K241AS will not run need help badly.

[SteveinMo 0]

Sorry for the long post but I want to give you all the information. I have a 10HP kohler on a 1978 WH C101. Stopped using it on a regular basis last spring. Sorry to say did not have stabilizer in the gas. Cannot get it to run now so pulled the carb and cleaned it with spray can carb cleaner. Still will not start and run tries with starter fluid but no luck. Strong spark even pulled the head piston and valves where not bad for a old engine. Good compression so went through the carb again. Still will not run just stumbles some on starter fluid. 

Any help will be greately appreciated as am now retired and on low budget don't want to just buy a new carb. 

Edited February 18, 2016 by SteveinMo
Addition to information

[rmaynard 16,280]

Does it start and briefly run using starter fluid? If so, the problem is with fuel delivery. I would suspect that either the fuel pump is not working, or the strainer in the bottom of the tank is clogged. Try removing the fuel line from the intake of the pump. Because the tank sits lower than the pump, you may have to pressurize the tank. If fuel flows, move on to the pump. Remove the line from the pump to the carburetor at the carburetor. Have someone crank the engine while holding the hose in a can. You should have a good spurt with every rotation of the engine. If not, you may possibly be able to rebuild the pump, but a new one is quicker and in the long run, cheaper.

 

Last thing. When you cleaned the carb, did you remove the float and float valve and clean it thoroughly? A stuck (closed) float valve will cause the same problem.

[TDF5G 2,073]

I agree with Maynard make sure fuel is getting to the carb.  

[oldredrider 2,553]

My guess on this one: weak spark from setting so long. Clean the points and see what happens. Also try a new spark plug.

Edited February 17, 2016 by oldredrider

[pacer 3,177]

Bob gives an excellent diagnosis and I agree with him - fuel is by far the most likely problem after sitting (specially with ethanol gas)

[Ed Kennell 41,715]

 to   Steve.     All good advice you have received.     My first check on a non runner is to be sure I have a good strong spark at the plug. If you do, it should run as you hand spray fuel into the carb.     Then you know it is not getting fuel thru the carb.    As stated above, pull the fuel line into the carb and while holding it in a container, crank  the engine.  You should have a strong spurting of fuel as the pump does its job.   If you don't have fuel, work your way back thru the pump, the filter, the lines, the petcock on the tank, the tank screen, and the tank cap vent until you find the blockage.    If you do have a good spark and good fuel supply to the carb, then the carb needs cleaned, rebuilt, or replaced.

[woodchuckfarmer 333]

If this tractor set where its freezing you could have ice in the tank from sitting so long. It dosent take much condensation to plug a 1/4 inch gas line.

[can whlvr 994]

I would put some new gas in a spray bottle,take off the air cleaner,spray fuel into the carb as you crank her over,keep spraying tillit runs on its own,of coarse do what the others told you to do first,make sure fuel is getting to the carb,and defininatly check the float if it wont run without the spray bottle

[Phatboy 565]

12 hours ago, SteveinMo said:

Sorry for the long post but I want to give you all the information. I have a 10HP kohler on a 1978 WH C101. Stopped using it on a regular basis last spring. Sorry to say did not have stabilizer in the gas. Cannot get it to run now so pulled the carb and cleaned it with spray can carb cleaner. Still will not start and run tries with starter fluid but no luck. Strong spark even pulled the head piston and valves where not bad for a old engine. Good compression so went through the carb again. Still will not run just stumbles some on starter fluid. 

Any help will be greately appreciated as am now retired and on low budget don't want to just buy a new carb. 

Pull the jets out of the carb and replace them and clean the seat with a q tip,, there are tiny little holes in those carb jets and they must all be clean ,, so just grab your jets and bring them to your local tractor shop and replace with new,, ,, before you take them out make sure you turn them all the way in and count the turns then right it down for each jet ,, so when you get the new ones you can set them the same way , so you will have a good starting point for your final tune up,, buddy if you habe spark and good compresion it has to be this i would say.. Also check the manifold gasket between the carb and the block if it is sucking air there it wont be able to deliver a rich enough fuel mixture ,, if it were me i would just replace it also ,,, and make sure you clean the bowl out to get any settiment out ... All said and done should habe no more than 10 or 15 bucks in it , and you will be all set buddy !!

 

Edited February 18, 2016 by Phatboy

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

This is what was in the carb in my brother in law's Deere after sitting for a year or two. It was packed around the float. There was more, this is just what I caught, the rest fell on the floor. I had the exact same symptoms.

[SteveinMo 0]

Today's news. Spark at new plug is strong and even. All new fuel lines and filter. Pulled plug

 bottom of gas tank drained and flushed with kerosene. New fuel and new filter. Starts on its own no gas feed to carb or starter fluid. 

 

Does run run but not well hunts all over and I cannot get it to smooth out. Most ant adjustment of the throttle makes it worse. 

 

You our all have been great help so what are your next suggestions

 

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

clean the carb

[Aldon 4,828]

Something you did improved things. So your on the right track. May be jets. I ran into similar problem and thought I had resolved by replacing the fuel lines. It ended up the screen filter inside the fuel cock was clogged. If you have one of these, it is worth investigating if it is partially clogged.

[Ed Kennell 41,715]

OK Steve, It sounds like you have a good spark.   I hope you have checked for good fuel supply by removing the line into the carb and cranking the engine as suggested before.

I like to do this every time I do any work on the fuel system.  In addition to verifying good fuel delivery to the carb, It also flushes out any dirt that may have been dislodged before it gets into the carb that you just cleaned.    After this it is time to reclean the carb and make sure it is not sucking air around the throttle plate  shaft or the carb/ head gasket.

[WH nut 553]

I would try a new spark plug. You would be surprised how many small engine troubles are caused by a bad plug.