16 hp Kohler Lawn Tractor won't start

14 years ago

Hi all,

It's a Craftsman lawn tractor with a 16 horse Kohler circa 1999/2000. I've been having stalling problems all season, which seemed to be related to the fuel filter. In a nutshell, it would run great for 30-60 mins, then die. I would simply shake the fuel line, and then it'd run for a while again. In the process, I've done a full tuneup and removed/cleaned the carb.

Last weekend, I decided to just run a straight line from the tank to the carb. It fired right up and I let it run for a minute.

Today, it fired right up and then stalled after about 30 seconds, and now it just cranks but doesn't fire.

I've checked the safety switch in the seat and the fuel solenoid, both of which are fine. I removed the plug, grounded it and saw spark. So, I'm thinking this must be fuel related but I'm stumped. Any thoughts? I don't have any starting fluid handy - will get some tomorrow and see if it fires on that.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mownie
14 years ago
Unless you have a lot of money to spend..........DO NOT BUY "Starting Fluid". Commercial starting fluid is ETHER. Ether is much too explosive and violent to use in a small engine such as the ones we deal with here. It's not that ether is expensive, it is not. But pistons and heads add up real quickly, same for rods and crankshafts!! Use spray carburetor cleaner instead (Carb Medic, Gumout, et al).
QUESTION: Did you use a genuine Kohler fuel filter, packaged in a genuine Kohler branded package or carton? If you did not use a genuine Kohler brand fuel filter, that might be your problem, I mean....the engine's problem. By popular consensus of most members of this forum, Kohler engines are very picky about their fuel filters. You almost have to "show them" where it says "Kohler" before they will be happy.
The fact that the engine ran ok when you "straight lined" it makes this situation lean toward a fuel filter issue. There are some fuel filters being sold that literally create more problems than they prevent. This seems to be especially true with Kohler products. Lots of folks think you have to buy the dinky little filters offered at the small engine shops or home center. Not true! You can buy a large size fuel filter at any automotive parts house that will perform well on a lawn machine. You need to choose a filter that has nipple type hose bibs of the same diameter as your old filter. You also need to stay away from filters that are intended for use on fuel injected engines. Those filters have denser media to catch smaller particles and they require a more powerful pump to get fuel flow volume through them. Fuel injection filters have metal bodies, carburetted filters are plastic. You must also check the filter body of any filter to see it there is a "directional arrow" indicating which way fuel will flow through the filter. Some filters incorporate a check valve, or have a "biased media" that only wants to allow the fuel to flow in one direction. Just some thoughts and things for you to check or consider.
moeball
Original Author
14 years ago
Originally I did put in a generic fuel filter - which is when the problem began. I then got and installed a genuine Kohler filter, which didn't seem to make a difference. I did make sure the direction of flow was ok. I'm going to try putting the gas line with the Kohler filter back in and see if it starts at least.
Related Discussions
Craftsman Lawn Tractor Won't Start
Q
Comments (4)
I somehow edited some sentences from my above post. I'll try again. cecr, download the PDF manual as suggested by Bill. Look at the schematic. As Bill said, try "jumping" from the battery positive cable on the solenoid to the small terminal (WHITE wire post). If this makes the solenoid engage and motorize the starter, there is nothing amiss with these 2 items and the defect is "upstream". Using a 12 volt test light or a multimeter (set to DC volts scale) check for voltage at the B terminal on ignition switch. If you do not show voltage on B terminal, the problem is in the wiring between B terminal and the battery. If you do have voltage present on the B terminal of switch go to the next step. Check for voltage at the white wire on ignition switch WHILE the switch is turned to the start position. If you have no voltage on the white wire (while in start position) the ignition switch is defective. If you have voltage present on the white wire (in start position), the ignition switch is good. Next you need to find the clutch/brake safety switch. Beware that in the process of performing any of these tests, your movement of the wire connectors could restore a loose fitting connection and suddenly cause the starter to begin turning. The clutch/brake pedal must be pushed down completely and locked before doing the testing. While holding the ignition switch in the start position, check for voltage on the 2 white wires of the clutch/brake switch. If the switch is defective (or not being properly actuated) you will have voltage present at only one white wire. If the switch is not mounted securely in its fixture, or has become "out of adjustment", it might act like it's defective also. Be sure that the switch is secured properly. If you find the switch is properly mounted and voltage is present at BOTH white wires, the defect is in the wiring or connectors somewhere between the clutch/brake switch and the small white wire post on the solenoid.
...See More
Craftsman Lawn Tractor Won't Start
Q
Comments (65)
Seat switch connector has a built in "shorting bar" which will close the kill circuit when the connector is unplugged from the switch. Unplugging the connector from the switch gives the same results as if the seat is not occupied. Seat switch is just one switch in the safety interlock circuitry that can cause the engine to have no spark. The brake pedal interlock switch is actually 2 switches in one assembly. One of the brake switches is dedicated to starter inhibition, and the other switch is to kill spark and stop the engine. The PTO switch also has a circuit dedicated to the kill wire. You can disconnect the kill wire from the magneto to see if that restores spark. If doing that restores spark, something is grounding the kill wire somewhere. Could be a chafed wire.
...See More
1996 Craftsman 15 HP Kohler won't start.
Q
Comments (4)
The only way the battery can discharge with the key off is if the diode off the alternator is shorted. That's assuming the ignition switch is functioning properly. Try unplugging that connector after using the mower to see if the battery stays charged. IF you have a voltmeter, do the following- Test leads across the battery & engine at high speed. Measure DCV AND ACV. There should be 14ish DCV and negligible ACV. IF you are getting noticeable ACV, it would verify the diode is shorted. The diode could be marginally bad I guess???, but they tend to be good or bad. IF you don't have a meter, a 12V test light MIGHT show a bad diode. Unplug diode connector and insert leads in series with the diode. IF it lights, diode bad. IF you don't know what a diode is, it's basically an electric check valve. Current can only flow one direction.
...See More
Craftsman 271022 with Kohler 15.5 hp CV15s won't start
Q
Comments (18)
It may be about time to pop the valve cover and look at the valve train for signs of unequal valve height (how far up the valve stem rises when the engine is turned by hand). If one of the valves does not rise as far as the other, a valve seat may have come out. Does the engine seem to spin faster than usual when cranking? Hear any kind of hissing or wheezing sound from the exhaust while cranking? Can you still "hear" the characteristic thump sound of the compression stroke while cranking or just the starter just seem to make a monotone, steady spinning sound like it isn't under any load?
...See More
rcbe
14 years ago
good you got back to kohler for the filter, but make sure it is the "right" type for your app... kohler also offers a cuppla different micron ratings - the wrong one could starve your engine for fuel no different than if it was stopped up.

also, did you install new fuel line(s) - older machines fuel lines can start to deteriorate letting chunks of wall stuff get right into yer carb.
njdpo
14 years ago
what about the gas cap - is there a hole in it which has become clogged... Try running it with the gas cap loose .

( Why is it that these problems dont happen in the middle of January - when you dont need to mow the lawn :)

Good luck -- Dave

16 hp Kohler Lawn Tractor won't start

Comments (4)

mownie

moeball
Original Author

Related Discussions

rcbe

njdpo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

16 hp Kohler Lawn Tractor won't start

Comments (4)

mownie

moeballOriginal Author

Related Discussions

rcbe

njdpo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

moeball
Original Author