Kohler Pop

[RCT]

I have seen many posts on the backfire on the Kohlers. What I do with mine is let it idle for 5-10 seconds and pull the choke and no backfire. Is that ok, I mean I am not messing anything up am I? Just don't forget to turn off the key or the hour meter keeps going!

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

You may be flooding the cylinders with excess gas which can dilute the lubrication on the cylinder walls. The recommended procedure on the later engines is to open the throttle 1/2 way or more and turn off the key. This seems to work on my 3235. I believe there is a fuel shutoff solenoid that cuts off the fuel when the key is turned off.

Bob B.

 

[RCT]

My manual says half throttle and shut off, but everytime I did that, it would backfire. I only am choking it long enough for it to die (a split second) and turning the key off. I have tried letting it idle at half throttle for longer and shorter, but to the same end.

 

[radman1]

My kawasaki 26 hp gas engine on my zero turn mower will backfire when it is hot and I shut it off. My toro/exmark dealer told me to choke it at the same time I turn it off. I don't kill the engine by choking it but instead turn off the key and then immediately pull the choke. It works and no backfire. The only other way to turn if off when hot is to let it idle for several minutes and cool off, then it won't backfire.

 

[JSharp]

I shut my 23HP Kohler off at wide open throttle. No pops.

I don't understand the resistance to doing this and don't see what harm it can cause...

 

[BoobyTrap]

Half throttle, or full throttle, no pop here. On 62 hrs, hasn't "popped" the first time. Choking? Not keen on flooding the cylinders with gasoline. But, to each his own. Whatever blows your hair back.

 

[Bird]

You know some of us old timers were accustomed to going back to idle for a few seconds before turning off any gas or diesel engine. But the manufacturers do change things. I had a Toro ZTR with a Briggs & Stratton engine, and if you turned that thing off at idle, you'd wonder why the backfire hadn't blown the muffler off. But if you turned the key off at wide open throttle (which is exactly what the manual said to do), it died a nice peaceful death. I'd only use a choke to kill one as a last resort until I could solve the problem properly; not as a routine thing.

 

[moe1942]

Shut off at wot. Any choking at this point will wash the cylinder walls. Bad idea.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I used to let my 1450 idle for a minute before shutting off and it usually didn't backfire. I was reluctant to shut off the 3235 at high throttle settings but I found that it required at least half to full throttle to avoid backfiring so I do it now.

Bob B.

 

[micman32]

I Shut mine down at half throttle sometimes is pops and sometimes it doesn't.

Michael

 

[Nittany]

I gradually ease the throttle down to low idle, as its cooling I'll get off the tractor and get rid of the clippings/debris that has accumulated while mowing (maybe even run the small california duster over the paint), then I'll raise the throttle to half as I'm turning the key. Works like a charm every time!

Nittany
2004 Cub Cadet 2518

 

[OhioGuy]

Every Cub I've ever owned did this. My newest, the 5252 backfires about 1/3 of the time if I shut it off at 1/2 throttle.

Sometimes it sort of sneaks up on you and scares the crap out of you!

Curt

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

My neighbor mowed his yard today with his John Deere. It's one of the smaller tractors with probably a 44 inch deck. It sounded like he idled it down and shut it off with no pop. I don't know what they do different than Cub.

Bob B.

 

[magicalj]

They use a briggs engine and not a kohler.

 

[elfiero50]

When my 3184 is good and hot after about an hour of mowing @ wide open throttle, I like to quickly slide to lever to idle and as the engine coasts down, I snap the key to the off postion and wait ..... I'm trying to help out the neighbor with the 12(?) year old poodle get a new dog!- I'm getting pretty good at it too Seriously, I think all yard equipment should have a little personality- a Cub with no charm is just a yellow John Deere.

 

[Fordlords]

Just think of all the money Cub owners saved by not buying any fireworks for July 4th

Seriously, the horizontal shaft engined Cubs have a really bad exhaust system design that not only does the backfire thing, but burns the grass underneath it if the tractor is left running in one spot for too long. This can also be a fire hazard in the fall around dry leaves and such. When enough owners sounded their voices about transaxle problems on the 1000 series a couple years ago, they were solved. If owners do the same and sound off (like their exhaust backfires) about these problems on the GT's, they will be solved too.

Too many times designers and engineers get their minds set on getting products off their drawing boards and out the door that they forget about the people who they are building them for. Yes, a loud backfire would scare the %$it out of my dog, and too hot an exhaust would burn my grass. I can't think of any tractor owner (others than those who crave personality) who would want such quality features on a garden tractor costing upwards of $4000.00. And the fact is the only design priority seemed to be having the short little tapered hoodline, which also came with melting problems on the plastic used for the hood. A tapered hoodline does NOTHING on a LGT to improve visibility when mowing, it is not a car where you aim high in steering- you should be looking at the sides of the mower deck for clearance, not up and over the tractor's hood.

These are problems that would not require any more than about 100 engineering hours to solve. There would be quite a bit of cost for production parts retooling, but for the consumer quality and safety end it would be well worth it.



-Fordlords-

 

[sdk8103]

I always idle into the shed and shut it down at idle speed with no pop on my 1046 with the Kohler 23hp.

 

[JSharp]

These are problems that would not require any more than about 100 engineering hours to solve. There would be quite a bit of cost for production parts retooling, but for the consumer quality and safety end it would be well worth it.

-Fordlords-

I have a strong feeling they don't care.

Seems like Cub has decided they want to sell the product for the absolute bottom dollar. Market positioning I believe it's called. So the 2500 series is a lot of tractor for the money if you just look at specs.

But, there's reason everyone else charges $1500-$2000 more for the same capability. Better materials, better engineering. It's really that simple I'm afraid...

 

[Fordlords]

That Cub finally changed their mindset with the CUT's to team with Yanmar to start building some outstanding tractors in that field instead of tractors ranging between only average to just plain junk, it shows that maybe they do wish to excel. This needs to be carried over in to their lawn and garden equipment now. If it does I do agree the prices will become more on par with other makes having similar specs.

-Fordlords-

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I used to let my 1450 idle for a minute before shutting off and it usually didn't backfire. I was reluctant to shut off the 3235 at high throttle settings but I found that it required at least half to full throttle to avoid backfiring so I do it now.

Bob B.

I have about 25 hours on my 3235 since I tore it down and replaced a blown head gasket. Curiously it seems like the backfire at shutdown has stopped. Today I turned off the ignition while idling and no noise. I'll have to try it a few more times to be sure. Perhaps the fuel shutoff solenoid was stuck and my repair work freed it up or perhaps it's just a coincidence.

Bob B.