127 cub cadet questions

[Nat]

I have an old 127 Cub Cadet mower. It has a 12 hp Kohler engine that was getting pretty tired. It took a long time to get it started and it didn't have enough power so I tore it down to find the problem. The rings were wore badly and 1 was broken so I put new rings in. While I had it apart I painted it .
Now for the problem. It still doesn't start good and it still doesn't have enough power. It isn't the points or plug or carburater, they have been checked 10 times and it has plenty of compression if checked by turning it backwards as the manuel says. It has a compression release built in and is supposed to stop working at 650 rpm's. I have found that the govener doesn't work, and I'm wondering if the valves are so far out of adjustment that it is not letting it get enough compression to start well? Also can the lack of vaccuum on the intake stroke be the cause of the govener not working? Can anyone offer any insight on the problem? Thanks, Nat

 

[art]

Nat, the govenor is mechanical on those engines and if you have good compression then the valves shouldn't be leaking. Is it turning at the normal speed when cranking, or locking up? was it over reving?

 

[Nat]

I think it had over-reved before, breaking the rings. It seems to turn over maybe a little slow, but has for years. I just got it back together today and have kept the rpm's low for breaking in. I can't figure out the compression release, so don't know how it would effect starting. I look at it again tommorow and see if the lightbulb comes on , I need a new idea. Later, Nat