pacer 3,168 #1 Posted January 20, 2014 While Marvins illness was being diagnosed - and subsequently cured - I was following along curiously as to what the problem was and to see just what was going on. About the time wiring was being identified by Mike as the culprit, my own freshly rebuilt K241 that had started promptly and was running beautifully developed strangely similar symptoms as Marvin. And, like Mike, first thing I chased was fuel thinking that was it - pulled carb, checked for blockage, float level, jetting, etc, etc -- no joy. Would start and sputter, back fire, stumble, etc. Finally noticed the points to coil wire had got next to the muffler, moved it aside and checked continuity, ckd OK but same problem. Changed coil, points, condenser, checked switch wiring (sound familiar, Mike?) nothing! So after the last couple days stewing on it - and re-reading Marvins post several times - I'm convinced its wiring and I'll start with the first thing I saw bad - the points/coil wire. So this morning I removed the points/coil wire and threw it away and made up a new one ---- and guess what? Runs beautifully again! YEAH!! Moral of this story is wiring can be a booger and even if it shows continuity after being next to the muffler, replace the dang thing! Also check previous posts on similar problems, without having the post on Marvins problems and the resulting solution I'd probably still be chasing my tail. Red Square and its members to the rescue -- again. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,685 #2 Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) Pacer...glad you found it before you were going to replace that Kohler with a Techy... You will be glad you persevered to persevere. I can't tell you how close Squonk was to doing that. Edited January 20, 2014 by stevasaurus 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #3 Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) I have to agree....sometimes parts will check out ok on the test bench, but not work properly when in service. I had a mechanical float (mercury free) acting up and a pump would run constantly. Removed the float and could not detect any break-down in the wires or mechanical contacts. Everything tested fine. Re-installed the float and all looked ok for a couple of hours then it started doing the same thing....N.O. switch was staying "made" when it should be "open". Replaced with a new float and everything is working as it should. Edited January 21, 2014 by KC9KAS 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,010 #4 Posted January 21, 2014 Here was another "Baffler". I was using my 704 one day, had been running like a top when all of a sudden it started running crappy and died. I thought dirt got in the carb so I took it apart. Nothing found there. Turned out the kill switch wire had rubbed on the steering shaft and was grounding out the mag. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,010 #5 Posted January 21, 2014 Pacer...glad you found it before you were going to replace that Kohler with a Techy... You will be glad you persevered to persevere. I can't tell you how close Squonk was to doing that. No Tecky. Would have found. A Magnum. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
47JDG 65 #6 Posted January 21, 2014 I had a similar situation on a K241 I did a complete rebuild on. It ran perfect for weeks, then started to develop the same symptoms. I tried a different condenser, etc...and it would be fine for a while then start to spit and backfire after a while again...turned out I had simply wired the coil up backwards. It seems silly but they can run good like this for a while. I swapped my wires around and its been perfect ever since. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,685 #7 Posted January 21, 2014 It is still great that the information is here on Red Square to have the people and resources to figure things out...along with the since of humor...very cool. and it is free!!! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,010 #8 Posted January 21, 2014 My biggest problem is I'll rack my brain for hours trying to solve a problem. Then I'll wake up at 3 in the morning ( like us old guys do ) and the light will go on in my head! Happens all the time 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #9 Posted January 21, 2014 My biggest problem is I'll rack my brain for hours trying to solve a problem. Then I'll wake up at 3 in the morning ( like us old guys do ) and the light will go on in my head! Happens all the time How true, how true! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
