wheeliepower 141 #1 Posted March 20, 2019 hi, I have a question to my kohler kt 17 engine in my wheel horse c-175. Is it normal, that the kohler engine do "saw" without load at stationary throttle ( It controls the engine speed up and down )? If I give more gas this sawing is no longer audible. The previous owner told me that that had always been. I don't know that from my other engines regards manfred Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #2 Posted March 20, 2019 Not sure what you mean by "SAW" If the engine surges (speeds up, then slows down then speeds up, slows down etc) try adjusting the idle mixture needle. Back it out a bit see if things improve. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #3 Posted March 20, 2019 the engine runs perfectly, takes on good gas and accelerates well. There are only variations in engine speed in the stationary throttle, when the engine gets warm ( like when the engine regulates the engine speed up and down to keep the engine speed in a specific range ). If I then increase the throttle setting a little, these engine speed variations are no more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #4 Posted March 20, 2019 Try adjusting the idle fuel needle turn counter clock wise. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #5 Posted March 20, 2019 thanks I try it tomorrow and I will report on the result 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,316 #6 Posted March 20, 2019 Could also be an air leak at the throttle shaft or a vacuum line. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #7 Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) but then it would not always be ? It 's only at stationary throttle. Edited March 20, 2019 by wheeliepower Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Gman 476 #8 Posted March 20, 2019 It's possible the govenor is off. There should be no spring tension on the arm connecting the arm to the cross shaft of the govenor. If there is then the govenor might be tying to compensate it's position. Also look at the throttle arm that connects the the govenor to see that it is not distorted or hung up some how. It does have a series of bends as it works it way from the govenor arm to the throttle arm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #9 Posted March 20, 2019 ok, I watch this tomorrow too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,225 #10 Posted March 21, 2019 I don't know if this affects he Kohler twins, but the Onan engines will surge if the carburetor is not perfectly clean. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midpack 866 #11 Posted March 21, 2019 I've had 3 running KT17's and none of them did that. Although I read somewhere that the Series I's with splash lube that it was a bad idea to run them extensively at low idle so I rarely do but' having said that, I DO have one that decided to eat its rods... :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #12 Posted March 21, 2019 hm it is a serie one kt17 carburetor cleaned the engine works great, turns up clean , except at low engine speed, the automatic readjustment I made a photo of the carburettor, maybe someone will notice something unusual. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #13 Posted March 21, 2019 The surging may be due to it running to lean at idle. The engine is starved for fuel slows the governor kicks into speed it up then it backs off and the cycle continues. Did you try backing out the idle fuel mixture a bit to richen the idle mixture? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #14 Posted March 21, 2019 yes I tried it (but even out to 2 turns, but no difference in the run) Maybe I have to do a new basic setting, but it works the engine great otherwise Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #15 Posted March 21, 2019 Idle mixture changes take a few seconds to happen. Turn a wait a bit then turn some more. Other thoughts. The idle circuit has some very tiny hole/passages. The carb may look clean and the main circuit may be clean and work OK but the idle circuit could be plugged up. it would not really affect full throttle operation. One more thought. idle speed is 1250 that is faster than you might think. to low an idle speed is hard to maintain smoothly. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,225 #16 Posted March 21, 2019 46 minutes ago, pfrederi said: The idle circuit has some very tiny hole/passages. The carb may look clean and the main circuit may be clean and work OK but the idle circuit could be plugged up. When I bought my 520 the Onan surged badly at low rpm. I gave the carb a good cleaning....it sill surged I gave the carb a better cleaning....it still surged I gave the carb a best cleaning ….it never surged again for 5 years. Just sayin. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #17 Posted March 21, 2019 ok, i will check again thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,225 #18 Posted March 21, 2019 I just checked the linkage on one of my KT 17s. I see the throttle link is is a different hole in my gov. arm. I don't think this would make any difference, but you could try the inner hole. Is your choke cable hooked up and could it be rubbing on the linkage rod? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheeliepower 141 #19 Posted March 22, 2019 no, choke cable is free 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
