2135 issue. Overheating?

[rb608]

I have an chronologically older 2135 w/ a 13 hp Kohler, with <200 hours on it. I'm having a chronic problem, but I'm not savvy enough about small engines to have a clue.

It mostly runs great. It'll start up fine, run perfectly, and cut grass for about a half hour before the problem arises. It's as though the timing goes to heck of a sudden. It loses power, backfires, and dies. If you try to restart it, it just won't, but it'll "try". Maybe a few low rpm chugs, more backfiring, but no start. You just have to leave it where it is for a while then go back; then it'll start right up as though there were no problem at all.

Because of the time-related correction, I'm suspecting a temperature issue, but the characteristics have the characteristics of a timing problem. I've sort of discounted timing because that's not something that'll just suddenly go wrong, right?

FWIW, last season I replaced the muffler and the carb; but the problem predates those repairs.

Any help?

Okay, I'm going to go finish my lawn now. TIA.

[diesel_nut]

Is the engine screen covered with clippings? Gas cap vent clogged?

[rb608]

Engine screen is clear. The gas cap vent appears damaged. I'll have to check to see if it's open.

[OldMachinist]

Originally Posted by rb608

Engine screen is clear. The gas cap vent appears damaged. I'll have to check to see if it's open.

If the vent is clogged loosening the cap should correct the problem fast but it sounds more like vapor lock or a clogged fuel fuel filter. Check to make sure some small critter hasn't built a nest somewhere blocking air flow causing the fuel line to get hot. I have a big problem with mud dabber wasps building nests in the cooling fins of engines all the time and mouse nests builted over the winter.

[rb608]

I've had other engines sabotaged by those little insects; methinks that's a very plausible idea. I hope so, because now that I've asked the question, the sumbitch won't start at all. Wants to, just won't. I'll run the fuel line & check the air supply. Tx.

[magicalj]

Another member on this forum had the similar issues with his 2185. His was a bad coil. You should check out his thread.

AJ

[rb608]

Well, I checked over everything external to the engine & found nothing out of the ordinary, except one thing. The green foam rubber cover around the air filter looks to be deteriorated. (It's new last year, so I suspect mice.) Is it possible I'm getting too much air through that, causing it to run to lean?

[rb608]

Originally Posted by magicalj

Another member on this forum had the similar issues with his 2185. His was a bad coil. You should check out his thread.

Thanks. I checked the jgrinn thread; but its different symptoms. Mine isn't bogging down, it's just chugging, backfiring, and quitting.

[savageactor7]

I'm with the poster that suspects the coil...also it happened to an older Cub we owned. Ran fine for 20 min then died when the coil got hot.

[diesel_nut]

Although backfiring is a sign of a lean condition I doubt running it even completely without the green pre-filter would cause a too-lean condition.