I'm looking for some direction on my Kohler 18 v twin. It has a manual choke, will fire, and once I put the choke off will not continue to run. Almost seems as though it is flooding. The engine doesn't run more than 2-3 seconds so a total of about three or four cylinder fires I'm thinking. If I continue to crank the engine I'll smell gas shortly. If I let it sit for a while it will do the same thing, fire a few times then quit. I pulled the air filter to check the choke valve to make sure it was operating.
So I can't figure if it is the gas or the spark, but it seems it shouldn't be a spark problem if the engine fires. I've looked everywhere on the web but haven't found an answer that fits this question. I'm hoping someone might be able to help.
On a side note, I had just replaced the plugs, filters, and tuned the jet on the engine since it had been a while and the engine was running slightly erratic on idle. I had started it three times after and mowed flawlessly and ran flawless.
#2
Fish
first, you need to put up the model and spec. numbers
Checked the plugs for spark, good. Pulled the fuel solenoid and tested it, good. Gas pump is good as well. It'll fire with a squirt of ether so I'm thinking I may need to clean the carburetor out and reassemble. I'll let you know if that works.
#5
Fish
Yeah, I wanted to check and see if it had that funky "Smart Spark", but it doesn't.. Yeah, it sounds like the carb is likely flooding, and the fuel tank is under the seat of the tractor. If it isn't, or either way, check and make sure that your engine oil is not half gasoline..... And I would go through the carb and inspect/clean, and replace the needle, if you can find some numbers and a brand off of the carb!! Hopefully it is a Walbro, or close to it. Kohler is quite proud of it for $365 fore a new carb!!!!
Are the carbs interchangable at all because I see the 2485350 carbs are considerably less than the2485341-S the book calls for. All I see different is the vertical gas intake. The mower was bought in Canada, so that maybe why the carb is a little less than common and they can charge twice the money for it.
#7
Fish
dunno. I'd pull apart the carb first and figure out who made it. Likely Walbro, and if so, the parts from Walbro would be reasonable.
I wouldn't replace the carb unless you found one dirt cheap...first off take a pair of needle nose pliers and pinch the fuel line closed between the fuel pump and carb.fire it up it should stay running now .if it does be ready to release the needle nose pliers when it starts to bog...release and crimp again after it starts to load up and blubber..so this 2 - 3x...it may push out whatever is stuck in the needle and seat assy...if clears up I'd drop the float bowl and clean it before the debris gets in the main jet.. if it still won't stay running, I'd suspect that you may have to remove and clean the carb soak it overnight in cleaning solution after disassembly and blow it out good..also try starting with the air filter off..see if it gets better. .if it does your air filter is plugged.even if it looks clean oil mist from the breather will soak it and clog it.
So I realize it has been a couple of months since I posted but I wanted to post the outcome on this problem. The problem was indeed gunk in the carb. Specifically the inner lining of the gas line between the pump and the filter began to break down. I tried to clean out and soak the carb but that didn't work. So I found a cheap carb on ebay (65$) which is quite a bit less than than the list price ($315) on parts tree. It worked great for one hour then the carb motor began to do the same thing. I took the new carb off and noticed the rubber chuncks/flakes in the float valve/assembly, realized what it was. I replaced the rest of the gas line, cleaned the new carb out, has worked great ever since. I'm assuming there is probably a product that would breakdown the rubber flakes if I soaked the old carb, but if not I have a back-up carb if I need it for parts now.
