Yours would be the last of the K160's. Kohler refreshed the product line in 1959 and it became the K161. Ditto the K91, K181, etc.

Your engine has breaker point magneto, so unlikely that you have coil problem. Heat related coil issues are more of an electronic ignition problem. The magneto is made by REPCO (R.E. Phelan) and coil is usually good or bad and rarely intermittant.

Suggest you first check points, then replace condenser. Condenser could be leaking (electrically) with elevated termperature. Next thing would be to check valve clearances. If intake is too close, this could cause hot hard starting problems.

I had the same tractor with the same engine and it was like this when I bought it. Everything checked out well and it had good spark. But not excellent spark. I pulled the flywheel, removed the old looking condenser, and replaced it with a new condenser and now the spark is better than good, it's excellent. I did clean the points but never replaced them. Since doing this, it has never taken more than one pull on the rope to get it started, either hot or cold. If I were you, I would replace the condenser first.

Thanks ggoyeneche and sfhill. Both of you keyed on the condenser so that will be my target as soon as visiting relatives depart. Is there anything to look out for when accessing the condenser? Is removing the flywheel straightforward? Are they marked so I'd know what replacement to get?

Although symptoms point to condenser, I'd check points first.

Points are a wear item, and usually will need to be either dressed with a file and reset for gap (.020) or replaced and re-gapped. They are much easier to get to. They are in a little box under the carburetor.

Not sure whether condenser is under the flywheel on a K160. Later K91, K161, and K181 have condenser external with the points under the carb. If you have to remove flywheel, you will need a strap wrench to hold flywheel while you loosen the main nut. Also, you'll need a puller to get the flywheel off. It's on a taper on the crank and they often stick. Once broke free, the flywheel will literally fall off.

Correct condenser number should be 1414701S or you can convert to electronic module (elim points and condenser) with Kohler# 2575710S.

Well, I've just taken a quick look and there is no box under the carburetor so, as sfhill suggests, they must be under the flywheel. Are the points there as well? I've never pulled a flywheel. I presume I remove the cover and will need a puller? It seems like an really inconvenient place to put those parts. I have been unable to download a service or any other type of manual for this engine. All I can find is one for the K161 engine which is visually pretty different to me. Do you, sfhill, have a manual for the K160?
Chris

I don't have any books for this engine. I do have a new condenser for it but any magneto engine condenser will work. First you must remove the flywheel and here you will find the coil and condenser. Below the right side of the carburetor is a small cover that 2 screws hold on. This is where the points were on mine. To remove the flywheel, loosen the nut so the nut is flush with the end of the crankshaft and hit it with a brass hammer. This will loosen the flywheel off the tapered crankshaft. While into the condenser, unscrew the wire that connects to the condenser. If you don't have an original type condenser to replace with, tape over the wire end so it can't short out. The old condenser can be removed. Put the flywheel back on. If you get nearly any condenser from a magneto type engine that can be mounted on the engine like under a flywheel cover mounting bolt that will ground it, then this condenser wire can be connected to the wire that comes down from the coil and goes to the points. This is about the best I can tell you.

Thanks sf, you've been a big help. I'll check this out this week.
Chris