you prove this, are the carburetor police coming again?

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I think he's joking. Who the hell really cares if anyone bypasses the fuel solenoid? There are plenty of youtube videos on it. Why haven't those been taken down by youtube?

There are laws that not fully enforced as they simply can't collect the fines. But if they come into a repair shop and find them bypassing they will write them up for a fine and do their best to collect that fine.

Why you think that some carbs with mixture screws that tuned at the factory and broken off to prevent the techs from re-tuning the carbs or glue area tight where you can't even access the screw. I even at least one carb that had mixture screw that was totally ineffective due them place a idle mixture jet in the same circuit. You could adjust all day and get no where.

StarTech said:

There are laws that not fully enforced as they simply can't collect the fines. But if they come into a repair shop and find them bypassing they will write them up for a fine and do their best to collect that fine.

Why you think that some carbs with mixture screws that tuned at the factory and broken off to prevent the techs from re-tuning the carbs or glue area tight where you can't even access the screw. I even at least one carb that had mixture screw that was totally ineffective due them place a idle mixture jet in the same circuit. You could adjust all day and get no where.

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I hear you. All I'm saying is, no one would care enough if I bypassed it. I'm not a repair shop. I'm just some Joe Schmoe trying to fix my own crap.

Just be thankful that they didn't go with the version that Kohler developed years ago where the main jet was part of the fuel solenoid. Those you could not bypass.

JP98 said:

I hear you. All I'm saying is, no one would care enough if I bypassed it. I'm not a repair shop. I'm just some Joe Schmoe trying to fix my own crap.

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Nobody would care if it is bypassed or not, but do keep in mind that the way the law is written, Joe Schmoe can also be on the hook for fines. The chances of that happening are almost nil, because they will focus more on the OEM, their distributors and dealers not the end user.

Tiger Small Engine said:

I said bypassing an anti-afterfire solenoid is an option. So can you show me the statute law that states this is a felony? Are the carburetor police going to come arrest you? This is like specialized screwdrivers for adjusting handheld equipment. I remember people saying how using these was against the law, and you could be fined, blah, blah, blah. How would you prove this, are the carburetor police coming again?

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Total joke my guy. This board is too serious. It was a joke. Just like spark arrestors on trimmers and such. If you say remove one, some folks get all EPA fired up.

slomo said:

Total joke my guy. This board is too serious. It was a joke. Just like spark arrestors on trimmers and such. If you say remove one, some folks get all EPA fired up.

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Same with limiter caps on handheld equipment, low and high adjustments. Occasionally these caps need to be removed to get the air/fuel mixture just right as the equipment ages.

Tiger Small Engine said:

Same with limiter caps on handheld equipment, low and high adjustments. Occasionally these caps need to be removed to get the air/fuel mixture just right as the equipment ages.

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The stuff they do sometimes to prevent anybody from adjusting a carb is crazy. From the epoxy filled adjustment screw area to the Stihl I ran into last year that needed adjusted and the caps were secured with blind roll pins.

ILENGINE said:

The stuff they do sometimes to prevent anybody from adjusting a carb is crazy. From the epoxy filled adjustment screw area to the Stihl I ran into last year that needed adjusted and the caps were secured with blind roll pins.

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If it is the ones I thinking of they are a royal pain to even get them to the release point. And the screws have plastic around them that can seize so can't adjust them even with the caps completely removed. I had to replace a carb last year because I couldn't even get the screws out so I could replace them. The new carb was easily adjusted with the hex bit thru the center hole.

StarTech said:

If it is the ones I thinking of they are a royal pain to even get them to the release point. And the screws have plastic around them that can seize so can't adjust them even with the caps completely removed. I had to replace a carb last year because I couldn't even get the screws out so I could replace them. The new carb was easily adjusted with the hex bit thru the center hole.

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That's the one. Seem to remember this one was on a MS361 I think.

more likely a MS251 or MS261 that has this metal cap that requires a 3mm extraction tool. The MS361 has a plastic one; unless, it has one of the latest carbs.

And I see the problem that I had the darn plastic insert didn't come out when I pulled the cap.

Where do you get the carb rebuild kits?

Where to get rebuild kit depends on the OEM and carb. Stihl with a controlling interest in Zama has blocked most of the kits. Even their dealers can't get rebuild kits. But I can be resourceful enough to find them a lot of the time but not always.

So what carburetor you looking for a kit for?