Dave's 1650 Project

[Matt G.]

Well for starters, you have the carb set way too rich. Main needle should be about 2 1/8 to 2 1/4 turns out, and the idle about 1 3/4 for starters. You can fine tune that once you have it running. You're probably flooding it, and that would explain why it's spitting gas. The fact that it wants to start at mid throttle seems to support that, too.

Did you run some paper through the new points to wipe off the oil?

[CC1650Dave]

Originally Posted by Matt G.

Well for starters, you have the carb set way too rich. Main needle should be about 2 1/8 to 2 1/4 turns out, and the idle about 1 3/4 for starters.

I did try your settings once last night, and I don't recall whether it made any difference or not on starting ('cause once it warms up, everything is easier and I don't remember when I tried these settings.)

I was following the Kohler service manual, which has specific settings for each of the K-series engines. Why do you figure these numbers are off? Changes in gasoline since the manual was written?

Just to check, your numbers are the same for a 12, 14, and 16 hp?

Did you run some paper through the new points to wipe off the oil?

Nope, never read anything about that step that I can recall. Good tip, I'll give it a try.