Kohler Courage 19 Starting Issues

[vmaxman]

I just salvaged a 2010 Cub Cadet LTX1040 from a frustrated owner.
It needed a little TLC but overall is in great shape!

I bought a OEM cylinder head gasket kit and replaced all the top end gaskets even though the valve cover was the only one leaking.
I set the intake valve to .005 and exhaust to .007.
Cleaned the carb
New spark plug

It runs, idles and cuts great.

It starts for SH*%T!

It turns over just fine. It seems slow cranking is a common issue but, mine turns over at a decent rate.
The compression release seems to be working. When the valve cover is off, you can see the exhaust valve do a tiny opening to release pressure.
It will crank and crank but not fire up. If i spray just a touch of ether into the carb, it fires off immediately.
Once fired up, it will run all day with no issues restarting at all.

Once it cools down for a long period of time, it becomes a bear to start again.

Any suggestions on what would cause this?

 

[Billrog]

Stick a primer bulb in the fuel line used on out board motor fuel tanks & pumped it up before starting when cold to prime it then you can forget the ether.

 

[tomplum]

I assume that the choke is closing? The carbs aren't real finicky, but refresh the bowl gasket if questionable. Gaskets on both sides of the heat deflector? No cracks in it? There isn't a lot of head on this fuel system, so use a less restrictive fuel filter 2505007s or 2505021s .

 

[rangerfredbob]

I haven't torn into my Craftsman mower with a Kohler as it just works... but if it's anything like my Outback mower or older riding mowers with Briggs twins there's a fuel pump driven by engine vacuum, if the vacuum hose is broken/leaking it won't prime for nothing unless the engine is spinning fast enough to get past that. Not that I've had that problem with them but it's definitely a symptom that sounds similar to what you have going on...

 

[TMGT]

Make sure the choke is closing COMPLETELY! Had the same issue on a Courage 20, drove me nuts, always had to use starting fluid or it would just crank and kill the battery. Choke looked like it was closed but it was open just a hair, once adjusted it started right up every time.

 

[vmaxman]

Stick a primer bulb in the fuel line used on out board motor fuel tanks & pumped it up before starting when cold to prime it then you can forget the ether.

I just might try that, thanks.

I assume that the choke is closing? The carbs aren't real finicky, but refresh the bowl gasket if questionable. Gaskets on both sides of the heat deflector? No cracks in it? There isn't a lot of head on this fuel system, so use a less restrictive fuel filter 2505007s or 2505021s .

It was closing but as mentioned by TMGT, maybe not 100%. The bowl gasket was replaced when the carb was cleaned, it came from a Briggs package but seemed to fit well. All the carb mounting/heat deflector gaskets were included in the top end gasket kit and were replaced with OEM Kohler parts . New 2505021s fuel filter was installed.

I haven't torn into my Craftsman mower with a Kohler as it just works... but if it's anything like my Outback mower or older riding mowers with Briggs twins there's a fuel pump driven by engine vacuum, if the vacuum hose is broken/leaking it won't prime for nothing unless the engine is spinning fast enough to get past that. Not that I've had that problem with them but it's definitely a symptom that sounds similar to what you have going on...

No pump on this one, its gravity feed.

Make sure the choke is closing COMPLETELY! Had the same issue on a Courage 20, drove me nuts, always had to use starting fluid or it would just crank and kill the battery. Choke looked like it was closed but it was open just a hair, once adjusted it started right up every time.

Not something I would have thought of. I will definitely check. Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look into this and let you know what happens.

 

[TBone]

I just might try that, thanks.



It was closing but as mentioned by TMGT, maybe not 100%. The bowl gasket was replaced when the carb was cleaned, it came from a Briggs package but seemed to fit well. All the carb mounting/heat deflector gaskets were included in the top end gasket kit and were replaced with OEM Kohler parts . New 2505021s fuel filter was installed.



No pump on this one, its gravity feed.


Not something I would have thought of. I will definitely check. Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look into this and let you know what happens.

X2 on the choke. I have a Kawasaki on my zero that got hard to start when cold. A glance at the choke butterfly told me it was closed but when I took a closer look I saw a tiny, tiny crack. After adjusting the choke linkage to make it close tightly it starts like a champ. A little bit of air going by the butterfly keeps the carb from sucking the gas it needs when cold.

 

[vmaxman]

I adjusted the choke and it fired up rather quickly even with the battery worn down a little!

Thanks for the suggestions!

I posted a before and after photo of the butterfly. And a couple shots if the adjustment screw. I just turned the screw clockwise until the butterfly closed.

The video is a cold start. It hasn't been run in over a week.

 

[TMGT]

Cool, glad you got it straightened out, I was amazed how sensitive these engines are to choke adjustment, mine was even closer to being closed then yours appears to be and it still wouldn't start.

 

[vmaxman]

I tried to upload a video but it just turned it into a photo.

Here's a link to the video on YouTube. The tractor hadn't been started in over a week.

Kohler Courage 19HP cold start - YouTube