1075 with K241

[MR49 20]

Ive just got my first wheel horse a couple days ago. But I have only basic knowledge of mechanical stuff. Heres the problem. I can get it to start. But it wont run worth a crap. Ive checked the points to see if they had grime build up and cleaned them. Ive put the carb settings back to what i was told to do. Top one was set at 2 turns out and the needle on the side was 1 1/2 turns out. than it wouldn't start at all. Ive also taken the carb apart and cleaned it with a torch head cleaning tool. Seems to leak on the head gasket a little. The fuel pump works fine. Im just not sure what is going on. If i get it to stay running for 1 min im lucky. as soon as i try and give it some throttle she dies.

Any help would be great.

does this look like the original dash? the throttle is super touchy like when you move the lever an 1/8 inch it goes from nuthing to wide open.

[tunahead72 2,551]

:WRS:

Just a few ideas off the top of my head, there's guys here who know A LOT more than I do...

• Fresh fuel in the tank? Anything more than a few weeks old could cause problems (especially with ethanol).
  
• Clean air filter?
  
• New/clean and properly gapped spark plug?
  
• On your carb adjustments -- sounds like you have a genuine Kohler carb, with the main fuel needle right on top? The low speed needle (the one on the side) should be 2 1/2 turns out to start, try changing that and see if it makes a difference. You sure you're not adjusting the idle speed? Does operating the choke make any difference in the way it runs?
  

... Ive also taken the carb apart and cleaned it with a torch head cleaning tool....

I don't know what this means, did you soak the carb and clean the needles and all the openings? How's the gasket between the carb and engine block?

If you have a torque wrench, you can torque the head bolts to try to tighten the gasket a bit, but at some point you may need to resurface the head and replace the gasket. It's not hard, but you don't want to do that until you review the procedure in the service manual -- the bolts need to be tightened in a particular sequence to the proper torque.

[MR49 20]

Well I was trying just to use the stuff that was on it. lol. I need to get a few things, such as new points, condenser, plug, carb kit and gasket kit. Oh and filter too. Im pretty sure that the dash is off of a b-80. But im not sure. And i did soak the carb and all the mess that fallows. Im not sure on the carb to engine gasket ill check that. Ill try the origional settings again too. I think I set them wrong.

Thanks alot! Ill get back to ya if i get anything figured out.

[MR49 20]

Ok I cleaned the hole fuel system. Checked the spark plug and it was the wrong one. So I got a new plug and air filter. I made it 3 laps around the yard YAY! Than I decided to wash the grime build up off her, than let it sit a few hrs. Barley got it running good enough to make it back to the building, but I did make it. Once i got it in there I pulled the head off and cleaned the piston valves and head with a piece of plastic a piece of wood and some gas lol. I got her all torqued back to speck and it still wont run like it did before i washed it. Does that make since? Can anyone help me with this thing? Im getting kinda frustrated but she wont break me. I hope haha.

[BOWTIE 226]

HELLO MR49, YOU SAID IT RAN GOOD UNTIL YOU GAVE IT A BATH. CHECK YOUR COIL/PLUG WIRE FOR MOISTURE. THEN CHECK YOUR POINT COVER FOR MOISTURE UNDERNEATH IT. THE POINTS MAY BE WET. GOOD LUCK

BOWTIE IN OHIO

[MR49 20]

Good idea. I just got this, but I ended up getting it running earlier. I drove her around the yard for prolly a half hr. Ran Great! Than I put it back in the building for no longer than a half hr. Until my buddy came to see it run. So I pulled it back out ready to show it off and it just ran like crap. Hit and miss the hole time. How about that.

So I cleaned the points, and the plug. And still hits and misses. Im not sure but these are old points and id say the condenser Is just as old. But they did work earlier just fine.

This thing did the same thing last night. Ran bad, new plug, filter, head cleaned and re torqued fuel system cleaned, cleaned the points also. Than she ran like a top until I washed it.

Frustration!!!

[Martin 2,133]

did you clean out the gas tank?

even though it ran like crap after washing it, still sounds fuel related, or at least partly to blame for the rough running. if you have junk in the tank and a bad screen or no screen in the bottom, it could be causing some problems still. even if the bad stuff doesnt make it to the carb ( you already replaced the fuel filter right?) you could have stuff floating in the tank that is blocking the suction of gas at the fuel valve in the bottom of the tank.

[MR49 20]

Well I did clean the gas tank, but I didn't see a screen in it. Should it be visible from the cap on the top, or do I need to take the valve off? I also changed the fuel filter.

Would a longer fuel line make any difference? I could prolly cut 2 or 3 inches off it. Im not sure if this could be a gravity problem or not. I wouldn't think so but im not sure how strong the fuel pump is.

