2166 messin up again $&%$#*%

Mojoman · May 22, 2005

now this is getting ridiculous.....got home today from a weekend at the lake, needed to mow the lawn, not too warm today maybe 72-75 deg., mowed for about an hour, and my tractor dies, same as last time. Let it sit for awhile and let it cool down, fired right up, mowed for about 1/2 hr, and it died again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
So, I let it sit for an 1-1/2 hrs or so, it fires right up again, I mow the remaining front part of my yard no problem. Of course, the temp had cooled down quite a bit by this time, so I'm sure it didn't build up much heat.

It's gotta be heat related, and last time it did this, the dealer said it was a sticking inlet valve on my carb. Now, what are the chances that it's the same thing again? Should I be asking for a new carb to ensure this isn't going to happen during the middle of the summer? It really wasn't that warm today, and I wasn't bogging the engine, it just runs for so long, I would imagine gets to a certain temp and dies out. GRRRRRR...I love this mower, but I'm beginning to lose the love..... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

JimR · May 23, 2005

Make him fix it this time. It sounds more like vapor lock.

zizbang · May 23, 2005

My kids have a 2135 with Kohler 1 cyl. engine. The shop put a new coil in it last year for the exact same symptoms. It hasn't missed a beat since.

Also, there was no trial and error. They seemed to know what was wrong right away. They replaced the coil without experiencing the problem for themselves only my description.

Mike.

Mojoman · May 23, 2005

called another dealer this morning, and before I told him it was a new tractor, his first thought was that it was the magneto. I was going to suggest that to the shop I took it to this morning, but I figure I'll let them handle it.

JTKub · May 23, 2005

I've got to go with the coil on this one as well. I highly doubt it's a carb issue, unless the fuel cutoff solenoid on the carb bowl is loosing power when the unit gets hot. Vapor lock is also a possibility, but rare with a rubber & plastic fuel system. I have had coils loose thier 'spark' when they get hot, expand and break the circuit somewhere inside of the coil. Have them replace the coil.
G/luck
Joel

Bucky_O · May 23, 2005

Had this problem on my 2135 last year, symptoms exactly as you described.

Turned out to be the mechanical fuel pump. When hot, the pump housing expanded, pulling the two halves of the pump apart at the gasket area. Air then was pulled into the fuel system, and viola!, the engine would die.

$22 and 15 minutes later, anew fuel pump solved the problem.

Good luck,
Anthony

JTKub · May 23, 2005

( Had this problem on my 2135 last year, symptoms exactly as you described.

Turned out to be the mechanical fuel pump.... )

This is another very good possibility! Kohlers do have a finnicky fuel delivery system. The fuel pump uses a pulse vacuum/pressure from the crankcase to move a diaphragm which pumps the fuel, any leaks in that system will cause fuel starvation. Even using an off brand or aftermarket fuel filter on a kohler can cause problems.
G/luck!
Joel

MrWiggles2 · May 24, 2005

Great point on the fuel delivery problem, didn't even think of that one. I would start with whatever is cheapest to repair, if not a warranty issue.

Mojoman · May 24, 2005

well luckily enough it is still under warranty, I just hope that those guys read this forum, to get a handle on it, and don't just look at the needle valves as the culprit. I'm sure most repair techs don't want joe blow lawnmower man (uh, I guess that would be me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) giving them suggestions as to what could be wrong...... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Dennisfly · May 26, 2005

I just bought a 2166 used and it did just what you described. I put a new (updated and larger) fuel filter in. The dealer said the small fuel filter that I had was replaced by the new larger one. I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

I have a parts manual and it doesn't have a coil, but it does have an ignition module that looks like a coil in the picture. That must be what they are talking about. Part number KH-12-584-14-S. Let us know what happens.

Mojoman · May 26, 2005

Well, an update. I called the service guy today, and he said that he ran it yesterday for an hour, mowed for about 20 min, let it idle for quite a while and was unable to reproduce the problem I'm having. Now, granted it wasn't as warm yesterday as it was on Sunday when I had the problem, but I figure it should have done it again, as when it happened the first time, it wasn't that warm either. He said he's having them pull the carb and do a thorough cleaning on it. I mentioned the fuel pump and the magneto/coil, and he said he checked the fuel pump and it was fine. Gawd I hope it's fixed this time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

JTKub · May 26, 2005

Mojo, I think I'd try another dealership if (gawd forbid) this thing rear it's ugly head again! How many times is that dealer going to clean the carb?!?! It is highly unlikely a new machine is going to have an issue with dirt in the carb. If it did it would act up all the time. I know intermittant issues are frustrating for everyone, but with this number of trips back to the dealer, you deserve atleast some new parts on that machine- namely a coil.
G/luck
Joel

Mojoman · May 26, 2005

yes, I agree JT, I was going to go to another dealer in the first place for this last round, but they said it'd be around 2 weeks before they could get it done. They said maybe 1 week, but most likely 2.

Hopefully, this guy took some of the things I mentioned that you guys suggested and double checked them.

