Raider 12 points not moving - Engine terminal?

[DCwom 78]

I tried to revive my dad's old Raider 12 today, the story is that the tractor was running a few years ago, but it wouldn't start and I noticed that the points cover was half off, the lower screw was missing. I cranked the engine and the points don't move, to my limited knowledge points run off off a lobe on the cam shaft, so the points ought to be opening when I crank the motor, right? I was also able to open the points by hand (finger) so they are not seized. I'm thinking this is rebuild turf. I tried to attach a video of the points in non-action when cranking the engine, but its too large, so there is only a static shot.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2021 by DCwom
rm dup image

[Gregor 4,847]

Remove the points. See if the plunger moves in and out if you keep pressure on it.

[squonk 43,782]

Plunger moves very little. Take out the plug and turn engine by hand. Another possibility is the pushrod is worn.

Edited April 25, 2021 by squonk

[953 nut 59,912]

Glad to see a second generation taking an interest in dad's 

If the engine was running a couple years ago the chances are the camshaft is OK and the points just need to be cleaned up. With the key in the off position open the points by hand and place a dollar bill between the contacts, allow the points to close and then pull the bill back and forth to remove oxidation.

Remove the spark plug and attach the spark plug wire to it while it is laying on the cylinder head. Run a small jumper wire from the battery + terminal to the coil + terminal then crank the engine over to see if you have spark.

[oldlineman 1,537]

Do all of the above,  but looks to me like they may need adjusted. I can see some adjustment in the slot on the points adjustment screw. Bob

[Gregor 4,847]

 

[DCwom 78]

Good news, the points are now moving and I have fire! I got the engine to run on carburetor cleaner but it won't stay running. There is a lever, what I assume is a primer, on the fuel pump and I've found that pumping it a bunch of times also allows the engine to run for a bit then it sputters and dies, usually with a back-fire. I've drained and put fresh fuel in the tank, its flows freely from the tank to the the fuel pump and I assume if the lever is pumping fuel into the carburetor (I can hear gurgling) that line is clear as well. I'm lookinig for ideas of what to try next.

 

   Dennis

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

If it were me I would pull the carb off and clean and inspect it for dirt and gas residue. A dirty carb will not run good.

[oliver2-44 10,708]

2 hours ago, BOB ELLISON said:

If it were me I would pull the carb off and clean and inspect it for dirt and gas residue. A dirty carb will not run good.

Sadly if it has sat for a few years with ethanol gas in it the carb will need cleaning. Drop the carb fuel bowl and you will probable find ethanol sand and goo 

[DCwom 78]

I still need to confirm the fuel pump is working, but I took a look at replacement fuel pumps just in case and I don't see anything that looks like the pump on my Raider 12HP, the priming lever seems unique. Is this something that was only on OEM pumps?

[953 nut 59,912]

Call the folks at Then and Now and they will fix you up with a rebuild kit for the Kohler fuel pump. https://www.then-now-auto.com/product/ac-4s-kohler-fuel-pump-kit/

[pfrederi 18,660]

Some pumps had the manual primer but it isn't necessary

[DCwom 78]

I dropped the carb bowl and sprayed up the float, etc. The fuel pump does pump fuel when the engine is cranked, but I don't know if its enough, so I moved the tank up high over the hood to see if gravity feed helped and the engine ran. Next I strapped the tank to the hood (about 1 foot lower) to see if I could go mobile, the engine ran for a couple of minutes then stalled out. The throttle cable is seized and the engine is running pretty fast, I suspect that if I can get the engine throttled down where it stays running with the hood mounted tank and then eventually move back to the fuel pump I will confirm that the fuel flow from the pump is too weak, at least in theory?

[DCwom 78]

So to kind of close this thread, it was a weak fuel pump. I happen to have another Kohler 12 HP motor (K301 EP) so I tried to swap fuel pumps, but the actuator rod thing was longer on the K301EP than on my older K301 S. Over the weekend I came across a bunch of old Wheel Horse parts in the garage and in the pile was a fuel pump my dad saved from a previous motor, I bolted it up and now she runs! When moving the rod on the weak pump it didn't have the same "click" that the other pumps had, so that explains things a bit. I was able to make a couple of short laps to see gears 1-3 & reverse work, there is a high/low level that I need to investigate, when moved to high nothing seemed to work, but that is an investigation for another day and maybe another thread.