1042 no start

strkpr00 · Jun 30, 2006

My 6 mo. old CC1042 Kohler 19 hp Courage will turn over, has spark, has fresh fuel [full], pulled the gas line off and it flows, now last time out I ran out of gas and put a small amount of 3 mo. old "stabil" gas in the mower [getting ready for hurricanes] and have since then filled it with fresh gas and topped my car at the same time, the gas seems OK, I also could feel the backfire-solenoid click on the base of the carb.
Warranty? I am the second owner after the first guy bought too much mower for his yard. Cub Cadet and Kohler warranty is for the first owner only, this was bought at Lowes as a close out. any help would greatly be appreciated.

strkpr00 · Jun 30, 2006

while I had the air cleaner off I could see that the choke works, and it would backfire on occaision threw the carb while cranking.

Fordlords · Jun 30, 2006

You need three things to run- Compression, spark at the right time, and gas.
We will presume you have compression, and you stated it has a spark. As it gets a backfire through the intake, it sounds like it is not getting enough fuel. (too lean) Try spraying some carburetor cleaner down the intake while attempting to start it. If the fuel system is blocked, it will usually run off the carb cleaner for a few seconds, and many times that will clear a blocked main jet if that is the case. If it does that but does not continue to run, check and see that the fuel filter is not plugged and that the fuel pump is working. I would then verify that fuel is indeed getting past the shutoff solenoid down in to the float bowl. In essense, you just start troubleshooting each part of the fuel system one by one. I have used the Stabil product in a couple of my cars I don't drive in the winter, but tried it in a newer Kawasaki motorcycle last year and could then not get that bike to run to save my life. Only after draining out all the gas and refilling it did it start and run. I found the bast way to store small engines is to shut the fuel off at the tank and run the carb(s) dry.

-Fordlords-

7254t · Jun 30, 2006

pull top and flywheel found several flywheel keys scheered on that model. kohler said bolt was not tight enough

strkpr00 · Jun 30, 2006

Fordlord if I disconnect the solenoid wire on the carb. bowl will that bypass that item?

strkpr00 · Jul 1, 2006

I pulled the solenoid wire, no clicking and no start, next I going to pull out the gas and try another source for fresh gas, maybe it doesnt like cheapo. I did shoot some solvent in the carb that we use to start diesels/ forklifts and nothing special happened. Is it possible for it to jump timing?

JTKub · Jul 1, 2006

Dont pull the wire off the fuel cutoff on the carb bowel. No power = no fuel. Is the sparkplug getting soaked with fuel? Have you verified a strong spark @ the sparkplug? Gotta start with the simple stuff!

Joel

strkpr00 · Jul 1, 2006

JTK when I pulled the plug and grounded it the spark was quite clear, and I could see vapor shooting out of the spark plug hole when cranking, I will try the lousy gas angle on Sunday when I get a top brand fuel, not the knock off stuff.

Fordlords · Jul 1, 2006

If it did not fire using the starting fluid, I would check the flywheel key as 7254t mentioned, as if the key is sheared the ignition timing will be way off and cause the no-start.

-Fordlords-