2006 LT1046

southernchopper · Mar 28, 2011

My dad helped me while I was at work the other day with replacing a battery in my cub. Long story short he installed battery backwards and tried to start it. Well since then it is cranking but not starting. It is not getting any fire. I have replaced starter, solonoid,regulator, and plugs. Swapped his ignition modules out on mine which are good and still no fire. Can someone please help. This is starting to get very expensive and I dont know where to go from here but stating to chase every wire down.

OldMachinist · Mar 29, 2011

Kohler has two different ignition systems. Do the ignition modules have one wire or three wires each?

southernchopper · Mar 29, 2011

The modules have one wire running to them. It goes to the first one and then jumps to the other.

OldMachinist · Mar 29, 2011

Okay, That wire grounds out the modules. Disconnect the wire from the wiring hareness and try to start the engine. Beware, If it starts the only way shut it down will be to ground that wire. If it does start then your problem is somewhere in the keyswitch/safety interlock system. Does you tractor have the keyswitch that allows reverse mowing?

southernchopper · Mar 29, 2011

I will try that as soon as I get home from work. If it does start after unhooking the wire what is the problem? My tractor does have the keyswitch to allow for reverse mowing.

OldMachinist · Mar 29, 2011

Likely the problem will be the Reverse Mowing Control part#925-04227B. It's the electronic module that the keyswitch is surrounded by. I've found it online from $60-$75. If your fathers tractor is the same you can try swapping it out to test.

southernchopper · Mar 29, 2011

I tried unhooking the wire while I was on lunch break. No change. Any idea What i should try now? By the way my dad does have the same mower so swapping parts should not be any problem.

OldMachinist · Mar 29, 2011

The way the magneto's work on these engines as long as they are not grounded out they should make a spark when the flywheel passes by them. You said it's not getting any fire did you determine that by pulling a sparkplug, grounding it and crank the engine to check for spark?

southernchopper · Mar 29, 2011

Just pulled the wires put a screwdriver in the end and no spark. When I pulled the plugs the ends had gas on them so I assumed it was getting fuel and you can smell it while trying to start it.

OldMachinist · Mar 29, 2011

Pull a spark plug out, attach it to the plug wire, ground the threaded end to the head, crank the engine and look for spark. As long as you not in bright sun you should be able to see any spark. Like I said as long as the magneto is good, the gap(.011-.013") to the flywheel magnet is correct and isn't grounded it will make a spark when the flywheel magnet passes it.

southernchopper · Mar 29, 2011

Will give this a try in the morning, dont get off till 11 tonight. Thanks for all your help.

southernchopper · Mar 30, 2011

Got up pulled the plug, grounded it like u said and we had fire. Guess Im chasing a gas issue now.

OldMachinist · Mar 30, 2011

You said the plugs were wet and you could smell gas so could it be flooded?

southernchopper · Mar 30, 2011

When I first started working on it and pulled the plugs they were wet. After new plugs were installed and chasing the fire issue they were not. When I checked for a spark this morning they were not. Im draining the gas as we speak.

OldMachinist · Mar 30, 2011

There's a electric fuel shut off solenoid on the carburetor that could be bad. I can't think of a reason why reversing the polarity would hurt it but you never know. Does your tractor have the Kohler Courage or Command engine

southernchopper · Mar 30, 2011

I just filled it with new gas and a new fuel filter, when I was trying to get fuel back to the carb. the battery has gotten so weak it would not turn the motor overanymore. So off to the charger to charge it back. I have the courage engine.