K 181 timing

[raylee]

Hey all, hope everyone is doing good. Question about timing will a 181 kohler even run if the crankshaft timing is off one tooth

[Cubcadet_107]

Well it probably COULD, but would you really want to do it? I'd say best not to. When the timing is off the engine probably won't run right and could also possibly overheat.

Best thing to do is keep crankshaft and camshaft properly aligned and then static time the engine in the procedure here: https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...ad.php?t=33461

[raylee]

No it aint something I'd want to do the engine was rebuilt and I can't get it to run right. Just wondering if the crankshaft timing was wrong when it was reassembled. It will idle fairly well but starts running really rough once it is revved up a little

[Cubcadet_107]

It's actually most likely a carburetor issue. Possibly it's starving for gas. You'd need to go through the carb and make sure every passageway is clean, then make sure you've got a good ever so slightly rich mixture with the main jet. You'll also need to make sure all fuel inlet, outlet, and fuel line are all clean and clear. Had a starve issue on my 107 where it would just straight up stall out, and it was all caused by an old piece of teflon tape stuck inside the outlet fitting on the sediment bowl. Cleared it out and never had any more issues.

Usually engines that starve for gas will idle just fine because they aren't drawing too much through the carb and it has time to replenish. But when you throttle up it uses too much gas to fill the carb. It can run rough or even stall.

If by chance you go through your fuel system (or already have) and STILL it won't run right, it's most likely spark related. I would check the points and make sure that they are clean and that they are gapped to .020". A smaller or larger gap can also mess with the engine and might make it run rough.

Hope this all helps, fortunately these old Kohlers are so simple that it isn't too hard to pinpoint a problem

[R Bedell]

I am thinking that running an engine out of time would NOT be a good thing.

[raylee]

Not running it out time on purpose but I'm just wondering if the guy that rebuilt it put it back together correct or got the timing off a tooth cannot get it to run smoothly no matter what I try just wonder if it would even crank up if is was off a tooth on the timing new carb new points plug condenser coil points set at 20 thou what else could it be

[Mike McKown]

Check the ignition timing with a light. Adjust point gap as necessary.

[darkminion_17]

Could be the coil. Or you have an issue with the carb.

[Cubcadet_107]

If you wish to determine definitively whether or not the rebuilder set the cam 1 tooth off, pull your cylinder head and spin the engine by hand. Watch the valve movement in comparison to piston movement.

Should be pretty obvious if it isn't right. Should be pretty easy to notice intake, intake valve will open as piston comes down, then close up just before the piston begins to go back up. Then power stroke, piston goes down and then as it begins to move back up the exhaust valve opens. Should the intake valve open early or late or exhaust valve open early or late, then the camshaft is indeed out of alignment.

I kinda doubt that that's the issue though, and if it actually is, in all seriousness I would recommend you fix it yourself and NEVER go back to the person who rebuilt it. If they don't know how to properly align the crankshaft and camshaft then they shouldn't be rebuilding engines IMHO.

[Billy-O]

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

Could be the coil. Or you have an issue with the carb.

Or the condenser. Bad condenser or improperly installed, motor will run like sh** at higher rpms.

As for investigating timing alignment, drop the oil pan and have a look see. Not so bad of a job....