Caution- Newer Kohler carb kits for Carter carburetors

[MarkPalmer 81]

I have ran across a couple of instances of problems with these newer Kohler factory carb kits for the Carter carbs that have a brass float needle seat and the needle with the rubber tip.  I am speculating, but I believe the ethanol in gasoline is making this rubber tip swell too much, causing it bind in the needle seat. 

 

In the one instance brought to me, the engine was running fine then stopped as if it ran out of gas.  On this carb, the rubber tipped float needle was stuck up in the seat and couldn't open. No debris or dirty gas, just the rubber point couldn't release from the seat.  This carb had been recently rebuilt at a mower shop with the Kohler kit.

 

The second instance was much more dangerous, yet the similar scenario as the owner kitted the carb himself with new Kohler parts.  On this one the needle stuck in the seat in a manner which the needle couldn't close.  This caused the float bowl to keep filling with gas, and the gas dripped out the air filter all over the floor of the person's garage. Not good.  Same problem, the float needle was binding up in the seat and wasn't able to move freely due to the swollen rubber tip.  On both these carbs I replaced the rubber tipped needle with an older style all metal float needle, using light pressure compressed air to make sure it would seat and not bind before putting back in to service. 

 

If you have one of these newer carb kits installed, you might want to inspect it.  At the very least, close your fuel shutoff valve when not using the tractor in the event a float bowl overflow leak develops. 

 

-Mark-