case 155 trouble

Jacob_Daniel

New User
I was wondering if any one could help me. I am new to the Kohler engines(well small engines in general to be honest)and the starter/generator spins engine but it does not crank. the belt is stretched really bad and I was just wondering if that would casue the engine to not spin fast enough for it to crank. Any help is appreciated very much. thank you and God Bless
 
It wouldn't hurt to tighten that belt. If the engine rolls over like it is, then that is probably not all your problem.

How long has it been since it last ran?
Do you have spark when the engine rolls over?
Does it have compression? If its been sitting one of the valves may not be sealing completely: there could be carbon under the face of the valve or it could be completely stuck.
Is there gas in the carburetor? Today's gas seems to go dead in just a few weeks.
 
The Kohler in your tractor has a little thing known as ACR or Automatic Compression Release.

What this device does is it keeps the exhaust valve open slightly while the start/gen begins to spin the engine. But when the start/gen gets the engine spinning at a certain RPM, the ACR allows the exhaust valve to close completely. At that point, the momentum of the flywheel will assist the start/gen to keep the engine spinning and if you have good spark and a working fuel system, then the engine should show signs of firing and coming to life.

So if this tractor has been sitting unused for a long time, there could be numerous reasons why it will not run on its own. YOU....have to find out why. Begin with the fuel system. Is the tank clean inside? Any sign of old fuel jelled on the bottom? If you remove the fuel line from OUT side of the fuel pump and spin the engine over, is fuel being pumped? Have you removed the float bowl of the carb? Put the fuel line back on and spin the engine to see if fuel runs out of the needle/seat. If old fuel was left in the carb, the main jet may be plugged. You need to remove, dismantle the carb and soak it for a couple of days in TRUE carb cleaner and then flush everything clean with Stoddard Solvent and compressed air.

If the points are not filed dead flat and gapped properly, then you won't get a spark. Same with the spark plug. If the coil wire is old, you may be losing the spark to the air. Diagnosis is a step by step process of elimination until you finally hit on what is keeping the engine from running.
 
its been about a week since it last ran. I pretty sure it has spark because I used two different plugs(neither was new so that could still be the problem)
its got compassion cause when I stick my finger in the plug hole it tries to blow it out( I was told that's how to check the compression) and yes there is gas in the carburetor. I thought there was water in the gas so drained it all and I added some new this afternoon. but it still does the same thing.

does the generator light have to be on before it will crank? because that light only comes one when the starter is spinning but no other time. it used to come on and that how I would know when the key was right to crank it. but it stopped coming on and that's pretty much when I started having this problem.
 
I have drained the fuel system and added some new fuel because I thought that id had water in it, because its only been about a week since it last ran and that's when my problems started. it started acting like it had water in the gas, sputtering spiting and hard cranking. so I did all the draining and added some regular(non ethanol) in it and it still does the same. the spark plug I'm not 100% I will probably replace it and the fuel filter with the belt tomorrow.
 
You still need to find out if fuel is being delivered to the carb or not. Take off the fuel bowl carefully and examine what is laying on the bottom of it. Dirt? Water droplets? Spin the engine over and allow some fuel to flush out anything that might be in the fuel lines but put a catch pan under the carb while doing this. There is no point groping around in the dark here. Focus on the fuel system first and then turn your attention to the ignition system.
 
I suggest that you use a test light or a multi-meter to make sure that you are getting 12 volts to the + terminal of the ignition coil when you turn the ignition key to ON. You may have a bad switch or a broken wire. The GEN light should glow red whenever the key is turned to ON. I would also make sure that no one has installed a FUSE into the wiring system. The factory did not provide a fuse but that tractor is 48 years old and things do happen.
 
update: well found out today through testing and trail. its not the belt nor the gas nor the compression. I'm leaning towards an electrical problem because my GEN light still does not come on like it used it. I figure that when I get that light to come on than my problem will be fix. the bulb is not blown because it will flicker as long as the engine is spinning. but that's all it does is spin and putter. any more ideas? please and thank you. God Bless
 
Did you miss my suggestion to use a multi-meter or test light to see if you are getting 12 volts to the ++ terminal of the ignition coil? If you do not have 12 volts there, then you will not have any spark. The most likely culprit is the ignition switch. These wear out over time and must be replaced. If the switch is shot, use the link below and order a new one.
Myers L & G
 
yes sir I got your tip I just did not have anyway to test it that way so I used an old car trick my pawpaw taught me and its got good spark. I was thinking my self that it could be the switch because I don't feel it catching like I used to. so that will be the next thing replaced. thank you for the link it is a big help.
 
First clean all the battery/electrical connections. Most electrical problems seem to due to poor electrical connections. Clean all connections and grounds including the points surfaces. Run a jumper wire from the big post on the starter to the coil, if it starts, remove the wire while running. If it continues to run the switch is okay. Since you say you have good spark I doubt the switch is bad. You could have a bad coil wire as well, pull the plug and ground it to see if the plug fires.
 

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