gabe911 23 #1 Posted June 25, 2014 Hi guys, hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction to help me fix this little problem. Just recently it's taking a lot of tries to start my 520-h..i have the choke on full and throttle between m the middle and high and it's not starting. It takes about 5 minutes adjusting the choke and throttle for it to finally turn over. Could someone please tell me what I'm missing over what to look into. Thank you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #2 Posted June 25, 2014 Try cranking without choke, then full choke and back off the choke right away. When was the last time you changed plugs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
varosd 1,185 #3 Posted June 25, 2014 if my gas tank under the seat tractors sit w/o being run for a while, I have to pressureize the tank to push the gas back up. TT had a antidrain fuel line do hicky valve that could be installed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gabe911 23 #4 Posted June 25, 2014 Yup was the spark plug..lol..i just thought these machines were so complex sometimes that it couldn't have been that easy! Yes I'm still a newb and learning 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #5 Posted June 26, 2014 Doesn't matter how new or old you are, we are all still learning. That's why we have this forum. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
546cowboy 302 #6 Posted June 26, 2014 You know when I was a GM mechanic for over 20 years I used to do it ( rarely ) and see others do it. Get it in your head to over complicate the problem you're trying to solve. Every service manual has trouble trees that you follow to diagnose the problem and people in a hurry like to skip steps for some reason. Human nature I guess. Of course I have seen those same manuals lead you through hours of electrical tests before they say check a certain fuse and bingo it's blown. You would think that would be one of the first steps in a logical diagnosis. So see sometimes even the book is confused. I was a shop foreman for a while and that was the first thing I told mechanics "Don't skip any steps in the trouble tree". Just a little rambling here. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 490 #7 Posted June 26, 2014 All tractors behave and respond differently, IMHO, even between like models. I have to learn each tractor and what makes it tic and I tell this to my boys too. Having said that, my 1992 year make 520H needs only half throttle with choke for starting from cold. Anything more and it will flood. If the wrong person is trying to start it, they can flood it to the point it won't start. Glad you got your tractor going. Now that you've serviced the plugs, are you thinking about a tranny and engine oil/filter change? Might as well replace the air cleaner and grease everything - LOL!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #8 Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) Doesn't matter how new or old you are, we are all still learning. Amen to that ! Edited June 26, 2014 by Save Old Iron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #9 Posted June 26, 2014 All tractors behave and respond differently, IMHO, even between like models. ! And the ease of starting is very different from Briggs to Kohlers. Carb design maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 7,253 #10 Posted June 26, 2014 I start my Kohler K341 and Onan the same way from cold. Full choke, part throttle and crank until it starts then de-choke some for a few seconds then take the choke completely off. What I find is different is the warm starts after the tractor has sat for a half hour or so. The onan will start with a quick flick of the key but the Kohler will crank some and may require some choke to start. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #11 Posted June 26, 2014 Just like a woman, You have to know where the sweet spot is to get them fired up. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites