Original reverse spin
 

Last week I picked up a nice Original, even though the guy I bought it from said it hadn't run in a couple of years. The starter wasn't on and was in pieces so I picked another up from a friend of mine. Tried starting and noticed the engine is spinning backwards. Checked the wiring that I connected to the starter and looks all right. Just printed out the wiring diagram for an original and will check it all out tomorrow.
Thought I'd throw it on here and see if anyone had a similar problem and what was the cause. What should I be looking for . I know the battery is garbage and was trying to jump start it. Not sure if that would be a problem or not.:bigthink:

It's possible you have one that is set up to spin that way, the ones on the numbered cub lo-boys spun in the reverse direction as I'm sure did several off-brand machines. If your wiring checks out, that's probably the case.

Ok, something to look for. The friend that I gave me the starter said he thought it came off of a 124.

So you are saying it is rotating opposite of this...??

Yes. Just to make sure I compared it to my 100 which is going as your sketch. This original is going the opposite way. :BangPC:

Something is wrong.

The Flywheel has fins on it to provide cooling for the engine when running. If the engine runs backwards, then there is no cooling. I am quite sure, that Kohler did NOT provide for that.

Further, correct me if I am wrong, but the timing sequence of the engine when the Intake and Exhaust valves open and close would also be backwards and thus not run.

Lastly, I find no evidence of different engine rotations in the TP-2379 Kohler Service Manual.

You have the wrong s/g,yours is turning CW,cubbies like ccw,if you pull the s/g pulley off,it will have an arrow to show rotation.

Dad put a different S/G on his 125 once...tried starting it and it wouldn't go for nothing. He took the air filter off and it was throwing gas out of the carb. Lo and behold it was turning the wrong way.

rotation
 

Starter/ Generators are available in either direction. Depends on which end of the crankshaft is is driven by. Some tractors (other brands) were driven off the flywheel end, whereas our cubs are driven off the PTO end.

Have a great evening.

I haven't been able to get it started, but just noticed late this afternoon that it was spinning backwards. Getting spark, but wanting to push the gas out of the carb instead of taking it in. I'll compare all the wiring with a diagram that i took off line. Maybe I will have to try another starter.