The C160 is almost running great

[Bob Nakon 55]

Hi all,

I got this C160 last fall and have been slowly fixing, replacing, tightening and generally doing things to improve it. I have a problem I just can't fix: runs slow ok, high rpms picks up a miss kinda runs a bit rough. Not so bad it can't be used just not right. I have replaced: Carb from Isavetractors, points and condenser same, plug, Flushed entire fuel system, removed the tank and cleaned new gas lines, new filter. Set points to .020, set plug to .035, now I'm lost. I received a schematic/basic wiring diagram for the tractor and I see something that could be a problem. It appears that the points and condenser connect to the negative side of the coil. They are wired to the positive side on my tractor. What gives?? Would the engine even run if this was wired wrong? I checked the points while it was running and they had a nice strong spark, a guy told me they should have no spark and I had something wrong. Any fresh ideas will be most welcome.

Thanks, Bob

 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

The condenser and points should be on the negative side of the coil

[Bob Nakon 55]

Thanks Bob. That is the drawing I have. How can the engine run wired that way?  I'm going to reverse the wiring in a day or two. Hopefully that will fix it. 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I really don't have an answer for this.  I also have a c160 and it runs great. If I were you I would trace every wire that connects to the key switch and make sure it's not connected wrong. This is the wiring diagram I made with my c160 and I know its correct. I did remove the amp meter and replaced it with a volt meter but this is the original diagram. 

Edited June 8, 2021 by BOB ELLISON

[roadapples 6,983]

There's a better way to set points @953 nut  mine runs better at .018

[bellevillerod 835]

 Mine I had a slight miss at almost full power, just enough to aggravate me. Still worked just fine, I too went through full system. I cleaned the valve seats and reset the valves. So far miss is gone. 

[bellevillerod 835]

Another thing to check is the carb, do you have the extra splash guard in the carb? Sometimes the vibration, without the guard will allow gas to pulled into the intake and cause a stumble.

Edited June 8, 2021 by bellevillerod
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[Bill D 2,091]

Time the engine using a timing light.   The procedure is in the Kohler manual.  Condenser needs to be wired to the negative side of the coil on Kohler engines.  Bill

[pfrederi 18,333]

Lots of old farm tractors had positive grounds.  You wired the condenser and points to the + terminal on the coil.  Frequently people would mess this up and do it like a negative ground system and yes the tractor would still run just not very well.

[squonk 42,534]

You should have minimal spark at the points. Biggie spark means Shortie points life.