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Cub Cadet 122 won't stay running

P

Parke1

Member
Hey gang,

An elderly friend of mine has a 1968 Cub Cadet 122 with the 8hp Kohler. He's not able to work on it anymore, so this evening I trailered it back to my place.

I won't have time to really check it all out until this weekend, but here's the deal:

The tractor starts right up, and runs very strongly... for a while. After a short period of time the engine will stutter briefly, backfire once or twice, and stall.

This happens after 1.5-2 minutes when idling.

It will do it after about one minute while in gear and moving.

It will do this after about 40 seconds if the mower is engaged.

These times are always very repeatable. If you try to start it back up right away it backfires repeatedly, and won't start. If you wait 30 seconds to a minute, it'll start right back up just fine and repeat the above ordeal.

I'm thinking a stuck needle valve, or hung up float. This will obviously be the first thing I check out.

Thoughts? Anything else I should keep my eyes peeled for?

Thanks!
-Parke1
 
Well, there are two main causes for your problem, a loss of spark, or loss of fuel. So, Ill break it down:

LOSS OF SPARK:
1. Bad Coil: As coil heats up, it sowly fails, and wont spark until it cools down.
2. Bad spark plug: Similar to coil, will heat up and fail, cool down and work.

LOSS OF FUEL:
1. Slightly plugged needle: When given time, the bowl will fill, but when running, the fuel is used faster than it can be supplied.
2. Plugged fuel filter/sediment bowl: I dont know if this tractor has one, but it can cause inadequate fuel supply.
3. Dirt in tank: When running, the vibration causes dirt to stir into gas, causing a clog.
4. Collapsed fuel line: Same effect as dirty fuel filter.

SO, the bottm line is, you have to identify whether you are losing spark or fuel when it dies. By your description of how a load shortens the running time, id lean towards a fuel issue. Good luck!
 
When it quits check for spark. If spark then chase fuel problem. Probably plugged up jet in carb, especially if it has been sitting for months without running.

Disconnect fuel line from carb, if good flow then plug with golf tee and remove and clean carb.

sounds like a fuel starvation issue to me.
 
What the others have said and you might check out the wiring and all the fuel line connections. If it has an 8hp Kohler someone has swapped out the 12HP engine it did have and they may have cut a corner or two.


http://members.aol.com/pullingtractor/kohlcub.htm
 
Oops, my mistake. This does have a 12 horse Kohler.

I pulled the carb off last night. I tore it down and cleaned up everything, and blew air through all the passages. No blockages that I could find! I put the carb back on and it ran the same, so tomorrow I'll check the fuel line and sediment bowl screen for obstructions, but the fuel line seems to be flowing fine to me.

Thanks for the tips guys! I'll keep you updated.
-Parke1
 
I know this is not a probable cause,but it happened to me , The engine sat for awhile in the weeds and with fuel line to carburetor not attached to the tank . a cocoon was blocking the flow and creating similar symtoms.
 
I watched a gent who was picking up a CC from the estate of a freind. When the engine started to stumble he removed the gas cap and blew into the tank. I assume that would indicate something was plugged between the tank and carb. Your times tend to indicate a fuel issue as the larger the load the shorter the run time.
 
Check the screen in your tank. Is there any rust in there? (Just cleaned a JD 318 that had a couple spoonfuls of rust in a plastic tank for some reason.)

If there is an in-line fuel filter replace it.

if yours has a fuel pump, remove the fuel line from the carb and make sure the pump is getting it to the carb.
 
I'd try a new condenser, on a Kohler, they are external, easy swap. NAPA Auto Parts is a good bet, they have a ' Farm and Garden ' catalog

Carbs get a bad rap, often ignition problems
get re-labeled carb problems. Is it a Mag, or Battery Coil ignition ? Kohler used both.

I also agree that the predictability indicates
a fuel problem, Coils and condensers often work great cold, and short out when hot. A fuel problem is a supply and demand issue, not temperature sensitive like ignition Good Luck,
Kohlers, once they run right, are amazingly tough engines
 
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