So, here's what happen. I remove the small tiny grommet, nada. Next I removed the carburetor and checked every hole in/on it. I pierced every hole with sewing thread size wire but one hole was very clogged. It's inside the female treaded hole where that grommet actuator screws into. That hole I used a paper clip, and it was completely blocked. The engine started first crank after that. Note #1: the carburetor bowl is held up against the carburetor body by that grommet actuator. I removed the bowl and in doing so, I messed up the rubber gasket. Luckily I had an O Ring (not factory style) the same diameter size and it provided a good seal. Note # 2: I had no starter fluid so I squirted in silicone spray and the engine fired momentarily. Note # 3: At the start of all this analyzing, I noticed no spark after removing the spark plug boot with a Phillip's head screw driver. So I had to remove the shroud over the engine (5 bolts). I noticed the magneto (2 screws) and the magnet on the crank were very rusted. I sanded them down to shiney steel, removed the spark plug, inserted the boot onto it, placed the treads against the grounded engine, turned the key and had spark. Very easy engine to work on. 👍Kohler. P. S. This mower was a advertised freebie. It was noted that it sat around for a few years, hence the clogged carburetor, rusted magneto and some water in the gas tank. Note # 4: When storing mowers, snowblowers etc for a long winter/summer, drain the gas tank (siphon perhaps) or at least shut off the gas flow to the carburetor and start the engine. Let the engine conk out. This uses up all the gas in the bowl (with most engines, but Kohler has that gas shut off grommet actuator which will prevent the gas in the bowl from being vacated). What happens with old gas in the bowl is that it causes gumming up and such. I hope this replied comment helps all of the DIY'ERS.
Thank you!!! I bought a used Cub Cadet XLT 1045 with only 350hrs today, it is in excellent condition. The guy that had it took pristine care of it, honestly it looked new. When I went to pick it up, it would only start with starter fluid then immediately stall; I bought it anyway. I knew it was a carburetor issue, but when I took it apart it looked brand new. I went to youtube and your video popped up. I did exactly what you recommended, and 10 minutes later started right up and runs like a charm. Thank you for the video!!!!
You can also cut the rod with side cutter,s Put it back together ! Put an in line shut off valve in front of fuel filter ! if you don,t gas will fill engine, turn it off after each mowing
Hey Tony my husband (certified master mechanic) wants to you give his advice. Hi Tony. The float controls the fuel level in the carburetor. The fuel solenoid controls the fuel going into the combustion chamber. Thus the reason for the backfire when you shut it off. Without the fuel shut off solenoid in the picture fuel is still allowed to enter the combustion chamber. There could be hot spots in the chamber and the fuel ignites without the aid of the spark plug. I feel the solenoid should be replaced. Hope this helps. TFS 👍
I've had had my Husqvarna with a 20 hp kohler courage for 16 years of hard usage. I'm no maintainer of lawn care equipment, and the gas even jellied one time in the carb. But I can say that I have never had to pull the plunger of of the solenoid off. I did hold it upside down and spray it with some cleaner to get it to move easy. People say these motors and carbs are junk, but I have never rebuilt or replaced anything on them, just clean them with some brake cleaner and compressed air.
Got a free Craftsman mower today with Kohler Pro 18 hp OHV with apparent carb troubles. It’s my first experience with that solenoid. I pulled it out and tested it, energizing it definitely pulls plunger down and I can see what the rubber pad does. It stops fuel going from bowl up into main jet, so yes, I can see where that would help with backfires when shutting down. The solenoid has nothing to do with shutting off fuel flow to carb. Fuel line goes into carb and straight down to bowl with only the needle valve tip to stop flow. This mower was flooding and diluting oil. It’s a gravity feed tank so if needle doesn’t seat and seal perfectly bowl overfills and fuel seeps up around choke shaft and entire tank will drain. I took carb apart and needle / seat / float look good but it was still flooding. With bowl off and fuel line connected I found that pushing up on float did stop fuel flow so put it back together and it now seems to be holding, maybe just some crud on seat? I have spark but still couldn’t get it going, even squirting gas in carb, and spark plug was badly flooded. Tomorrow maybe.
Tony mine is just like yours except for the fuel thing, however, since I didn't have a shut off valve, the oil would fill my crankcase and was not good. I did buy a shut off valve but it didn't stop the oil from going in the crankcase. Keep your eye on your oil. Just an FYI
Its a safety thing. The solenoid is also referred to as an anti-backfire switch. Its not a high probability, but your mower could catch on fire with a backfire at the exact engine timing. {Probably worth replacing the solenoid). You could also install an inline fuel shutoff and run the engine until you're out of gas in the carb but over time, its still probably cheaper to just replace the solenoid.
Yeah what you do is turn it all the way down let it run for a while that way the gas shut down a little bit then shut it off it still might backfire just a little bit maybe not turn off that’s what I heard to turn it down let it run first force shut it off I do that all my lawnmowers like at right then I let it cool down that way that way they start lot better
I see what you're doing here. Basically with you pulling that rubber boot off, you're bypassing the fuel solenoid. Cause the boot is what seals the main jet that the fuel runs into the bowl through. Since you pulled the boot off, the fuel can now run through the main tube past the plunger. That's why you can leave the fuel solenoid unplugged, cause, well first off it doesn't work anymore anyway, and second you bypassed it, so there is no use for it anymore.
