Kohler Pop

RCT · Jul 1, 2008

I have seen many posts on the backfire on the Kohlers. What I do with mine is let it idle for 5-10 seconds and pull the choke and no backfire. Is that ok, I mean I am not messing anything up am I? Just don't forget to turn off the key or the hour meter keeps going!

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 1, 2008

You may be flooding the cylinders with excess gas which can dilute the lubrication on the cylinder walls. The recommended procedure on the later engines is to open the throttle 1/2 way or more and turn off the key. This seems to work on my 3235. I believe there is a fuel shutoff solenoid that cuts off the fuel when the key is turned off.

Bob B.

RCT · Jul 2, 2008

My manual says half throttle and shut off, but everytime I did that, it would backfire. I only am choking it long enough for it to die (a split second) and turning the key off. I have tried letting it idle at half throttle for longer and shorter, but to the same end.

radman1 · Jul 3, 2008

My kawasaki 26 hp gas engine on my zero turn mower will backfire when it is hot and I shut it off. My toro/exmark dealer told me to choke it at the same time I turn it off. I don't kill the engine by choking it but instead turn off the key and then immediately pull the choke. It works and no backfire. The only other way to turn if off when hot is to let it idle for several minutes and cool off, then it won't backfire.

JSharp · Jul 3, 2008

I shut my 23HP Kohler off at wide open throttle. No pops.

I don't understand the resistance to doing this and don't see what harm it can cause...

BoobyTrap · Jul 3, 2008

Half throttle, or full throttle, no pop here. On 62 hrs, hasn't "popped" the first time. Choking? Not keen on flooding the cylinders with gasoline. But, to each his own. Whatever blows your hair back.

Bird · Jul 4, 2008

You know some of us old timers were accustomed to going back to idle for a few seconds before turning off any gas or diesel engine. But the manufacturers do change things. I had a Toro ZTR with a Briggs & Stratton engine, and if you turned that thing off at idle, you'd wonder why the backfire hadn't blown the muffler off. But if you turned the key off at wide open throttle (which is exactly what the manual said to do), it died a nice peaceful death. I'd only use a choke to kill one as a last resort until I could solve the problem properly; not as a routine thing.

moe1942 · Jul 4, 2008

Shut off at wot. Any choking at this point will wash the cylinder walls. Bad idea.

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 4, 2008

I used to let my 1450 idle for a minute before shutting off and it usually didn't backfire. I was reluctant to shut off the 3235 at high throttle settings but I found that it required at least half to full throttle to avoid backfiring so I do it now.

Bob B.