And now im kinda thinking it ran good with a full tank and when it get to hf tank its poopin out. Which means gravity or blockage after she gets stirred up some. Hmmm ill check some stuff out when I get off work and see what I can come up with.

thanks again

[Kelly 1,033]

Pull the points cover and clean the points I bet they got wet.

[MR49 20]

K so the points are fine and the take is full. No difference, still spits and farts. It does idle a lot better than when you try and give it some gas. That makes me think fuel pump or carb. It must be a fuel problem.

I guess ill go ahead and get the carb kit. Is there a way to rebuild this old fuel pump, or do I have to replace it? I like the old metal style and it is original so id like to keep it.

[Kelly 1,033]

Is the condensor good?? is it hooked to the neg. side of the coil? grounded to the engine? a bad one can make a engine run like you are saying.

[MR49 20]

I just got a new condenser and new points about an hr ago. Still runs like crap. It misses so bad lol. I am very lost now and not sure what to do. I have to be over looking something.

The points are genuine Kohler but the condenser isn't. The fellow at napa said it would work with those points though.

[MR49 20]

Well I hope you all don't think Im an idiot, but i cant blame you haha. And Kelly-(Vendor), you hit the nail on the head when you said the condenser was hooked to the positive side of the coil.

This K241 has been cracked, and runs super good. That goes to show ya sometimes the simple things can be over looked a million times to ones eyes. And a third eye would be best, if you can find one thats different. Or something. haha

Thanks a lot guys ill post pics of the restore when I get going.

[Kelly 1,033]

Glad to have helped, I learned most of what I know from experience so I've been there done that.

[MalMac 1,332]

What's even worse is to be experience and have a moment and hook up coil wires wrong and can't figure the problem out. Been there done that. Then find the problem and feel like a total dumb A** ! The worst part is knowing it might happen again.

[MR49 20]

Hahahaha!!!! yes sir!

I seem to have ran into another problem.

It runs great for about 15-20 min than shuts down, and wont start. Do these things get hot and just shut down to the world? Thats my first thought, but its prolly a fuel problem.

I havent tour into her yet to find out. Any suggestions before I get started?

[Martin 2,133]

check the gas cap breather. there should be a way for the tank to vent. if you look at the top of the cap there should be a small hole, make sure you can blow through it.

make sure the cap hole isnt being blocked off by the hood resting on top of it too......

[MR49 20]

It never ends. The hood was laying on the gas cap thanks martin. Now some bigger problems she is makin a tick noise like the valves need adjusted.

Ive pulled the head off 3 times and torqued it back at 26 lbs every time. Would that make the gasket compress a little more each time i've done this??? Thus make the valves to close to the head?

Not only that It is running so lean that the exhaust valve was white the last time I took the head off. I cant seem to get the carb adjusted right.

Also the main needle isn't centered In the hole/brass fitting. Could that make it not be adjustable anymore?

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh

Sorry for all the newbie questions.

[Martin 2,133]

if youve had the head off and on 3 times its time for a new head gasket.

the gasket wont really compress much more than the first time.

i dont think it would be effecting the valve clearance to the head though.

ive reused headgaskets by spraying an even coat of silver spray paint on both sides and letting it set up a bit before installing, but i think 3 times might be too much. you need the crush factor to help the fire ring on the gasket seal properly. the silver spray paint helps and might get you a seal again on that gasket, but if it was me id be using a new one.....

your valve tick might be a leak in the head gasket. does the gasket look like its leaking?

as far as the hi speed needle goes, sounds like its bent. do you have any pics of what you are seeing?

[MR49 20]

well I got the head back off but the carb is still on her. The head looks fine yet again. so does the piston and valves. I did rotate the flywheel with the head off, Im hearing the noise when the valves start to move.

When at top dead center the valves move very very little.

On the carb, the needle is pritty much laying on the side of that brass fitting or whatever the adjustable main needle is in that you can see from the float bowl side. But I think I may have got that situated. Im not sure yet.

The ticking is my main concern for now. Id hate to pop this baby. lol

[MR49 20]

Well I got it running again

I noticed in the kohler manual it said 25-30 lbs on the head torque. Ive been doing 26 lbs. This time I cleaned everything super well and torqued her to 30 to get one last run with this gasket. Well It worked! Fired right up and I drove it around the yard a few times. Than I hooked to my buddies silverado and drug that thing around too. He was in neutral of course. Dont get to hasty haha. But still I am amazed It did it with ease. And since he is a turd he had to hit the brakes. Im sure you know how that ended up lol. Yup almost upside down. This ole red square just wants to keep on goin.

So thanks again guys for all the help.