I guess I'll see, I'm planning on picking it up tomorrow.

handy_r_u_2 · Jun 13, 2005

I have a 2186 with the same problem since day one. My machine is now 4 years old and only has 110 hours. I can't keep it running long enough to get through my 3.5 acre lawn. So I am still using my 18 year old gas power push mower. After spending the amount I paid, one would think I could get this resolved or a replacement.

Can you give us an update to what has happened since you picked your tractor up from the dealer? Did they solve this? Spending hundred of hours online with the Cub Cadet tech's, repair shops and user forums I believe there are several inherited weaknesses with the carb's and electrical systems of the kohler's used by Cub Cadet. It is a matter of finding the one or more that yours has.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Mojoman · Jun 13, 2005

handy, check your pm's
but here's the update......
Since I've had it back from the dealer the 2nd time now, it's running fine. I have run it in hotter weather than before when it would die, and it keeps running. I know it seems strange that just by them pulling the carb and actually cleaning it that it would solve the problem, but that's what they told me they did, and that's it.
For those of you who are having similar problems on older machines, check into the magneto/coil and fuel filter. good luck to all!

free · May 31, 2006

my 2165 used to do the same thing. the dealer told me it sounded like the coils (there are 2 in the bs twin 16hp), one in each cylinder. costly to fix. i lived with it for an entire season before i checked the starter solenoid and after i replaced it it hasn't acted up again. i took the old solenoid to AutoZone and they found one just like it that was made for a ford car. i think it cost $10-$15, maybe less, 15min. job. knock on wood.

free · May 31, 2006

my 2165 used to do the same thing. the dealer told me it sounded like the coils (there are 2 in the bs twin 16hp), one in each cylinder. costly to fix. i lived with it for an entire season before i checked the starter solenoid and after i replaced it it hasn't acted up again. i took the old solenoid to AutoZone and they found one just like it that was made for a ford car. i think it cost $10-$15, maybe less, 15min. job. knock on wood.

Bob_Bainbridge · May 31, 2006

( my 2165 used to do the same thing. the dealer told me it sounded like the coils (there are 2 in the bs twin 16hp), one in each cylinder. costly to fix. i lived with it for an entire season before i checked the starter solenoid and after i replaced it it hasn't acted up again. i took the old solenoid to AutoZone and they found one just like it that was made for a ford car. i think it cost $10-$15, maybe less, 15min. job. knock on wood. )

The starter solenoid could cause failures of the tractor to start but it's not likely that a bad solenoid would cause the tractor to die after it was already running.

Bob B.

Bob_Bainbridge · May 31, 2006

( my 2165 used to do the same thing. the dealer told me it sounded like the coils (there are 2 in the bs twin 16hp), one in each cylinder. costly to fix. i lived with it for an entire season before i checked the starter solenoid and after i replaced it it hasn't acted up again. i took the old solenoid to AutoZone and they found one just like it that was made for a ford car. i think it cost $10-$15, maybe less, 15min. job. knock on wood. )

The starter solenoid could cause failures of the tractor to start but it's not likely that a bad solenoid would cause the tractor to die after it was already running.

Bob B.

Tennessee Bluesman · Sep 29, 2017

Yeah, yeah, I know, this reply is a bit late but hey , I'm an old guy. I got here as quick as I could.

I have an old 2166 that exhibited very similar symptoms. Run 30 minutes, cut off. Cool down, crank, run 30 minutes. It took me a LOOOONNG time to figure this one out. I finally notice that every time it happened, the fuel filter was empty. So I thought AHA! Fuel pump! But a new pump did not fix it. I finally decided that it was (say it with me....) VAPOR LOCK. But I could find no real signs of that either. Then one day, on a pure -t whim, I decided to move the fuel line. Swapped it from the left side to the right side. VOILA! (or was that Viola? Never can remember that girl's name) Problem gone. Now WHY did that solve it? Another hour or so of looking found that too. There was an exhaust leak in the muffler, blowing right back to where the fuel line originally began it's trip across the underside of the motor towards the fuel pump. Moving the line completely to the right side eliminated that. I also eliminated the exhaust leak. Eventually.

Mojoman said:
now this is getting ridiculous.....got home today from a weekend at the lake, needed to mow the lawn, not too warm today maybe 72-75 deg., mowed for about an hour, and my tractor dies, same as last time. Let it sit for awhile and let it cool down, fired right up, mowed for about 1/2 hr, and it died again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
So, I let it sit for an 1-1/2 hrs or so, it fires right up again, I mow the remaining front part of my yard no problem. Of course, the temp had cooled down quite a bit by this time, so I'm sure it didn't build up much heat.

It's gotta be heat related, and last time it did this, the dealer said it was a sticking inlet valve on my carb. Now, what are the chances that it's the same thing again? Should I be asking for a new carb to ensure this isn't going to happen during the middle of the summer? It really wasn't that warm today, and I wasn't bogging the engine, it just runs for so long, I would imagine gets to a certain temp and dies out. GRRRRRR...I love this mower, but I'm beginning to lose the love..... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif