Timing a Kohler K Series engine

[953 nut 56,137]

Ignition timing on Kohler engines.

 

Gapping the ignition points at .020 has always been the standard answer for how points should be set. That probably will get you into the ballpark where the engine will run, but with a bit of additional effort you can improve the engine’s power and performance.

The Kohler engine manual (page 9, Section 6) in the Red Square files section covers two methods for setting the ignition timing, Static Timing and using a Timing Light. This manual is a relatively new manual and it glosses over the fact that many of our engines were built prior to the ACR (automatic compression release) camshaft.

Earlier engines (mostly 1965 and earlier) had a Spark Advance camshaft that can not be timed using Static timing. At rest (and very low RPMs) the timing is retarded to fire slightly after TDC. The timing mark (S or SP) on your flywheel is at twenty degrees before top dead center but at rest the points on these engines break about ten degrees after top dead center. The manual tells you to Static Time to the "T" mark on the flywheel but the only reliable way to check or set the timing on these engines is with a timing light.

There are a couple ways to determine what camshaft you have. Presuming the camshaft in your engine is the one it was born with the data plate on the engine has a suffix that can tell you what camshaft was used. The table below will tell you the suffix applicable to your engine.

The other way to determine what camshaft you have is to remove the cam gear cover and take a look. If you see a mechanism attached to the cam side of the gear it is the ACR cam.

The following engines have the spark advance camshaft;

K-141, Suffix prior to “C”

K-161, Suffix prior to “J”

K-181, Suffix prior to “D”

K-241, Suffix prior to “D

 

 

Edited August 4, 2019 by 953 nut
added screenshot from manual

[cleat 6,684]

I set the point gap on my Ford LGT165 with a Kohler K341 using a timing light and it would run so much better than to just set the points to .020.

 

 

[67 WH 877 62]

Very good info, My son and I were just discussing this yesterday. He has the Kohler 12 and I have the Kohler 8, late 60s models. Im old and set timing without a timing light, just the way I learned as a kid...hes young and wants to use it. Cant go wrong using the light. 

[cleat 6,684]

It will run Ok just setting the points but even better using a light.

 

Ignition timing is very dependent on the points as there is no distributor.