Kohler Mag 14 Suggestions Needed

[MalMac 1,332]

Went out to start a tractor with a Kohler Mag 14 on it. This motor has been running flawlessly. I went to start it, spins over like crazy, backfired, started and ran for 20 seconds then backfired again, died, now it just won't start. It was too cold out to go around it diagnosing things like spark, getting fuel that kind of thing. Just kinda like some suggestions for when I do go out to cut down the amount of time maybe looking for what could be the problem. Less time out in sub zero temps the better. Might even talk myself into waiting for spring. 

Almost acts to me that timing might be off. Wonder if the flywheel had move somehow. Never had it happen on Magnum before. Wonder if it could be junk ethanol gas. It's fresh gas but it's been cold out.

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,226]

diaphragm style fuel pump(?)  ...Sub zero temps?     just a guess that maybe the fuel pump is the issue.

[Lane Ranger 11,394]

If the tractor was real cold  could be a frozen or stuck gasline, carb or fuel pump diaphrapm as Terry suggests.    Using Seaform and premium non-ethanol gasoline will help you.    Countrymark  Co-Op gas stations in Indiana sell non-thanol premium fuel which is what I use in my tractors.    Works a lot better in the older K type Kohler motors. 

CountryMark Co-op  link:

 

http://www.countrymark.com/countrymark/deliveredfuels.aspx

Edited December 17, 2016 by Lane Ranger

[dclarke 4,082]

I'm thinking it might be the gas also, Tim....Maybe water in the bowl of the carb. 

[Ed Kennell 41,789]

Under the seat fuel tank ?    Fill the tank so the fuel level is above the fuel pump.

[953 nut 59,754]

Could it be that a chunk of carbon in the combustion chamber contained enough moisture that freezing temperatures dislodged it and it is holding the exhaust valve part open?      Been there!

[can whlvr 994]

its a magneto style ignition,so I dought its out of time,theres no points,just a module that fires when the magnets cross it from the flywheel,but the magnets do come loose,but I would look at other things already mentioned before I took the flywheel off

[MalMac 1,332]

Well, it's in the valves, don't know yet if it's loss of keepers of worst case a broken cam. When cold streak ends will investigate further, possibly in may. Should be warm enough by then.