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Kohler Command 17.5 with about 430 hrs. Was mowing and after about an hour the engine just died. Sit for about 10 minutes and started. Ran about 20 minutes and died again. Put it up for the night and started it the next morning. It cranked and died again. Changed the fuel filter yesterday. Filter is not full but the carb is getting fuel. Have spark at the plug but will not start.

Went back out to double check the spark with my tester and if fired with the tester plugged in. Removed the tester and tried some starting fluid and nothing. Should the fuel filter be full?

Bee Man said:

Kohler Command 17.5 with about 430 hrs. Was mowing and after about an hour the engine just died. Sit for about 10 minutes and started. Ran about 20 minutes and died again. Put it up for the night and started it the next morning. It cranked and died again. Changed the fuel filter yesterday. Filter is not full but the carb is getting fuel. Have spark at the plug but will not start.

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Your problem is a commonly reported problem...Mower runs a while then dies

When it dies...put ear near gas cap and listen for air rushing in.

You are losing fuel supply or fire to your plugs...you must determine which and we will go from there.

shiftsuper175607 said:

Your problem is a commonly reported problem...Mower runs a while then dies

When it dies...put ear near gas cap and listen for air rushing in.

You are losing fuel supply or fire to your plugs...you must determine which and we will go from there.

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"The gas cap is not plugged but the diaphragm is cracked."

Bee Man said:

"The gas cap is not plugged but the diaphragm is cracked."

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What diaphragm?

shiftsuper175607 said:

Your problem is a commonly reported problem...Mower runs a while then dies

When it dies...put ear near gas cap and listen for air rushing in.

You are losing fuel supply or fire to your plugs...you must determine which and we will go from there.

Click to expand...

"Went back out to double check the spark with my tester and if fired with the tester plugged in. Removed the tester and tried some starting fluid and nothing. Should the fuel filter be full?"

shiftsuper175607 said:

What diaphragm?

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Rubber on the underside of the cap

Bee Man said:

"Went back out to double check the spark with my tester and if fired with the tester plugged in. Removed the tester and tried some starting fluid and nothing. Should the fuel filter be full?"

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You sprayed too much starting fluid.

If it has spark when the engine is cranking and it gets a little fuel in the cylinder it will try to start.

Or, if the choke is closed when you spray...the starting fluid never gets in to the cylinder...

Try again?

shiftsuper175607 said:

You sprayed too much starting fluid.

If it has spark when the engine is cranking and it gets a little fuel in the cylinder it will try to start.

Or, if the choke is closed when you spray...the starting fluid never gets in to the cylinder...

Try again?

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This morning I checked the fuel shutoff solenoid and it's working fine. Carb bowl was full of fuel. Tried to crank it and it fired right up. Do you think the coil is breaking down?

Bee Man said:

This morning I checked the fuel shutoff solenoid and it's working fine. Carb bowl was full of fuel. Tried to crank it and it fired right up. Do you think the coil is breaking down?

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No I don't

Run it with your spark tester and if it dies after 10 minutes...crank it and see if it is firing...
If not...maybe it is the coil.

Whet it dies while using is the time you have to determine if it has lost spark or fuel


By spark tester or with a small of spray of start fluid in carb air cleaner...at that time.

shiftsuper175607 said:

No I don't

Run it with your spark tester and if it dies after 10 minutes...crank it and see if it is firing...
If not...maybe it is the coil.

Whet it dies while using is the time you have to determine if it has lost spark or fuel


By spark tester or with a small of spray of start fluid in carb air cleaner...at that time.

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Plugged in the spark tester and have spark. Tried to start it and nothing. Tried the starting fluid and nothing. What now?

Bee Man said:

Plugged in the spark tester and have spark. Tried to start it and nothing. Tried the starting fluid and nothing. What now?

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If you have spark and spray starting fluid it should try to start!!!
You have fuel and fire...
Spark plug could still be bad


Carburetor sucked up some little bit and blocked jet...
clean carb.

Remove the spark plug and put a short shot ( less than 1 second ) down the plug hole. Try to start the engine.
IF nothing then the spark is out of time.
If you get pops out of the carb or exhaust the the vales are the problem.

shiftsuper175607 said:

If you have spark and spray starting fluid it should try to start!!!
You have fuel and fire...
Spark plug could still be bad


Carburetor sucked up some little bit and blocked jet...
clean carb.

Click to expand...

Went out this morning and pulled off the fuel line going into the fuel pump. Let out about a pint of gas into a jug. Re attached fuel line and moved around to the carb. Pulled the fuel line going to the carb and cranked over the engine. Had fuel going into the carb. Pulled the filter cover off the carb and sprayed carb cleaner directly into the carb, Went around to check the plug, spark tester is still attached and showing spark. Noticed the spark tester is not fully plugged in. Snapped it in and tried to crank it. Fired right up and running like a champ! Left it running and put all the filter parts back on and mowed for about twenty-five minutes. Still running!!! No idea what fixed it, but it's running! Thanks for all the advice!!! I'll will keep you posted...

bertsmobile1 said:

Remove the spark plug and put a short shot ( less than 1 second ) down the plug hole. Try to start the engine.
IF nothing then the spark is out of time.
If you get pops out of the carb or exhaust the the vales are the problem.

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Thanks for your advice! Got it running!!!

Bee Man said:

Thanks for your advice! Got it running!!!

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Bad fuel by the sounds of it.