Engine wont cold start w/o starting fluid, fine otherwise: Kohler courage 24hp

[roaulduke]

Hi all,

I have a Craftsman zeroturn with a Kohler Courage 24HP v-twin with 17 hours on it. (I know, Courage to buy one...) ITs on a Craftsman 54" zero turn which is the same mover as the Cub Cadet ZTR zero turn...

Starting:
Cold: just cranks, no start. Cold could be anywhere from 80f-50f ambient so far.
Warm start: no problem
Idle: perfect
Running: perfect
Mowing: perfect
Oil: fresh
Fuel: fresh

So to start it cold I take the air filter off, shoot on shot of starting fluid in it and it starts up and runs perfectly.

Anyone want to guess why this is? Thank you so much for any help you can give.

 

[cashman]

Check to make sure that your throttle control is fully closing the choke plate in the carb?

 

[reynoldston]

Yes I agree with checking the choke first and if that is working OK you might want to check if your fuel pump is hold prime.

 

[roaulduke]

The intake has a bend in it on this engine, should I be able to see the choke plate?

If I can't see it, would a decent check of the plate be to:
1. put the lever all the way on choke.
2. see if I can rotate it more where the linkage connects?

I don't know how to test the fuel pump for prime. Is it easy to do?

I think it may have sat for 90 days with fuel in it before I got it. Short of taking the carb apart or paying someone to clean it, is it worth trying a seafoam type product?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Fish]

Loosen the choke linkage and make sure that the choke is closing all of the way, then retighten.

 

[roaulduke]

OK! Thanks!

As Cashman thought the choke plate doesnt close all the way when the lever is fully forward. I can rotate the plate the linkage connects to another cm, manually, with the lever all the way on choke and indeed, it chokes when I do that.

I don't thing the linkage can be adjusted at the bottom and didnt take the plastic shrouds off to look at the top.

Will I need a service manual to find out how to adjust it?

 

[roaulduke]

Seems like I need to adjust the "choke control cable"?

Page 21 of the engine service manual http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/sm_32_690_01.pdf

Shows two cable clamps... one is connected to "H" the choke control cable... is this where I make the adjustment? Loosen the clamp, adjust, tighten it back up?

 

[cashman]

Place the throttle control all the way into the choke zone and loosen the throttle cable and move it to where the choke lever won't close the choke plate any further.

 

[roaulduke]

Thanks! I will tonight. I really appreciate your help.

 

[roaulduke]

Place the throttle control all the way into the choke zone and loosen the throttle cable and move it to where the choke lever won't close the choke plate any further.

This worked perfectly! One cm adjustment and its perfect. Thanks again, I would have been looking for the nonexistant choke cable for quite some time...