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TroyBilt Horse Cutting out hot/under load

F

fpappal

Member
It takes me about an hour to rototill my garden with an old Troybilt Horse with a 7hp Kohler. Yesterday after about 45 minutes of use the engine started to cut out under load. I figured it was low on fuel so I shut it down and filled up the tank. It started right back up but with the same issue, kept cutting out while trying to till. It would idle fine and had enough power to drive itself back to the barn. I let it sit for about 4 hours, started it up on the first pull and was able to finish the garden which took about 15 more minutes.

Any idea what is going on? If it was a bad coil wouldn't it start cutting out after maybe 10 minutes? What is happening after 45 minutes of hard use? I do know the engine had a valve job maybe 15 years ago. The machine is probably from the late 70s. It gets used a lot, pretty much all summer long for weed control. Always starts on the first or second pull and runs good.
 
Without a spark checker, I don't know how you will tell if its starving for gas or losing spark.

Does feathering in the choke a bit help?

I don't know which Kohler you have. If it has points to fire the ignition, when was the last time it was tuned up and the fuel filter changed?

Have you tried opening the fuel cap 1/2 turn or so when it acts up?
 
Stupid department....check for these buggers. Coil and engine could be really over heating. Sorry about the sideways.
a161352.jpg
 
Yes it has points, it is an older engine. I hate to say it but the only thing I have done to this engine is change the oil and the clean the air filter. It always runs great, starts right up. My father bought this machine used at least 25 years ago and it actually never had a fuel filter on it, probably wouldn't be a bad idea to put one on.
Good idea to try and feather the choke. I don't think it is the gas cap since I removed it to fill it with fresh gas and it immediately acted up. Ever hear of a spark plug going bad when an engine gets good and hot? I will be changing that as well.

Usually when the mice make nests I can see a few pieces of grass or something sticking out, but I will sure to check for one.

Thanks.
 
My TroyBilt Horse had been running poorly for some time, some what like yours. Could live with it as it was not needed much. Then at the beginning of last year, there was no spark at all. Did not want to try to remove the flywheel to get to the coil. As shown in the picture, I used a coil from a Farmall Cub and a 6 Volt battery, and wired it up using the external points. Engine runs better than it has for years. Got through the 2016 and 2017 tilling just fine.
a161393.jpg
 
I've had them start sputtering and spitting when the points go bad, the good news is they should be in a little box on the side of the engine. There is also the possibility that the gas got contaminated or went bad and what you're seeing is caused by a lean condition. If it were me I would first check, clean/replace the points, pull the shroud off of the engine and make sure everything is clean and not plugged up with mice nests or mud daubers. If that doesn't get up up and running I'd look at the carb next although I might be tempted to try SeaFoam or Startron and run a tank full of treated fuel through it before I tore into the carb.
 
I have a Troy-Built Horse with an 8 horse Briggs and it does exactly the same thing. I can get 45 minutes out if when it then sputters and dies. I know in my case, it is the coil. New one was only $12. Just haven't bothered to install it yet.

Note my Oliver HG bulldozer did the same for 10 years. It would run 1 hour and then sputter and die. Let it cool and get another hour. That has a self-contained Wico magneto with points, cap, and coil. I finally fixed it this spring with a new coil. Now I can run it all day.

With your Kohler, assuming an ignition issue - it has to be the coil or capacitor.
 
I am thinking it is the coil too. That would be great if I could find one for only $12. Might as well change the points while I am at it. Still need to pull the shroud and check for nests. Wish I could find a few more hours in the day to get everything done. Thanks for all the replies.
 
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