GS 6500 loss of power

[das295]

I've got a GS 6500 with a 26HP Kohler Pro. A week ago had mowed a portion of the yard and shut down the tractor to refuel. Tried to start and would turn over but not fire. Let it sit for awhile, fired back up and continued mowing with no problem. Couple days ago my wife is mowing and I hear the tractor cutting in and out and also find that when the deck is engaged any mowing will bog down the engine significantly. Took the deck off, cleaned and checked spindles which seemed to rotate fine. Ran the tractor without the deck and it did ok but I can tell it is not quite full power and it still has a faint cut-out in the sound of the engine. Cleaned the carb, and checked the fuel shut-off solenoid which seemed to be working (can hear it click when key turned to run). Checked the vacuum fuel pump and it puts out fuel when the engine is cranked (although when I stopped cranking fuel continued to flow until I finally clamped the hose; guess I figured it should eventually run dry on the carb side of the fuel pump once the cranking stopped). So at this point I'm not sure which way to go to find the actual problem. You guys have any ideas on where I should be looking? Thank you for the help!

 

[zombie]

It sounds like a common fuel solenoid issue. They like to act up when hot especially. Did you recently replace the fuel filter? If so, did you put paper or the metal mesh on? Paper filters like to cause flow issues.

 

[das295]

Thanks, Zombie, for the reply. I checked the solenoid to see if the plunger would pull down under current and it did. Installed, I do here an audible click when the key is turned to on. In any case hose were the only ways I know to check it. Probably doesn't mean it is working correctly though. I did recently replace the fuel filter. I put on the one sears handles that they say is a replacement for the original kohler filter I had in the beginning. I suspected that it might be causing an issue so I found a kohler filter like the original kind it had and replaced it a couple days ago but it still acts up with little power under a load.

 

[zombie]

How many hours are on it? Is it a command or courage engine?

 

[das295]

The tractor's got 1040 hours on a kohler command

 

[zombie]

How much tear down did you do on the carb? Inspected tank for debris? I've had red plastic from a gas can lodge itself sideways in a fuel line before. Maybe I'm over thinking this. Possibly a combo of debris from last bit of gas in tank and a bad batch of fuel?

 

[das295]

I took apart what I could on the carb including any jets, soaked for a few hours then blew carb cleaner through all the parts. Replaced the needle valve and float. I'll check the fuel lines and tank for debris although it seemed to have decent flow at the fuel filter.

 

[zombie]

Sorry I spaced off following this thread. Have you had any luck with it?

 

[DJP]

I have a a GS 6500. I ran into some same type problems. Take off the gas top, run a while with the gas top off or use tape to cover over the gas hole leaving a big opening. If you do not experence the problem after running a while. than it is in your gas cap. The hole in your gas cap is stopped up. Just drill a small bigger hole in your gas capor push something in the hole to clear it or make it littlr bigger.