CC 125 (K301) won't start - brilliant minds wanted

[jdubyk]

Hey guys/gals,

I've inherited a Cub Cadet 125 from my grandfather after it'd been sitting for a year due to some rust in the gas tank. I figured it'd be no problem to get it running reliably, but I'm very mistaken. I'd appreciate any help that you folks might have into what I can do to get it to start. Here's what I've done so far:

Fuel stuff:
Replaced the fuel tank (with a plastic one) along with new fuel line and filter. Fresh fuel was installed. The carb is also now totally cleaned out and with the engine turning over, I can see the jets squirting fuel.

Spark stuff:
New battery & solenoid
New coil/condenser/points/spark plug/plug wire
points gapped at 0.020 & plug at 0.025
When cranking, there is good spark if you lay the plug on the cyl head. As best I can tell, the timing is also good (don't have a timing light).

So, I've had the tractor running twice in the last 2-3 weeks. After about 20-30 minutes of cranking and tinkering, I finally got it started one time and so I mowed about an acre of my yard with it for about an hour - it ran great. Now I can't get it restarted. starter fluid doesn't seem to help. I've spent hours trying to get it to fire up again. If only I can get it started, I'm sure it'd continue to run again - just like it did the one time. What am I missing?

Thanks in advance!
Jon

[Methos]

I'd check the timing using Matt G's static timing guide in the tech section. Here's the link http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...9098#post29098

[Matt G.]

Does it still have spark? Still getting gas? Still have compression? With all those new parts, it should run. I doubt you have a fuel problem, since the entire fuel system is new or cleaned. Did something come loose that made it lose spark? It's also possible that the timing slipped if you didn't tighten the points well enough. If you have spark and compression and it's getting gas, try timing it again. 0.020" point gap rarely corresponds to the right timing. You can do it very easily with an ohmmeter. Here's a writeup I recently did on static timing.

Looks like Methos types faster than me...

[Amigatec]

Have you checked the valves? You may have one tight and not seating all the way.

[Rhoderman]

Mine did something similar to what you are seeing. When I finally pulled the plug, there was a piece of something across the gap. Carbon, metal, who knows? That was killing my spark, but the starting fluid would almost get it running. Drove me crazy for a while! I was checking the spark with a spare plug, yep, it was fine.

Welcome to OCC!

[jdubyk]

Well, I checked the timing last night using the multimeter, and it looks to be pretty close, maybe ~15 BTDC, so I think we can rule that out as the problem. I've attempted to get it as close to 20 BTDC as I can.

The spark is still good and strong, no burrs or other obstructions around the electrode. It fires nicely when testing by laying it on the cylinder head.

I guess I'll look at the valves...but wouldn't you think they'd be ok since I did actually get it to run for a bit about 2 weeks ago?

After all of the hours and new parts I've thrown at this thing, my wife is ready for me to scrap it. And I must confess, my enthusiasm for salvaging it is waining...

-Jon

[ol'George]

Stick your thumb over the spark plug hole while cranking it over, it should be very difficult to keep it from blowing it off/out of the hole, if this is true, you should have enough compression to run,
Then slop a little gas down the spark plug hole, maybe 1/2 spoonful
stick in a different known good spark plug from another piece of equipment just to try, if you have one and
crank it over then report back the results.
did it sputter/ run for a second, back fire? nothing?

[fer100]

I picked up my CC 122 at a auction a couple of weeks ago had same problem. change and regap spark plugs and points clean tank and fuel lines it had been setting for about 3 years. I took the bowl off carb cleaned it. My last resort was to take a can of carb cleaner spray the heck out of the inside and out. REALLY PUT THE CARB CLEANER RIGHT INTO IT . waited abit and tryed it startes running. IT cound be that its got some dirt in it from the tank while you had it running. Last resort rebuilt carb. KEEP TRYING YOU WILL GET ITfer100(Rich)

[chris]

use a good autolite 216 plug some fire when out but put back in will not a good plug and set points at 20, is the float level when you hold the carb upside down? make sure your plug wire is good

[jdubyk]

The saga continues. Honestly, I've tried everyone's suggestions but they've all been fruitless because I no longer have spark. So, what am I overlooking this time that will help me get my spark back.

Again, here's the new parts list:
coil
plug
plug wire
condenser
points
wires to points and coil

when cranking the engine there is no spark at all, but when I turn the key "off" I finally get one little spark.

I've tried: 2 different sets of points, 2 different condensers, a known good plug, different plug wire, 3 different coils.

I have NO idea what else to do. The last time this had spark was the day before my first post, what subsequently happened was I left the ignition in the "on" position overnight (with a battery charger on it) which overheated the coil, causing it to explode. I've obviously since replaced the coil, but what else might have gone bad that I'm overlooking.

After I get spark back, I'll still be back at square one, with an engine that won't run, but at least it'd be nice to have spark again.

Thanks again,
Jon