70 JD 110 Patio (Red) 8 HP Kohler Sputtering after warm up

Ive been working on my 1970 110 8 HP Kohler. After a week or so of hard starting and idleing only for a few seconds a local small engine repair guy told me to set the points at 16 instead of 20. Meanwhile I had the piston out thinking it was a low compression issue. 60psi but I know that doesnt mean much with the compression relief. I coated rings with oil to put it back togather and buttoned it up and started it. Low and behold it fired up and i was able to give it full throttle. After fine tuning the carb it ran great for about 5 min and then started to sputter. I backed down the throttle a little at a time until it finally died. Tried to start it back and it would fire but would only run 30 seconds and not very good. After it cools down it will start again and run great until it gets warm and then spits and sputters again. Ive tried to adjust carb while sputtering and it does not help. Could it be points needing opened back up alittle or could it be flywheel coil breaking down or a compression issue. Mower set for about 13 years before I started messing with it. Points are not new but very clean and has new condensor, new plug. Spliced into coil wire to condensor with new wire and wire from ignition to condensor is old and cracked but doesnt seem to be shorting out anywhere. Drove it around the yard the last time for about 10 min until it started doing it again. Got it to the garage and throttles down to an idle and it idled for about 5 min before it died.. Any help is appreciated.. Bob

Does it have a pin that comes from the cam to the points to activate the points? That pin can stick as the engine heats up. Take the
points off, pull the pin and lightly sand it. Oil the pin and put it back and see if problem persists. May have to replace the pin.

Thanks for the reply, It does have the pin and I will try that tomorrow.

When you had it apart did you lap and adjust the valves?

Also I am thinking your 110 has the fuel tank under the seat. I can't remember if the fuel pickup comes from the bottom of the tank or the top. You may need to pull the fuel line and make sure it is open, the clamps are tight, and the screen on the pickup is open and if it has a drop in the tank its not got a kink in it.

You may have a coil breaking down. I am guessing you have already installed NEW points and condenser.

Another thing that I have seen a few times on coil ignition Kohlers is the wire between the points and the coil gets where it can partially short to ground and it really does run like its a fuel problem then. I think it shorts at the metal clamps.

I did not adjust the valves. All I did was pull the piston. The fuel tank is under the hood just in front of the battery. Fuel line is new as well as a new filter. Started fine this am and ran for about 13 min at 2/3 throttle and no choke. All the sudden it coughed a few times and died. I think I may buy an inline spark tester just to see if coils gives out. The wire form coil was in bad shape so I spliced into it about 2 inches from the coil with a new wire and ran it to the new condenser. The wire from the ignition is also bad shape but cant see where it is shorting out anywhere. Points are not new but super clean. Ill replace the other wire tomorrow.

Service manual lists .020" point setting as "nominal", actual point setting is made using a timing light.

For detailed info on this, as well as valve settings and other troubleshooting info, the factory service manual is INVALUABLE.

Best part is, Kohler has it on-line for FREE!
K serial manual

Leave the points at .020, making them narrower retards the timing.