Why do Kohlers start Hard?

M-MAN

Well-known Member
Location
Bostic, NC
I have a couple of Cub Cadets with Kohler engines. One is a ch 13 and the other is a command 19. Both have alway's been hard starters when cold even when brand new. I also have a John Deere D130 with a Briggs and Stratton 22 hp engine. The Briggs will fire off as soon as you turn the switch even after sitting a month. Why won't a Kohler? Just doesn't make sense to me. They are like the old Plymouth's that would wind on the starter forever before they crank. Anyone know a trick to make a Kohler act like a Briggs?
 
Had a JD212 with 12hp, troybilt horse 7hp old school kohlers. and a newer gravely with a 25hp twin and all start or started fine.
 
The Kohlers are about 20 years old-(or at least the ch13 is) and the Briggs is probably 10 or less. I am guessing (with some experience) that the Kohlers have to pump the fuel from the tank under the seat and fill the carburetor before they start. The Briggs fuel pump is in better shape and not losing its prime, and the fuel pumps on the Kohlers are getting pretty 'tired' by now.

I don't work on many of the Kohler CH single cylinders, but its been less than a year since I changed one over to the Briggs style fuel pump and it immeidately began starting and running better. You just make an adapter plate with pipe thread in it that goes where the fuel pump was mounted, and run a hose up to the pulse port on the Briggs style fuel pump. (Actually Briggs, Kohler and Kawasaki and some Hondas use that same style pump.)
 
I have two, on a 19-year old Troy-Bilt and on a 10-year old Cub Cadet. Either one will start immediately. Either one will start in the spring very easily. No prob. Store over-winter in an open shed with a shot of Stabil.
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Yes the 13 is 20 years old with the tank in the back. Tried a new fuel pump and carburetor a few years ago. Helped a little but still took some winding to crank cold. Bought a Deere electric fuel pump to try on it but don't have a lot of hope.

The 19 is about 4 years old with the tank in the dash. Automotive type sealed system. It doesn't crank any better than the old one. Been that way since I bought it new.

The Briggs has a rear tank. Always fires right up. It's 3 years old now.

The Kohler's do have Champion plugs in them so I wondered if that might be an issue. Not sure what the Briggs has.

Another thought I had was mabey the Kohler's have too much of a voltage drop while cranking. If so I could try a start assist like Deere came out with for the Kawasaki's.

Just trying to get some ideas.
 
they should not be different than any other brand in starting, are you sure you are up on voltage, in the shop I use to run that was usually the issues most of the time.
 

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