Hard Startin' 129
 

I have a 129 and it's a bit hard to start. It has a newer starter/gen on it and seems to spin fine. I put a new quality 390CCA battery in it and keep a battery tender on it. Points are fine and it throws a really stout spark on the new plug. Doesn't seem to like it when I choke it alot and if I move the throttle while cranking you can find the sweet spot where it starts to fire and keep cranking while fiddlin' with the throttle it'll eventually start. Starting fluid makes little difference. I am going to put a compression tester on it today... What sort of compression should a 12HP have?

Any other ideas? I need it to start easier so my Son can start it to blow the driveway this Winter.

Check your fuel- from the inside of the tank all the way to the float height. All it takes is a tiny bit of junk somewhere in there to cause trouble.....I had a piece of cork gasket material from the fuel cap on my 127 fall in the tank and decintergrate....it clogged the screen in the bottom of the tank and made her hard to start for a few months till I delved into it and found out what it was...still see some pieces floating around the sediment bowl a year later after I cleaned everything really good...

Have you checked your timing?

Jeff (teet)

Try this it has helped mine http://mgonitzke.net16.net/tools/static_timing.pdf

To be honest other than replacing the battery and checking the points I have done nothing. I set the points to .020...? That is what they're suppose to be right?

Also I will check the fuel... But if it was a fuel problem it should still fire right off on ether.

EXCELLENT! Thanks I bet that'll head me in the right direction.

If it eventually starts, its "probably" not the timing, but it can contribute if other things arent quite in order. Ether might help it fire over, but not always....what does your plug look like after you have attempted to start it? Is it soaked in fuel? If its flooding and the plug is soaked, then ether wont do you any good...have you ever rebuilt the carb? It sounds so much like a fuel related problem especially if it starts up-------eventually like you said. Usually electrical problems are like a switch in my experience, either it has spark or it doesn't, etc..except in thermal related issues, but this isn't the case....does it blow smoke when its running, or turn over really fast indicating a work rings/cylinder?

Jeff (teet)

I just picked it up this Summer and only mowed 3-4 times with it. Although it does smoke a bit(blow by) it's not horrific by any means. Power seems to be adequite with a 38" deck mowing.

I did pull the plug yesterday and it was a bit damp, But still threw a really nice spark.

Is there any special tricks involved with a compression test in a Kohler? Compression release?

Went to start it tonight and the regular deal... Crank & Crank & Crank and mess with the throttle and keep crankin' It eventually starts to hit and I keep crankin' till eventually is firing enough to spin the engine faster than the starter. I cleared the driveway and I stalled it. I cranked it back up, But while trying to start it was backfiring through the muffler and throwing flames out the exhaust. It was nightime(testing the headlights). Even more leads me to believe I need to check the timing or perhaps the valves might be tight.

ignition timing. set it as per links in previous posts, and you will be truly amazed

Thought I would follow up with my findings in hopes it'll help someone else.

BURNT EXHAUST VALVE! And it was TOASTED! We replaced the bad valve and ground the intake valve & both seats and not only does she start right up now. The power increase is AMAZING! Since I have only driven with a bad valve since I bought it this Summer I wasn't sure how much power it should have had. Well today I took it out for a test drive and it actually spun the tires so fast it did a doughnut in the driveway! I am ready to DESTROY SOME SNOW!!! :biggrin2.gif: