Carb Frustration

[pfrederi 20,392]

1 hour ago, wallfish said:

Is the little rubber O ring in the hole on the carb body for the low idle screw? Air sucking in there would be an issue

I didn't know there was an Oring??

[Handy Don 16,370]

33 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

I didn't know there was an Oring??

Yep. On the threaded part of the valve between the spring and the body.

Edited Thursday at 11:50 PM by Handy Don

[ebinmaine 78,479]

35 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

I didn't know there was an Oring??

 

2 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yep. On the threaded part of the valve between the spring and the body.

 

 

Not on several of mine. 

[Handy Don 16,370]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

Not on several of mine. 

So far on both of the K181 #22s I’ve rebuilt.

Pesky little critters and NOT included in the rebuild kits. 

[ebinmaine 78,479]

3 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

So far on both of the K181 #22s I’ve rebuilt.

Pesky little critters and NOT included in the rebuild kits. 

 

 

Interesting.  

[wallfish 19,845]

8 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

Not on several of mine. 

You may not have noticed it.

It's usually stuck into the carb body hole and stays but dry rotted ones can fall out

[ebinmaine 78,479]

28 minutes ago, wallfish said:

You may not have noticed it.

It's usually stuck into the carb body hole and stays but dry rotted ones can fall out

 

 

I'll double check em

[pfrederi 20,392]

I thought the idle mixture screw felt a little loose maybe there was an o ring to snug it up.  

[pfrederi 20,392]

I am more confused than ever about Kohler Carbs.  As some have pointed out I should try different High speed and idle needles it my problem  carb.  Needles  have different  #s  and port sizes ...There are numbers stamped on the high speed needle shahft ..is there a cross reference for that to the #carb it should be on,?  Left two ports right only 1 port...

 

Edited yesterday at 12:23 AM by pfrederi

[pfrederi 20,392]

Learned a bit about Kohler carbs ... The idle circuit... once you get the plug out there is a chamber with three ways out.  One goes directly in to the carb passage one goes to the idle needle and the other goes up to the top of the high speed needle.. Always wondered why the high speed needle had double threads.. the gap between them has a port that feeds the idle circuit. So the wrond high speed needle could be messing up my idle problem

[tunahead72 2,633]

21 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

I am more confused than ever about Kohler Carbs.  As some have pointed out I should try different High speed and idle needles it my problem  carb.  Needles  have different  #s  and port sizes ...There are numbers stamped on the high speed needle shahft ..is there a cross reference for that to the #carb it should be on,?  Left two ports right only 1 port...

 

Paul, have you looked at the Kohler carb reference manual?  It might answer some of your questions.

 

One of my K241 carbs (can't remember which one) has zero ports.

 

I'll post a link to the manual in a few minutes.

 

Edited yesterday at 12:44 AM by tunahead72

[tunahead72 2,633]

Here we go...

 

Engine Kohler Carburetor reference #TP-2377-E.pdf - Kohler - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum

 

[pfrederi 20,392]

12 hours ago, tunahead72 said:

Here we go...

 

Engine Kohler Carburetor reference #TP-2377-E.pdf - Kohler - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum

 

  Thank you now some light reading

[Bar Nuthin 2,361]

On 4/30/2026 at 2:55 PM, sqrlgtr said:

Only other thing I can think of that has not been mentioned is maybe a bent main or idle mixture screw the needle end???? I bent one once and it never would adjust right but robbed one off another and it worked IDK if I just got lucky or they all will swap around....

 

Same

 

I had one that had the slightest hook at the very tip, I assume from being over-tightened at one time. It was impossible to set the high idle correctly. Sometimes the tractor would die, other times it would cough or surge.

 I tried filing the tip, but only made things worse.

I ended up finding a NOS matching part number on eBay, and now that K301 is my sweetest running engine. Easy start at any temp, steady RPM at low, high, or anywhere in between.

 

Edited yesterday at 01:38 PM by Bar Nuthin

[tunahead72 2,633]

53 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

  Thank you now some light reading

 

Yeah, it's a lot. 

 

[pfrederi 20,392]

Did considerable "light reading" Thanks to @tunahead72  I finally figured out that the Carb in question has the wrong High speed needle.  (at least I think so) but fortunately in my spare parts pile (i never throw anything away...not that I can find it later) I found the right one.  Now as soon as i replace the freeze plug I can try it out. n I am having a refreshing malted beverage as this has worked my old brain too hard...

[Handy Don 16,370]

1 minute ago, pfrederi said:

I am having a refreshing malted beverage

Essential to keep hydrated to stay at top productivity.

Nice work on the needle!

[ebinmaine 78,479]

54 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Essential to keep hydrated to stay at top productivity.

 

 

I've been known to use that excu..... ehh reason! 

 

 

54 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Nice work on the needle!

 

 

Agreed.  @pfrederi please keep us posted.  

 

 

 

 

[pfrederi 20,392]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I've been known to use that excu..... ehh reason! 

 

 

 

 

Agreed.  @pfrederi please keep us posted.  

 

 

 

 

Wish the USPS would hurry up with the plug

[ebinmaine 78,479]

1 minute ago, pfrederi said:

Wish the USPS would hurry up with the plug

 

Agreed. 

 

We've had numerous issues with the local distribution center due to lack of staff....