Cub Cadet 1250 not starting

[Camo-Man 07]

I am getting a spark though, a nice strong spark... I'm going to try cranking the engine again just to make sure that I am indeed getting fuel to the spark.. After that I think I'll try a compression test.

 

[Gator6x4]

Go to this location for a service manual for the Kohler K301 engine. This is a PDF file and quite large.

http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/tp_2379.pdf

I would remove the air cleaner, open the choke and squirt some gas directly into the combustion chamber and then immediately try to start the engine. If the engine then fails to start I think you can rule out the lack of fuel as being the problem. Have you tried a different spark plug? Troubleshooting starting and other problems starts on page 21 of the manual. I don't think I would keep spinning the starter until I ran the battery down. A starter for the K301 engine will give your pocket book a speech impediment and make you light headed. One last thought, have you removed the spark plug and placed your thumb or finger in the spark plug hole to determine you have good compression? A valve could be stuck open or the compression release feature in this engine could have malfunctioned.

 

[dts1449]

I had a 1250 for several years. I did have some similar symptoms before I finally traded it in, the coil was bad. It seemed to have great spark under normal diagnostic conditions, (hold the plug against ground and look for spark) but after ruling out fuel and compression, I tried a coil from TSC. It was a 12v coil and after I hooked it up it started right up. Mine would also run no problem until I shut it off and then not start. Problem was the repair didn't last long, about three mowings. (about 15 hours) I finally spent the dollars on a genuine part and that seemed to fix the problem. If I remember right, the coil mount broke about the same time and I ended up mounting the coil to the plastic barrier around the gas tank. I think that helped the coil lifes seemed that the vibration had a negative effect on how long the coil would last. I did run a ground from the frame to the coil mount, I think that also helped.

Good luck,
DTS

 

[Will Neff]

My 1250 has always started but last week I decided that it needed some pampering. Gave the engine a bath with a power washer. has not started since. No spark , coil seems to test ok with ohm meter. Seems like a simple fix by drying out. Still wont start. Any ideas

 

[jas 2]

I have a cub cadet 1250 just bought it 2 weeks ago now it stops running seems like carb. promblems

 

[The kid]

My 1250 has always started but last week I decided that it needed some pampering. Gave the engine a bath with a power washer. has not started since. No spark , coil seems to test ok with ohm meter. Seems like a simple fix by drying out. Still wont start. Any ideas

Check your spacing between the ignition coil and flywheel. Should be about the width of a business card. Make sure there is no rust of the sides of the flywheel where is passes by the coil. If there is rust. Sand it off, reset spacing and see if it will fire up. -kid

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

Check your spacing between the ignition coil and flywheel. Should be about the width of a business card. Make sure there is no rust of the sides of the flywheel where is passes by the coil. If there is rust. Sand it off, reset spacing and see if it will fire up. -kid

This is an old post from 9-17-10. FYI the 1250 uses an external automotive type coil and has points and condenser.

Bob B.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I have a cub cadet 1250 just bought it 2 weeks ago now it stops running seems like carb. promblems

See if loosening the gas cap makes any difference - if so, the cap vent could be plugged. The 1250 uses a gravity feed from the tank. Look inside the tank with a flashlight and check for any debris and also check the rubber fuel hose. You can try spraying starting fluid into the carb intake and see if it starts. This will prove whether it's a fuel problem or something else. If it's a fuel problem try removing the hose at the carb and see if there is a good stream of gas coming out. If yes it could be a problem with the carb like stuck float or varnish from old ethanol fuel.

Bob B.

 

[rcbe]

Jas 2 - along with Bob's good advice, with that 1250 having some years on it, would strongly consider replacing all rubber fuel lines, fuel filter,and installing a manual inline fuel shutoff valve (and use it) - a cheap investment to protect your engine in case your carb floods and lets raw fuel into the crankcase.....

 

[The kid]

See if loosening the gas cap makes any difference - if so, the cap vent could be plugged. The 1250 uses a gravity feed from the tank. Look inside the tank with a flashlight and check for any debris and also check the rubber fuel hose. You can try spraying starting fluid into the carb intake and see if it starts. This will prove whether it's a fuel problem or something else. If it's a fuel problem try removing the hose at the carb and see if there is a good stream of gas coming out. If yes it could be a problem with the carb like stuck float or varnish from old ethanol fuel.

Bob B.

Check the date again Bob of the member I was replying to.