XT1 kohler engine
 

Had this mower for 2 summers. Last week took it out to mow it started ran for a min then sputtered and died. Ive been screwin around with it for the last 2 days. New plug, thinking new ignition mod, cleaned carb. What next?
Please hlp!

Do you have a spark tester? Is it getting spark? If it is then you have a fuel problem and do not need to replace the ignition module. Once you tell use whether you have spark or not we can proceed to narrow down the issue.

Go find yourself a dealer and take it in.
2 days screwing with it is long enough. Haul it in.

Spary
 

Yes getting some spark. Did research and found posts bout valves off time?

Unless there is some serious internal damage its not possible for the valves to be out of time, It is possible that the key sheared off between the crank and flywheel and now the ignition timing is off but that usually doesn't happen unless something gets tangled in the blades and stops the engine suddenly.

Since you have spark we can assume its either a sheared key or a fuel issue. Does the tractor have a fuel filter? Can you see fuel in the filter?
Is fuel flowing freely from the tank to the filter ?

Fuel solenoid working? Filter clogged? float stuck? Sounds like a fuel issue if your getting spark.. Does it fire on ether? 2 days sounds like a lot of time. If you don't know the basics to check I'm with J-Mech. Take it to someone who knows what to look for

Replaced fuel filter, anti backfire solenoid clicks on and off with key turned. Battery seems not to hold a charge too. Replaced battery. Engine turns and occasionally pops but wont run. Drains battery quick it seems.

[IMG]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/...914c22e9_m.jpgUntitled by bakdrft, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/...ac5fe7b2_n.jpgUntitled by bakdrft, on Flickr[/IMG]

Brand new plug not even running....

Simply put. Will it run on ether?

Is that the new plug or the old one?

Will not run on ether..

If it has spark and won't run on ether then i'm leaning toward a sheared key.

So it's only 2 years old? Take it to the dealership. The warranty is for 3 years.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

Do you have an opinion on the matter?

Take it back to the place you bought it from and let them fix it. Should be a warranty deal.:bigthink:

Yep.
Post numbers 3, 13 and 16.

LOL.. he stated his opinion early on and I agree.. Take it back to the dealer for warranty..Has spark, won't start on ether.. I would say internal problem or timing. IE sheared key like was said in previous post.

Both pics same new plug.

Never use ether in a small engine.

I have used it countless times over the last 35 years and never ever ever had an issue with using ether in any engine I have used it in gas or diesel. When used correctly and under the right circumstances there is no problem using it. I will continue to use it without issue Im sure,.. But thanks.

Yes..... but it's not a good idea for someone inexperienced to use it. They generally use too much. But I will say, the ether now days is junk. Not like it used to be. Most of the time we suggest a small amount of straight gas to keep people from overdosing an engine with ether. :beerchug:

J-Mech. You are absolutely correct. I should have stated to try ether in small amounts or Very small amount or gas. You know ether's not what it use to be when it takes 3 tries to get a Goodyear 11r22.5 beaded up.. only decent either I got lately was Thrust brand In The white can. Snap and the others seem like junk like you said

Is it a Courage....? = Valvetrain...

About time someone mention it...What is it? A courage? A 7000? A Command? A twin or a single cylinder? Still under warranty or not? First owner?

Like previously mentioned all new Cub Cadet lawn tractor came with a 3 years warranty, unless the OP buy his LT used or from a "Good fellow" behind a local bar.... He better let a dealer working on it.

The best either we found was John Deere. Don't know who makes it for them, but it worked better than the stuff we used to get from the autoparts store.

Ditch the either.
Use carb cleaner instead

No, no, no!!! That's terrible hard on all the parts! Stop using that too.

Ether is alright to use sparingly guys......but really, using some gas down the throat of the carb is pretty easy. Tougher on the K series. But honestly if you can't tell if you have a fuel or a spark problem and are using ether to test with...... put the tools away and take it to a mechanic. You don't know enough to fix it if you can't figure at least that much out.

If it's still under warranty, don't jack around with it. If they find out you've been messing with it, that may void your warranty.

The only reason I use a little ether and not gas.. if I just want a quick idea if a unit is a runner I would rather use ether because if you use gas and for some reason it backfires through the carb it could easily catch fire. Ether on the other hand would go out pretty quickly. Of course this being said about a tractor I just picked up and don't know the history on. The OP stated he had spark. I suggested some ether because if he came back and said yes it fired on ether would be easy to say he has a fuel issue. He says it did not fire on ether so I'm guessing valve issue or worse. But like it's been said countless times in thread. He needs to get it to a dealer.

Just the other day, I threw some gasoline on a fire. Kids keep talking about using gas to start a fire, and I keep telling them how dangerous that is. Every time I start a fire to burn sticks and such, I get a can of diesel and use it. They always say, "Yeah, get some gas!" no matter how many times I tell them it isn't gas... Anyway, I wanted them to see what it would do. I was actually kind of disappointed. Gasoline isn't what it used to be.
I told that story to say this: Yeah, if there is a backfire, gas can (and will) ignite out the carb. Here's a secret..... STAY CALM! Crank the engine more. It sucks the fire into the engine where it's safe and puts it out. Now, if it catches something on fire outside of the carb, you might have to put it out.... but unless you are being careless, it shouldn't be that big a fire. Like I said, on the side draft carb like the K series uses, it's a little tougher to use gas. Either is a lot easier...... but seriously.... you can pull the filter off and look into that carb and see if it's fueling. Like I said earlier, if you can't figure out if an engine is missing fuel or spark, you shouldn't be working on it. Crank it. You will smell gas. Pull the plug. If it's getting wet, it's getting fuel. (Or water, whatever happens to be in the bowl of the carb). Testing spark is pretty easy too. Not hard diagnosis to make here. It's like step 1 in the diagnosis process.

LOL.. not a secret to me:biggrin2: I have had a few of the younger techs freak out when it happens on a car or truck engine but quickly tell them to crank it.. Im glad you brought it up for people here that do not know that trick tho.. Ive see a few engines ruined by chemical fire extinguishers when all they had to do was crank the engine over. :beerchug:

Lol. Yeah, I've seen that too. I've yelled "CRANK IT, CRANK IT, CRANK IT!!!" To the guy on the seat a few times, lol.

Dealer...
 

Found a dealer near me... stopped by to make appt for warranty work. Did this tuesday.
They said wed/thurs pick and would call in the am to confirm pickup time. I finally called today thursday eve 4 pm. " oh um i cant find your mower". Yes I replied. You havent picked it up. Sigh........

The world is full of incompetence. It’s getting worse as we go too. :bash2: