Kohler Commnd 22 hp V-twin Cuts Out

[GTSRider]

My Cub Cadet 3206 is cutting out after a few minutes of running. Up to that time, it runs great,
then behaves as it has run out of gas. I first thought bad fuel, so I pumped out
all I could, and put in some dry gas , and fresh 89 fuel.....1 gal.
Starts right up, and dies a few minutes into running.
I am now thinking worn fuel pump. Engine has 1200 hrs. on it, and runs strong.
Will check flow of pump, but thought I'd ask online.
Thanks,
Pete
Hudson Valley , NY

 

[oldpilgrim]

fuel filter?

 

[GTSRider]

Thanks....changed to a new fuel filter....sorry forgot to mention that.....

 

[GTSRider]

Does anyone know the rated output for these mechanical pumps ?
Would like to check output of pump before I order new pump....

 

[amaxwell]

My Cub Cadet 3206 is cutting out after a few minutes of running. Up to that time, it runs great,
then behaves as it has run out of gas. I first thought bad fuel, so I pumped out
all I could, and put in some dry gas , and fresh 89 fuel.....1 gal.
Starts right up, and dies a few minutes into running.
I am now thinking worn fuel pump. Engine has 1200 hrs. on it, and runs strong.
Will check flow of pump, but thought I'd ask online.
Thanks,
Pete
Hudson Valley , NY

Could there be trash in the tank that restricts the fuel flow? Does the tank cap vent ? Air has to get in to replace the gas.

 

[4570Man]

Does anyone know the rated output for these mechanical pumps ? Would like to check output of pump before I order new pump....

Pretty slow. Under no load maybe 1/4 gallon a minute. They should move a similar flow to a gravity feed on the same size fuel line. I used a fuel pump to pump the fuel out of a gasoline welder. It took about 15 minutes to fill a 5 gallon can.

 

[GTSRider]

Good point ! I have thought about this , given it's age....but how do you remove sediment from
bottom of plastic bladder tank ?

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Aren't most tanks on lawn tractors pretty much gravity feed when on level ground? The pump is there for when your going up hill. I'm thinking it is something else. I don't think the pump would cut out after a few minutes.

You could test it by taking the air cleaner off after it dies and seeing if it will run off of some spray ether. After that check for spark. It could be something in the ignition system that opens up when it starts getting warm. That would actually be my best guess.

 

[4570Man]

Aren't most tanks on lawn tractors pretty much gravity feed when on level ground? The pump is there for when your going up hill. I'm thinking it is something else. I don't think the pump would cut out after a few minutes. You could test it by taking the air cleaner off after it dies and seeing if it will run off of some spray ether. After that check for spark. It could be something in the ignition system that opens up when it starts getting warm. That would actually be my best guess.

This happened on my old lawnmower. The coil failed. It would run for about 10 minutes until it got hot. Then it died and wouldn't start until it cooled down.

 

[The Fred]

How about oil sentry issues? Bad oil pressure switch? Disconnect it temporarily and check the oil before you run it again?

Also if you hook an old timing light to the spark plug wire then run it till it is acting up, if it IS a spark issue the light will be all goofy or just quit.
Pretty bulletproof method to determine spark or fuel issues.

Best regards, Fred

 

[jaotguy]

being a twin , only 1 coil would go bad , and still run on the other without quitting ....

remove the line from the pump going back to the tank ... run compressed air back to the tank ( blow out any junk that may clog the line )

note : some units have an in tank fuel filter before the on/ off valve ... there are fine screens that can get clogged easily . some are inside the line right as the hose connects to the tank nipple.

so the gas slowly filters thru the sludge and fills the carb bowl ( when the unit is off ) , then the engine starts and runs on the fuel in the bowl , then starves as the level drops after a minute or two.

 

[GTSRider]

This problem is driving me crazy ! Today was the last day of use , as the 3 acre yard is finally clean for the season.... luckily, it was 61 today in the Hudson Valley NY.
What's nuts is that it will run from 2-4 minutes before she cuts out.... but can run on a given day, as long as over an hour ! ? I still suspect gas starvation, because after it cuts out... using the choke after waiting a few minutes, will help restart it, where it will run for another 2-4 minutes. I can see dirt/sludge in the bottom of the tank, but what I don't understand is why it will sometimes run for over an hr. ? My plan is to remove plastic blatter tank ( 3000 series ) and clean out with soap and water. How difficult is it to remove these tanks ?

 

[Hill Billy Bob]

Looks like you'll have to remove seat and fender assembly to get to it. I do this yearly to my 1000 series, to change the transmission oil......1st time took me a while, after a few times ya get it down pat.

Fender removal taken from service manual for the 3000 series. You can download entire manual at mymowerparts.com

View attachment Cub-Cadet-3000-Series-Service-Repair-Manual.pdf

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

If it does not have one, I would change out the fuel filter up by the engine with a see-through one. Something like this, you can get them anywhere.
That way you would definitely be able to see if your theory is correct.

 

[turbo36]

This problem is driving me crazy ! Today was the last day of use , as the 3 acre yard is finally clean for the season.... luckily, it was 61 today in the Hudson Valley NY.
What's nuts is that it will run from 2-4 minutes before she cuts out.... but can run on a given day, as long as over an hour ! ? I still suspect gas starvation, because after it cuts out... using the choke after waiting a few minutes, will help restart it, where it will run for another 2-4 minutes. I can see dirt/sludge in the bottom of the tank, but what I don't understand is why it will sometimes run for over an hr. ? My plan is to remove plastic blatter tank ( 3000 series ) and clean out with soap and water. How difficult is it to remove these tanks ?

Had a similar problem with a John Deere Sabre unit; ended up being a clogged vent in the fuel cap. Loosen the cap and see if it will run longer.

 

[Hill Billy Bob]

Before I pulled the tank, I would pull the fuel line at the filter, place it in a container on the ground or garage floor, and see if it flows steady. If not, loosen the cap and see if that helps.

Might also check the vac line that operates the pump. At 1200 hours, I gotta believe it's hardened pretty good, maybe cracked and leaking.