Hey guys, I'm new here, looking for some input and maybe a good source for replacement parts for a 52 year old tractor engine.
This Toro was my dad's since around 1967, he never changed oil, spark plug, any onboard ignition or fuel system parts. He just drove the thing, using it to mow, snow blow, pull a 4' X 7' trailer to haul firewood out of deep woods, and to drive to the neighbors down the road. In other words, the old man did his best to drive that Toro into the ground. When he gave it to me it ran dependably, if not rough. I gave it it's first oil change in 50 years, a new Champion spark plug, kitted the carb (had to use the old needle as the replacement was NOT the same as original), did some tinkering with mixture settings, and had that Kohler running like a top...For a year.
I had her in the shed for the first half of this summer until I needed to haul that 4' X 7' trailer full of brush (I inherited the trailer as well) yesterday. The old girl popped to life before the first crank was done and she ran perfectly for about 10 minutes. I had purged the fuel tank and replaced old gas with "non-ox", the Minnesota version of alchohol free fuel. All my single cylinder engine gear loves the stuff.
Anyway, I stopped the tractor and let it idle at low speed while I loaded the trailer (the battery seemed weak, the generator/starter keeps the charge up), and all of a sudden the Kohler started to bark and backfire, then suddenly quit. I can get it to fire, but won't start and run. Took the carb tank off and checked the needle/seat, was clear. Checked for spark (ouch, got spark!). Put a couple ounces of Seafoam in the tank and checked my mix settings on the carb and still: Bang, but no run.
Does this sound like a familiar trouble shooting issue? I'm no small engine guy, I know some of the care and feeding, but as far as diagnostics go I'm at best a novice...
I appreciate any help.
---Eric
This Toro was my dad's since around 1967, he never changed oil, spark plug, any onboard ignition or fuel system parts. He just drove the thing, using it to mow, snow blow, pull a 4' X 7' trailer to haul firewood out of deep woods, and to drive to the neighbors down the road. In other words, the old man did his best to drive that Toro into the ground. When he gave it to me it ran dependably, if not rough. I gave it it's first oil change in 50 years, a new Champion spark plug, kitted the carb (had to use the old needle as the replacement was NOT the same as original), did some tinkering with mixture settings, and had that Kohler running like a top...For a year.
I had her in the shed for the first half of this summer until I needed to haul that 4' X 7' trailer full of brush (I inherited the trailer as well) yesterday. The old girl popped to life before the first crank was done and she ran perfectly for about 10 minutes. I had purged the fuel tank and replaced old gas with "non-ox", the Minnesota version of alchohol free fuel. All my single cylinder engine gear loves the stuff.
Anyway, I stopped the tractor and let it idle at low speed while I loaded the trailer (the battery seemed weak, the generator/starter keeps the charge up), and all of a sudden the Kohler started to bark and backfire, then suddenly quit. I can get it to fire, but won't start and run. Took the carb tank off and checked the needle/seat, was clear. Checked for spark (ouch, got spark!). Put a couple ounces of Seafoam in the tank and checked my mix settings on the carb and still: Bang, but no run.
Does this sound like a familiar trouble shooting issue? I'm no small engine guy, I know some of the care and feeding, but as far as diagnostics go I'm at best a novice...
I appreciate any help.
---Eric