C195 Trouble

[MrFourSpeed 0]

My '84 C195 is giving fits again. VERY hard starting. You can crank it dead. If you put a charger on it while starting, it will eventually start. Spewing black smoke out the exhaust. You can smell gas while cranking. Playing with the choke doesn't seem to matter either way. I can see the points are sparking. It seems like every now and then there is a huge spark between the points. I just changed the points and condenser late last season. Both genuine Kohler. It started fine when parked. Once it starts, it runs fine, power is good.

Any ideas.

Thanks,

Jamie

[stevasaurus 23,107]

first... Jamie.

Kohlers do not usually start hard. Sounds like you are getting gas through the carb and spark at the points. I would recheck the gap on the points, put in a new correctly gaped spark plug, and maybe change the coil wire to the spark plug. Check your air filter also. Hope that helps.

[rickv1957 73]

Hello and Rick

[puddlejumper 67]

Might check float in carb possibly stuck open flooding engine. Just a thought since your smelling so much fuel. :D

[MrFourSpeed 0]

I like the carb float suggestion. I have two parts tractors, SO, I will be swapping a carb maybe tonight if time allows. I also did check the points and they are even still shiny. As I said, they are almost new. I also checked the gap and it was at .021. The kohler manual calls for between .017 and .023. "Whatever provides the smoothest operating." Air filter doesn't matter, because I always need to take the air cleaner off and shoot some ether in the carb. Both plugs were changed at time of points and condenser and just checked. The coil and wires are good too.

THANKS

Jamie

[acsousa82 5]

:USA:

Might be able to verify if the float is the issue by dropping the bowl on the carb with the main carb body still mounted to the engine, removing the float and listening for any splashing inside. Might pin-point the float and allow you to just swap out the float instead of having to remove the old carb entirely and tune the new carb to that engine.

Just a suggestion. Good Luck :wh:

[puddlejumper 67]

Try and avoid the starting fluid. I understand you **** you will start. But its really not a good idea.

[rickv1957 73]

Had to replace the float in my C195 a while back as it had a small pinhole in it and was flooding like yours,Rick

[Mr.FourSpeed 0]

O.K., I was a bit wary about disturbing the bowl as the rubber gasket looked "rough" So, I swapped the other carb on. When I took the original carb off, I shook it and the float did move. I think if it was loaded it probably wouldn't have moved I would think. So, the long and the short of it is this: Changing the carb did nothing at all. So, I carefully recorded what I did. I cranked until the battery was nearly dead. About 45 seconds. It didn't start. I put the charger on it and cranked again. Started after about 5 revs. Now, the engine spins noticable faster with the charger attached, but without it, it didn't really seem excessively slow until it starts getting weak. Our 1973 "12" cranks slower and always starts. Anyway. I left it run to warm up and set the carb to the factory kohler book spec. I shut it off and tried starting it. It started it right up. I shut it off and left it sit about 5 minutes. Cranked and wouldn't start again. Starting fluid did nothing by the way. (I didn't read the other post until now, so I will quit the starting fluid thing.) I attached the charger and cranked about 2 seconds and it started right up. Once it starts, it runs fine. So, is the battery faulty because the points set the timing on this engine and if it cranks slow, I would think that it would be tough to start. I didn't want to run out and buy another battery right away. This battery is about 5 years old though. Any thoughts? Condenser? If so, it will be the 4th one on here in 5 years. why would it keep eating them?

Thanks,

Jamie

[Save Old Iron 1,568]

Fully charge the current battery.

Measure the voltage across the battery terminals as you attempt to start the tractor.

Opinions vary, but you should not get less than around 9 - 10 volts across the battery terminals when cranking. Any lower than that and you are starving the coil from current needed to produce a good healthy spark.

I'm surprised you got 5 years from a battery too !

[linen beige 14]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Chuck. Your battery may be getting old and/or your starter is dragging. Either will use so much of the battery's available power that the coil doesn't get enough of the leftovers to give you a hot spark.

[puddlejumper 67]

Try using 2 batteries one dedicated to the starter and one for the coil. It wont tell you which is bad (starter or battery) But if it starts cold in this fashion you will have narrowed your search. And if it dont weak coil or capacitor :D

[puddlejumper 67]

After thought since its eating capacitors possibly weak coil. Although that normally shows up hot not cold.

[refracman 167]

Just a ? what size battery are you useing? To me it sounds like your battery is to small.

Useing anything under 360cca will cause problems on twin cyl.engines. You endup robbing power to crank and not enough going to the coil. I allways use 360cca or higher on all my tractors.

[Mr.FourSpeed 0]

I have no idea what size the battery is. Maybe now that it is getting old, there isn't enough juice. I am starting to lean that way.

Did some more "testing" this morning. Starting cold from an overnight sit. I connected the charger directly before cranking at all. The engine cranked nice and quick obviously from the charger boost and it started in a reasonable amount of cranking. Less than 10 seconds. I am going to swap the battery out and see what happens. I will keep you posted. Thanks for all the help!

Jamie