Anthony Wendover 124 #1 Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) hey guys this is the Kohler that i have been playing with. What does everyone think of the start sound? Yes battery started draining at end but it sounds maybe a little more than just the exhaust. To me she sounds sick. Edited July 26, 2019 by Anthony Wendover Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marv 949 #2 Posted July 25, 2019 Sounds like a valve leaking. Marv Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #3 Posted July 26, 2019 Well I decided to pull the head off. And then I saw the blown apart gasket. I’m thinking that’s my problem. However I have a ton of carbon build up. I’m hoping the valves are still ok. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darb1964 1,055 #4 Posted July 26, 2019 I think it was run a long time with that gasket slowly getting worse until got so bad not enough compression to start. How do the head bolts look? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #5 Posted July 26, 2019 Head bolts don’t look bad at all. I am thinking that the head wasn’t properly torqued. What does everyone suggest for carbon removal I just got a new gasket. I was thinking a wire brush on a drill and to get old gasket stuff left on it off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,268 #6 Posted July 27, 2019 Check the flatness of the head. Mill it if required. Decarb, pull the valves clean them, lap them, checked clearance. torque at 30 ft pounds, run it for a few hours and retorque. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #7 Posted July 29, 2019 Update, Cleaned the head up completely and the top of the valves. I did not dissemble and pull the valves looking down the shaft it was not bad at all. Head was pretty flat and torqued it all down. Fired it up and that noise is gone. Now its back firing and popping alot. I plaid with carb adjusted it a little but its not making a difference so i am going to buy a new carb i think from isavetractors.com and try it out. This motor has a china knock off $30 fuel pump on it i am unsure if that is causing some issues as well but its getting closer to being right! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,338 #8 Posted July 29, 2019 On 7/25/2019 at 8:14 PM, Anthony Wendover said: Well I decided to pull the head off. And then I saw the blown apart gasket. I’m thinking that’s my problem. However I have a ton of carbon build up. I’m hoping the valves are still ok. Oopps! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #9 Posted August 1, 2019 Ok so new issue or same issue idk. I have replaced head gasket. Cleaned the heads and top of the valves. I have put on new fuel lines and a new carb. Now Iv adjusted the carb all different ways but it’s popping like crazy govenor arm bouncing all over. If I turn the pto on it loses power and can’t run. Does anyone have any ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,268 #10 Posted August 1, 2019 Did you check the valve clearance? You may also want to reset the governor arm because you have no idea what the prior owner did. You are also at a disadvantage with that carb. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #11 Posted August 1, 2019 I have not checked the valve clearance. I will reset the governor however i wonder is the spring on it in the correct hole? Up close it looks like it may have been in a different spot at one time. Also why am i at a disadvantage with this carb? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,268 #12 Posted August 1, 2019 Your spring hole is fine. That’s not what I was referring to. The arm needs to be checked. Loosen the arm, open the throttle all the way and turn the governor control rod counter clockwise. Then tighten the arm on the rod. The carb issue is simply it’s a Chinese knock off. You certainly get what you pay for in that case. Some are better then others however, none are up the the quality of the correct Kohler carb. Valve clearance is a very important aspect. It shouldn’t be overlooked. It takes 10-15 minutes. Time very well spent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #13 Posted August 1, 2019 Ok i will adjust the Governor and see if this helps a little, i just want sure if the springs would have an affect. I got the carb from isavetractors seems half decent but like you said it could very well not be helping. Ill pull the cover off and check the clearance of the valves and see whats going on in there and report back. Thank you for your help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,009 #14 Posted August 1, 2019 Another member on here had a similar issue and adjusting the valves solved his problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Wendover 124 #15 Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) I have an update. So I finally had time to pull carb off open front panel and adjust valves. They did need it! Then decided to pull the spark plug to check the gap and while doing that I noticed the porcilin under the tip was all cracked and falling apart. Put old plug in with the valve adjustments and she worked like a brand new tractor! Might need to slightly Fine tune carb but mowed 4 acres like nothing! Thank you to all who had ideas and helped walk through the issues!! Edited August 5, 2019 by Anthony Wendover 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,201 #16 Posted August 5, 2019 @Anthony Wendover how flat was “pretty flat” when you cleaned up the head? I hope you checked it with a feeler gauge? If it’s out of spec, it might not last long until you’ll need to pull it apart and resurface it again. Congrats on getting the valve adjusted and governor set right! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
