markseven 8 #1 Posted Tuesday at 07:23 AM Any thoughts on where two turn to For reliable carburetor? Ebay Amazon they all have tons Of them but are they reliable? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,796 #2 Posted Tuesday at 08:21 AM For what it's worth - you are always better off to rebuild an OE carb, IF it is indeed not worn out beyond repair. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ML3 1,868 #3 Posted Tuesday at 08:50 AM I definitely agree that if original carb is able to be rebuilt thats probably best option. However, Ive bought 3 cheapo Amazon carbs & had no issues with any of them. Installed on C105, 604, & 654. The 654 is my regular mower & plow snow with it also. No issues with carb in hot or cold weather for last 2 1/2yrs...... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 42,700 #4 Posted Tuesday at 10:22 AM Look closely at the choke lever. Half of the imports have the choke lever reversed. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,414 #5 Posted Tuesday at 03:12 PM I, too, have had success with aftermarket carbs. Two things I’ve learned, though (in addition to @Ed Kennell’s pay attention to the choke lever warning): They normally come “ready to run”, i.e. with mixture screws already in the correct initial settings. Some folks will want to tinker and clean them before initial use. Fine, but be careful because the needle valve threading will be different than OEM. Make sure to count the exact number of full and partial turns needed to gently close the valve before taking it out--and write it down for future reference--so you can return the valve to that position after cleaning. Likewise, the OEM manual guidelines, e.g. “two and a half turns,” for an initial setting are unlikely to work! They are “fit for purpose” as a complete unit but typically built with metric tooling and specs. They’ll bolt in just right, but their other parts are not interchangeable with OEM parts or even parts from other aftermarket carbs! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,796 #6 Posted Tuesday at 04:01 PM My gripe with most of the imports is the rather misleading application fits this series K91 thru K181. TRUE, it is possible to mount it on all of them - but - the bore size is that of the smaller K91 size carb. It is definetly undersized for optimal performance on a K181... 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,414 #7 Posted Tuesday at 05:08 PM (edited) 3 hours ago, ri702bill said: My gripe with most of the imports is the rather misleading application fits this series K91 thru K181. TRUE, it is possible to mount it on all of them - but - the bore size is that of the smaller K91 size carb. It is definetly undersized for optimal performance on a K181... Excellent point. Perhaps the carb is actually “Mama Bear” sized--somewhere between the two specs? Some research yields: Kohler K91: Kohler #16 carburetor, throttle bore 0.810 inches, venturi 0.542 inches Kohler K181: Kohler #26 carburetor, throttle bore 1.07 inches, venturi 0.812 inches Comparing; throttle bores: π*.405^2=0.515 vs. π*.5035^2=0.796 ==> 55% larger -- a big difference venturi: π*.271^2=0.231 vs. π*.406^2=0.518 ==> 124% larger -- wow! Edited Tuesday at 07:04 PM by Handy Don 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,796 #8 Posted Tuesday at 07:05 PM Don seems to get excited about data and percentages!!! Correct on the sizing - I suppose a true K91 carb on a K181 would never achieve top speed and power.... As I recall, the import is closer in size to the smallest Carter Model N... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,414 #9 Posted Tuesday at 07:07 PM 1 minute ago, ri702bill said: the import is closer in size to the smallest Carter Model N... Not biting...😬 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 61,318 #10 Posted Tuesday at 11:33 PM 15 hours ago, ri702bill said: For what it's worth - you are always better off to rebuild an OE carb, IF it is indeed not worn out beyond repair. "Universal Fits ALL" Chinese carburetors are advertised a fitting all Kohler 10, 12, 14, and 16 HP engines. 10 and 12 HP use a #26 and 14 and 16 HP use a # 30 so it is imposable to have a FITS ALL work properly on all of them. The one and only chinesium carburetor I ever bought wouldn't idle down regardless of what was done with the adjustments. An autopsy revealed that it was a #26 with the main jet and needle from a # 30. I used the main jet and needle from an old Carter that had a worn throttle shaft and did get it to work well. Also replaced the plastic float with a brass one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 3,513 #11 Posted Tuesday at 11:44 PM 10 minutes ago, 953 nut said: "Universal Fits ALL" Chinese carburetors are advertised a fitting all Kohler 10, 12, 14, and 16 HP engines. 10 and 12 HP use a #26 and 14 and 16 HP use a # 30 so it is imposable to have a FITS ALL work properly on all of them. That fitment guide was probably written by the same guy that wrote the parts catalog that listed ball joints for a 1997 Bronco II. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maz91 277 #12 Posted Wednesday at 04:55 AM 11 hours ago, Handy Don said: Comparing; throttle bores: π*.405^2=0.515 vs. π*.5035^2=0.796 ==> 55% larger -- a big difference venturi: π*.271^2=0.231 vs. π*.406^2=0.518 ==> 124% larger -- wow! 🤯 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,796 #13 Posted Wednesday at 08:25 AM 3 hours ago, Maz91 said: 🤯 It's the Engineer Thing - once you get it , the world is your Statistical Playground.... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 8,633 #14 Posted Wednesday at 12:05 PM 12 hours ago, 953 nut said: Also replaced the plastic float with a brass one. Usually do okay on the cheap carbs. Got one of those HIPA carbs and the body / machine work was exceptional. Plastic float was a no go. It was a crap shoot on if it was going to turn off. So I did my turn and returned it. For all the hassle I just should have replaced it like you did with a brass one. I don't throw any carbs away I figure there was a good float floating around. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites