Sounds like a blown head gasket.

Drain your oil and see if, in fact the crankcase has filled w/ fuel. It's hard to get a reading on the dipstick, will smoke nastily if it starts and is common on these. (The float valve in the carb let's the fuel through)

IMHO you are too late. The oil was low and now the engine is semi-seized. This hard to pull the rope.

How often do you check the oil? How much does it usually take?

Best of luck :)

Actually, the "hard to pull the rope" situation started early this spring. I have run the mower 1 hour per week for 10 weeks like that, sometimes easy to start, sometimes not. I haven't checked the oil in a few months, but in 12 years of use, it has never burned any oil, so I never follow it that closely.

I was out all day. Tomorrow I'll take a closer look at the oil, spark plug, etc.

Can anyone here explain how the "low compression start" works?

Thanks!

This is a system whereby the exhuast valve is not permitted to fully close during the compression stroke of the RPM is low enough.

Thus is is easier to start and once the engine gets up to speed it runs normal. It is possible your compression release is not working and hence the resistance during the compression stroke.

Lets hope that all that has happened is that your oil has been diluted because the float stuck.

fingers crossed for you!

"I haven't checked the oil in a few months, "

Holy Smoke! Never ceases to amaze me.

Walt Conner

wheelhorse of course

"Lets hope that all that has happened is that your oil has been diluted because the float stuck."

How do I check if the float is stuck? Where is the float?

Thanks

If you look at my above post, follow the instructions- you will then know if the float valve let fuel into the engine. The float would be attached to the float valve in the carb. You would need to drop the float bowl to access the float. These are plastic floats and typically don't fail. The valve is usually serviced in the kit and you pick the one out of the kit that looks like yours as they don't interchange. BTW, if your oil is diluted w/ fuel- that also mean sthat your cylinder is likely flooded as well. Remove the spark plug and crank with the ignition grounded so a spark from the plug wire won't start the fuel on fire. It is a real good idea to also install an inline shut off valve on these, shutting off the fuel when not in use as these carbs like to fail and flood when sitting. If you had to de-flood the engine- once you change the oil filter and add fresh oil, you may still have oil/ fuel in the exhaust so it will smoke more than normal for the first few minutes.

tomplum

I have been busy with other things, but the dipstick definitely smells of gas.

Coincidentally, we had house guests recently and they also complained of gas smell in the garage.

The Gravely has a fuel shutoff - never used it except in the winter. My fault.

Someone else suggested to dump the oil, replace with 75%/25% mix of oil/kerosene. Idle for 5 minutes (thanks for your safety tip), then drain overnight . That will clear the stuck exhaust valve. As far as the stuck carb float, he just said always use the shutoff.

Comments?

Thanks!

Your belief is that the exhaust valve is stuck thus the compression release won't function? Just know that your engine already got washed down somewhat by the gasoline if what we think happened did... Maybe the witches brew will free up a gunked up lifter. On these, if you are thinking about compression release issues- you have to know what type of rockers are in the head and need to pull the valve cover. A few were made adjustable, most were fully hydraulic tho.
Once you are de-flooded and it has run, decide if your engine still pulls over hard. If it does, shut the switch off and pull the spark plug and then see if it still seems to be dragging or not- like due to binding w/ the equipment itself or other damage in the engine due to lack of lube or?

Let this be a lesson or lessons learned for NOT CHECKING OIL BEFORE USE. that would be EVERY USE. And for the lazy at least when you put GAS IN IT. For thoses that just pull the rope or turn the key you need to think how expensive it could be for not taking an extra 20 sec. to CHECK THE OIL! Walt I'm not amazed

Sounds to me as if he's been experiencing hydrostatic (hydraulic) lock with the difficult starting. The CV14'S have hydraulic lifters, isn't the acr on the intake side?

OK, I drained the oil - got 3 quarts of oil/gas mix. I think oil capacity for this Kohler command 14 is about 1.75 quarts. So, over 1 quart of gas in the crankcase.

Put in fresh oil, new plug. Started on the first pull. Blue smoke for 5 mins at idle, now much cleaner.

Will change the oil in another 5 mins.

Now, about that darned carb float valve ...

If there is room, just install a fuel shutoff valve between the tank and carb. If the engine is running OK, the needle/seat in the carb must be somewhat OK. If not, it would flood out while running. Adding a shutoff is good insurance no matter what on anything with a gravity feed tank.

Posted by walt2002 on Fri, Aug 1, 08 at 16:44

"Holy Smoke! Never ceases to amaze me."

FWIW, Tom said the smoke was blue.

Peace.

Marco

"I haven't checked the oil in a few months, but in 12 years of use, it has never burned any oil, so I never follow it that closely. "

If he would of been checking it he would of seen the oil level rising, and that should of been a clue something is wrong.

I sorry there is just no excuss for that. He is very lucky that thing still runs without the rods knocking. If don't check it in months I wonder when it gets changed????????.

Well, after dumping the bad oil/gas mix I did two more oil changes within an hour (engine idling).

I then did one hour of mowing (under load). It smoked like crazy for about 2 minutes, then subsided quickly. Now it burns clean. And no engine noises. Easy start - first pull.

Thanks for all your help, and thanks to the tractor gods for letting me off easy this time . And all comments about checking oil before each start are spot on. Plus I do have the fuel shut off. Will always use it now.

Thanks again!!