K321 won't start

[Don66 1]

I have a 1978 Wheel Horse 8 speed tractor,Kohler 321 engine. I've been working on restoration, finally got the mower deck finished and installed. Before this, the engine was easy to start and ran well. Yesterday it would not start with ignition key, would not even turn over, so I jumped it with a screwdriver between cylinoid and battery. The engine started and ran about 10 seconds and died. Now I get no spark and the engine won't fire off. I checked the wiring and everything seems to be connected and without damage. I don't have test equipment available so I'm stumped at what went wrong. Any suggestions?

[squonk 41,051]

If it's been apart for restoration first thing I would check is grounds. If you painted anything, you might have to sand some paint off. Where does your ground cable attach? 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,039]

 

[Don66 1]

I can jump it from the cylinoid to the starter so I don't think it's a ground problem. Starter works and I never bothered with the grounds during restoration, I only repainted the fenders and hood .I'll check the ground again anyway. Thanks for your response.

[squonk 41,051]

Does this tractor have an ammeter?  If the connections go bad on that it will kill power to the switch.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,112]

39 minutes ago, Don66 said:

 I don't have test equipment available

 to the  Don.          Plenty of help here to assist you.        I suggest you invest in a VOM (volt,ohm,meter).   They can be purchased for $10 to $200.

 

Harbor Freight has the cheap $10 meters and sometimes gives them free with another purchase.

[Handy Don 12,201]

Clearly an electrical problem so likeliest are a loose or corroded connection somewhere or else frayed insulation grounding a wire where it shouldn't.

Of course you've got the fuel petcock open and you know it's getting gas, right?

[Don66 1]

Yes it is getting gas.The ammeter was working last time I looked at it. And thanks for the wiring diagrams. I did not have them so they may be of some help.

 

 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Don66

[midpack 862]

1 hour ago, Don66 said:

I never bothered with the grounds during restoration

grounds and safety switches. Always a good idea to look at these on older machines. 

 

Although the last machine I got running ended up having a fuel pump full of rust particles... rebuilt the pump, and it starts instantly and purrrrrs    

[peter lena 8,600]

@Don66 , think that you were running , tells me you are close , enhancing grounding has done wonders for my trio of horses , note first and last pictures,  ist picture is battery ground rail , next to battery mount, last picture is the corner of engine to frame bolt mount with a 4 ga  cable connecting those 2 ground areas , for a definite gain  on grounding issues. since adding this to my 3 horses , no more electrical issues , just a suggestion , worth a try , pete