Kohler fuel shutoff solenoid

Lamont in NC · Jun 11, 2016

My riding mower Kohler has one that screws in to hold the float bowl on. I tested it in my hand and it pulls in with power and pops out when power is removed. When installed I can hear it click in and out. Now I thought this was supposed to shut off fuel to the engine--so why does the engine run just fine with the solenoid disconnected? And I don't mean for a few minutes but hours! The solenoid seem to have no effect on the engine. Anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

I got into this because the engine started intermittently acting like it was running out of gas but had plenty. I thought it was the solenoid going bad and shutting off the fuel sporadically but perhaps it was just trash in the carb or something as it isn't doing that anymore after removing the bowl and shooting some carb fluid through all the passages--twice.

RayP(MI) · Jun 11, 2016

Daughter's generator has a similar solonoid at bottom of carburetor bowl. I figured it was to cut fuel flow when unit is shut off using last electricity from shutting down, coasting generator to activate solonoid. when I got my hands on it, it wouldn't start, and a cleaning of the carb and solonoid fixed it. Told her to shut it down by shutting fuel valve at tank, thus clearing fuel from carb.

Sure some one can clarify real reason for thst apparatus. Looks like California engineering to me.

Billy Shafer · Jun 11, 2016

Could be trash in the seat.Sealing surface of the rod could be bad.But by turning off the engine. You should be killing the ignition and letting the solenoid drop out. Shutting off the gas.

Steve@Advance · Jun 11, 2016

Likely the tip is broken off the plunger. It was probably stuck in the main jet, fell out when you cleaned it.

The purposes of the valve are:

To prevent run on (dieseling) when the ignition is shut off. This usually happens with an engine at operating temperature, shut off while engine is above idle speed.

It also is an emissions device to prevent unburned fuel from exhausting while the engine is coasting during shut down.

And it helps prevent exhaust backfire from unburned fuel entering the muffler during coast down.

What it does not do:

It only shuts off the fuel entering the main jet circuit. It does not empty the bowl. So it does not protect the carb from evaporating fuel during storage. Nor will it prevent fuel from entering the engine or spilling on the floor if the carb floods when the fuel valve is left on.

So, running the carb empty by turning off the fuel is the way to shut down for long term storage.

ztrmower · Jun 11, 2016

it does not shut fuel off to engine it .only effects the high side of carb.

Kohler fuel shutoff solenoid

Lamont in NC

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RayP(MI)

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Billy Shafer

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Steve@Advance

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ztrmower

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