Hard start

   / Hard start #1  

sdcarter00

New member
Joined
Mar 7, 2018
Messages
9
Location
Jesup, Ga
Tractor
2012 CubCadet RZT
Have a Cub cadet RZT that refuses turn over, have to remove air filter and spray starting fluid, then it fires right up! What adjustment do I need to make? Thanks
 
   / Hard start
  • Thread Starter
#2  
Have a Cub cadet RZT that refuses turn over, have to remove air filter and spray starting fluid, then it fires right up! What adjustment do I need to make? Thanks
It has a Kohler Courage 23cc
 
   / Hard start #3  
Have a Cub cadet RZT that refuses turn over, have to remove air filter and spray starting fluid, then it fires right up! What adjustment do I need to make? Thanks

Sounds like you have a battery with insufficient CCA, cold cranking amps. Look at labels on battery and post spec's.

The starter is not getting enough power to turn the engine over on the compression stroke. The ether fires faster and pushes the engine past the compression stroke.

Lawn and garden tractor batteries have short lives compared to automotive ones.

If you connect larger battery temporarily (do not use jumper cables) see if it starts.

Newer tractors have flyback diodes everywhere and they are very easy to blow using jumper cables.

yJhNQ4L.jpg

deM4Heu.jpg

jXklLij.jpg


Dave M7040
 
   / Hard start
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Sounds like you have a battery with insufficient CCA, cold cranking amps. Look at labels on battery and post spec's.

The starter is not getting enough power to turn the engine over on the compression stroke. The ether fires faster and pushes the engine past the compression stroke.

Lawn and garden tractor batteries have short lives compared to automotive ones.

If you connect larger battery temporarily (do not use jumper cables) see if it starts.

Newer tractors have flyback diodes everywhere and they are very easy to blow using jumper cables.

yJhNQ4L.jpg

deM4Heu.jpg

jXklLij.jpg


Dave M7040
Thanks!
 
   / Hard start
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Sounds like you have a battery with insufficient CCA, cold cranking amps. Look at labels on battery and post spec's.

The starter is not getting enough power to turn the engine over on the compression stroke. The ether fires faster and pushes the engine past the compression stroke.

Lawn and garden tractor batteries have short lives compared to automotive ones.

If you connect larger battery temporarily (do not use jumper cables) see if it starts.

Newer tractors have flyback diodes everywhere and they are very easy to blow using jumper cables.

yJhNQ4L.jpg

deM4Heu.jpg

jXklLij.jpg


Dave M7040
340 CCA, battery is about 3 years old
 
   / Hard start #7  
When you say it doesn't turn over, do you mean that the starter won't crank the engine or that it doesn't fire? If it doesn't crank, you have a battery, cable, starter etc. problem. If it cranks but doesn't fire until you spray starting fluid, you have a fuel problem. Perhaps the choke isn't closing, the float level is low in the carb, kinked fuel hose etc.

Bob B.
 
   / Hard start
  • Thread Starter
#8  
When you say it doesn't turn over, do you mean that the starter won't crank the engine or that it doesn't fire? If it doesn't crank, you have a battery, cable, starter etc. problem. If it cranks but doesn't fire until you spray starting fluid, you have a fuel problem. Perhaps the choke isn't closing, the float level is low in the carb, kinked fuel hose etc.

Bob B.
It cranks, but will not start
 
   / Hard start #9  
It cranks, but will not start
I had the same problem with my RZT50. Took it to my local cub dealer 2 weeks before warranty ran out and they fixed it. Apparently there's one to many holes in the choke plate. (Pollution crap) I believe they brazed it shut and it starts perfect now. They will not fix it if it's under warranty.
 
   / Hard start #10  
If you have this model: Cub Cadet RZT 50 KH

Then here is a link to the engine shop manual:
http://www.kohlerengines.com/engines/onlinecatalog/pdf/32_690_01_EN.pdf

Lots of good info there.

This engine uses a pulse type fuel pump. To check operation, remove the fuel line from the carb, point the line away from the engine and then crank the engine. If pump is working, fuel will come out of the hose end.

sdcarter00 - Welcome to TBN

Richard
 

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