km3h 543 #1 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) I have a KT17QS Kohler. When I remove the spark plug wire from the front cylinder the engine dies. I know this is not a good thing. Probably need a rebuild which is something I can do if necessary. So what exactly is this telling me? I checked the compression and it is about 85lbs in both cylinders. Cut grass with it with no trouble. I would have thought it would have died as soon as I engaged the PTO but it ran good. Edited July 2, 2014 by km3h Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #2 Posted July 3, 2014 I would say it is telling you to stop doing that! There are a few twins that are tired and a little low on compression that when you pull one of the plug wires, it will stall out. Are you 100% sure that the rear cyl is firing? What happens when you pull the rear plug wire? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #3 Posted July 3, 2014 consider maybe the ignition coil is defective and only produces spark from one tower on the coil or the rear spark plug is not firing or the spark plug wire to the rear plug is defective 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #4 Posted July 3, 2014 I would say it is telling you to stop doing that! There are a few twins that are tired and a little low on compression that when you pull one of the plug wires, it will stall out. Are you 100% sure that the rear cyl is firing? What happens when you pull the rear plug wire? When I pull the rear plug I don't notice any change at all. I will be checking the coil and plug wire this morning. Let you know what I find. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #5 Posted July 3, 2014 swapping the sparkplug wire connectors at the coil will check the coil and wires the rear plug will need to be replaced or swapped to check it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #6 Posted July 3, 2014 Well I changed coils put new wires on it and still doing the same thing. There is a strange thing happening. I am trying to get my head around it so that I can describe what it is doing and have readers makes sense of it. I will post more tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Desko 624 #7 Posted July 4, 2014 Well then by the sounds to that it has low compression and can't keep it running on one cylinder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #8 Posted July 4, 2014 what is the condition of the rear spark plug? wet with raw fuel ? coked up with soot ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glgrumpy 35 #9 Posted July 4, 2014 It's a Kt17, going to die or already did! I bought one once, guy delivered it, ran good to get off trailer, sounded OK. He said engine bad, but wasn't expecting it to run at all and he drove it off. When I tore it down found big hole in block from when rod let go, and stuck piston, right up to top of cylinder. I've had another where the rod blew and took out the valve train on one side too. An 18hp twin is about same motor with impovements, look for one of those for replacement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #10 Posted July 5, 2014 (edited) This is an odd circumstance. When I pull the wire from the rear plug the engine will drop some RPMs but still run. Pull wire from the front and the engine will die. If I switch the wires at the coil then it works in reverse. Bad Coil? Can't see how as I get A hot blue spark jumping from both wires when I pull it from the coil. Did the same thing with the coil that came with the engine. I am going to switch the engine with one I already have with 575 hours on it but I would like to understand what is happening with this one. It is time to rebuild this engine anyway. It has 2100 hours on it. Edited July 5, 2014 by km3h Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #11 Posted July 30, 2014 I ordered a Harley coil and it came today. I will probably put it on the tractor tomorrow. Let you know how it works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,269 #12 Posted June 12, 2016 I have the same problem with my tractor. How did the harley coil work out. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 29,408 #13 Posted June 19, 2016 Never had a KT17 on a but I have had experience with them on Cub's. With no oil pump one cylinder or the other tends to get starved for oil when the engine is tilted during use. I took one apart that would have needed to go .060 over just to straighten the cylinder out. Not to be rude but I consider the only use for these things is at a boat anchor.I am a Kohler fan except for these. I would suggest changing to a Magnum that has a oil pump & filter. Just my 2 cents Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
