skippymud 2 #1 Posted July 12 Howdy Re: 1979 Kohler 10hp K241AQS, Spec 46740d, Serial 9883128 Re: Jacobsen garden tractor model 1000 with M/N 53201 & S/N 13722 Curious problem. Looking for feedback So I'm mowing the lawn at full RPM with PTO engaged, and suddenly the engine RPMs drop down to idle and stays there until I throttle down then throttle back up again which gives me full 3600 RPM but just for a short bit. Am I on-target by saying that the plastic Governor Gear is missing a tooth or teeth (P/N 47 042 02-S)? This would mean that I would have to pull the K241 - Ouch! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 17,418 #2 Posted July 12 I don't think it's a broken governor gear, but if you want to take the governor gear out, you must pull the engine, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skippymud 2 #3 Posted July 12 Hello rmaynard Thanks for the feedback. I hear you on having to pull the engine for this. I've have had it on the table once to rebuild it some years ago. Heavy thing So if it is not the plastic governor gear, what else do you think it could it be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 17,418 #4 Posted Monday at 07:57 PM I'm just guessing, but it may be the external linkage or the cross-shaft slipping in the governor arm. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skippymud 2 #5 Posted Monday at 10:22 PM (edited) Hello rmaynard Issue appears to be resolved, and thanks for your input Removed the Carb, disassembled for inspection and cleaning Checked spark which was intermittent per my finding Put it back together and it started right and did the yard with no problem MAX RPM on this Kohler K241 is rated at 3600. I set mine to about 3200 All good now Thanks Ken Edited Tuesday at 03:36 PM by skippymud Update 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 6,779 #6 Posted Thursday at 10:18 AM On 7/13/2026 at 6:22 PM, skippymud said: Hello rmaynard Issue appears to be resolved, and thanks for your input Removed the Carb, disassembled for inspection and cleaning Checked spark which was intermittent per my finding Put it back together and it started right and did the yard with no problem MAX RPM on this Kohler K241 is rated at 3600. I set mine to about 3200 All good now Thanks Ken That is good news Ken. I hope you enjoy this site. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,778 #7 Posted yesterday at 12:28 AM On 7/13/2026 at 3:57 PM, rmaynard said: I'm just guessing, but it may be the external linkage or the cross-shaft slipping in the governor arm. Bob, which manual did this come from? I'm looking to check the governor adjustment on my own K241, but it doesn't look like this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 20,193 #8 Posted yesterday at 12:55 AM 22 minutes ago, adsm08 said: Bob, which manual did this come from? I'm looking to check the governor adjustment on my own K241, but it doesn't look like this one. That illustration shows a smaller engine with the disk and spring behind the gov arm but the process is exactly the same for other K single cylinder engines. There are Kohler manuals for all of them in the files section. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,778 #9 Posted yesterday at 11:01 AM (edited) 12 hours ago, wallfish said: That illustration shows a smaller engine with the disk and spring behind the gov arm but the process is exactly the same for other K single cylinder engines. There are Kohler manuals for all of them in the files section. I was looking last night and didn't see anything about governor adjustments in any of the K241 documents. EDIT: My issue is not the governor. The throttle plate is wide open when this happens. Edited 23 hours ago by adsm08 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 20,193 #10 Posted 13 hours ago 22 hours ago, adsm08 said: I'm looking to check the governor adjustment on my own K241, but it doesn't look like this one. Illustration 6-47 in this manual file below shows the same governor as a K241 Kohler K-Series SM TP-2379 LR.pdf 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,778 #11 Posted 13 hours ago 24 minutes ago, wallfish said: Illustration 6-47 in this manual file below shows the same governor as a K241 Kohler K-Series SM TP-2379 LR.pdf 6.35 MB · 0 downloads Well I determined this morning that the governor is holding the carb wide open when the engine slows down. So it's not the governor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 20,193 #12 Posted 11 hours ago 1 hour ago, adsm08 said: Well I determined this morning that the governor is holding the carb wide open when the engine slows down. So it's not the governor. 1 hour ago, adsm08 said: Well I determined this morning that the governor is holding the carb wide open when the engine slows down. So it's not the governor. "Carb wide open" is A LOT of air entering into it so that means a good amount of fuel is needed as well just to keep it running, or the mixture would be way too lean and it would stop. How slow is it slowing down to? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,778 #13 Posted 1 hour ago 9 hours ago, wallfish said: "Carb wide open" is A LOT of air entering into it so that means a good amount of fuel is needed as well just to keep it running, or the mixture would be way too lean and it would stop. How slow is it slowing down to? It never stalls, but the RPM drops enough that you are barely moving and the blades basically stop cutting. While I was messing with it yesterday I tried it with the air filter off and it seemed better, but I was also stuck in the garage, so I didn't have the full load of the transmission trying to move the tractor. I still need to take the carb off, give it a full cleaning and readjust and replace the air filter just as new-to-me maintenance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
