Sparky-(Admin) 23,217 #1 Posted July 31, 2011 My C-165 (K-series) dies after 15 minutes or so. I need to get into troubleshooting it more, but it seems to have spark but no fuel. I thought about vapor lock but the fuel filter still has fuel in it and its halfway between the tank and the fuel pump. Or does vapor lock happen at the fuel pump? Can a fuel pump quit when its hot and come back to life when cold? After it died and wouldnt start I had to go out for an hour plus and when I came back she still wouldnt start on its own. With a shot of starting fluid it fired and finally kept going on its own enough to get it into the shed. There was no time to get into it tonight but thought you guys might have some insight as to why this happens. Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,740 #2 Posted August 1, 2011 Sparky.... you should also mention its a different carb that you cleaned up and put on suspecting the original was bad. Unless I already asked.... did you change the gas cap? If the vent hole is plugged the engine will run and the pump will create a vacumn in the tank until the vacumn in the tank overcomes the strength of the pump. Then when it sits the vacumn relieves itself and you can get it re-started.... the carb cleaner/ether/starting fluid just helps get the system re-primed quickly. I bet if you cranked the living daylights out of the battery it would eventually fire up. I guess I would also buy a rebuild kit for the carb and replace the needle and seat... they can stick closed randomly and drive you bananas... the fuel pump doesn't always develope enough pressure to force a sticky needle open and the problem can come and go. Thirdly is the coil and condensor that you brought up today... changing the coil and condensor on my C120 seems to have corrected the problem... I don't know if it would fix yours. I don't like the idea that it re-started on ether and ran OK. That just smells like a fuel starvation issue. Tony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,333 #3 Posted August 1, 2011 Have you checked to see if the vent hole on the gas cap is plugged? Try starting it with the cap loose. Vapor lock can happen anywhere in the fuel line, but most times in the are near the fuel pump where heat from the muffler can build up in the line. The float valve may also be stuck, keeping fuel from entering the bowl. Just my first few feeble thoughts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 994 #4 Posted August 1, 2011 ive had this exact thing with one of my 414,sit seems to be the float or the needle valve in the float sticking and as tony said it is driving me nuts,if i had the cash id just throw a new carb on it,good luck and hope you can find the problem Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 23,217 #5 Posted August 3, 2011 So heres the latest. Swapped out the fuel pump with another unit and got it fired up. It would also start with the old pump but would only run for about 15 minutes and if left unused for over 2 weeks it would need a shot of starting fluid to "tease it" to start. I ran it for 40 minutes or so (mowed the lawn) and she stayed alive!! Hopefully if left alone for 2 weeks or more she will still start. Are the fuel pumps all the same for the 10-12-14-16 hp Kohler K series? The donor pump was off a 16hp but I wondered if a pump off a lower hp motor would of worked. Mike............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