@@OurCabinInThewoods That's good! I didn't even realize what the boot was for until I thought about it just now. I have a 2006 riding mower with a Kohler Courage 19 in it, and it has been backfiring when you shut it off for years, and I have been wondering why. Then I realized a long time ago when I did a carb cleaning job on it, I lost the plunger boot for the solenoid, so I put it back on without it thinking it wouldn't really change anything, but now I know that's the reason why it's been backfiring since! But it's been the best and most reliable mower I've ever had, the only problems it's ever had was the need for that carburetor cleaning I talked about, a new spark plug, and some new filters, but that's it!
@@G.K._Workshop101 I have couple people email me and there's backfired and end up replacing that valve. The other one said he added and turn of fuel valve and ran mower out of fuel before turning off. So many different variables out there I don't know but mine works great thanks for commenting
Hello Tony, good to see you my friend. Hey, at least you have it running. Take care and have a blessed rest of the weekend.
Thanks, you too! and yes good to see you also Tony.
So generous of you to take the time and show us how to get a Kohler engine running again. I'm going to try it and I'll get back to you. Txs
So, here's what happen. I remove the small tiny grommet, nada. Next I removed the carburetor and checked every hole in/on it. I pierced every hole with sewing thread size wire but one hole was very clogged. It's inside the female treaded hole where that grommet actuator screws into. That hole I used a paper clip, and it was completely blocked. The engine started first crank after that. Note #1: the carburetor bowl is held up against the carburetor body by that grommet actuator. I removed the bowl and in doing so, I messed up the rubber gasket. Luckily I had an O Ring (not factory style) the same diameter size and it provided a good seal. Note # 2: I had no starter fluid so I squirted in silicone spray and the engine fired momentarily. Note # 3: At the start of all this analyzing, I noticed no spark after removing the spark plug boot with a Phillip's head screw driver. So I had to remove the shroud over the engine (5 bolts). I noticed the magneto (2 screws) and the magnet on the crank were very rusted. I sanded them down to shiney steel, removed the spark plug, inserted the boot onto it, placed the treads against the grounded engine, turned the key and had spark. Very easy engine to work on. 👍Kohler.
P. S. This mower was a advertised freebie. It was noted that it sat around for a few years, hence the clogged carburetor, rusted magneto and some water in the gas tank.
Note # 4: When storing mowers, snowblowers etc for a long winter/summer, drain the gas tank (siphon perhaps) or at least shut off the gas flow to the carburetor and start the engine. Let the engine conk out. This uses up all the gas in the bowl (with most engines, but Kohler has that gas shut off grommet actuator which will prevent the gas in the bowl from being vacated). What happens with old gas in the bowl is that it causes gumming up and such.
I hope this replied comment helps all of the DIY'ERS.
Thank you!!! I bought a used Cub Cadet XLT 1045 with only 350hrs today, it is in excellent condition. The guy that had it took pristine care of it, honestly it looked new. When I went to pick it up, it would only start with starter fluid then immediately stall; I bought it anyway. I knew it was a carburetor issue, but when I took it apart it looked brand new. I went to youtube and your video popped up. I did exactly what you recommended, and 10 minutes later started right up and runs like a charm. Thank you for the video!!!!
Thanks for watching
You can also cut the rod with side cutter,s Put it back together ! Put an in line shut off valve in front of fuel filter ! if you don,t gas will fill engine, turn it off after each mowing
Yup thanks
Hey Tony my husband (certified master mechanic) wants to you give his advice. Hi Tony. The float controls the fuel level in the carburetor. The fuel solenoid controls the fuel going into the combustion chamber. Thus the reason for the backfire when you shut it off. Without the fuel shut off solenoid in the picture fuel is still allowed to enter the combustion chamber. There could be hot spots in the chamber and the fuel ignites without the aid of the spark plug. I feel the solenoid should be replaced. Hope this helps. TFS 👍
Ok thank for your help
I've had had my Husqvarna with a 20 hp kohler courage for 16 years of hard usage. I'm no maintainer of lawn care equipment, and the gas even jellied one time in the carb. But I can say that I have never had to pull the plunger of of the solenoid off. I did hold it upside down and spray it with some cleaner to get it to move easy. People say these motors and carbs are junk, but I have never rebuilt or replaced anything on them, just clean them with some brake cleaner and compressed air.
Very helpful. Thanks so much!
Your welcome
I had that issue with a craftsman mower years back. I couldn't figure out the fix. I parked it in the scrap pile and bought a new one.
Oh know glad to see you.
Good to know! That would have completely stumped me lol!
Glad I could help!
Who knew that would fix the problem. Glad it's running again.
yes a happy man now lol.
My John Deere has a 23 horsepower Kohler command and I done that it ran
Got a free Craftsman mower today with Kohler Pro 18 hp OHV with apparent carb troubles. It’s my first experience with that solenoid. I pulled it out and tested it, energizing it definitely pulls plunger down and I can see what the rubber pad does. It stops fuel going from bowl up into main jet, so yes, I can see where that would help with backfires when shutting down. The solenoid has nothing to do with shutting off fuel flow to carb. Fuel line goes into carb and straight down to bowl with only the needle valve tip to stop flow. This mower was flooding and diluting oil. It’s a gravity feed tank so if needle doesn’t seat and seal perfectly bowl overfills and fuel seeps up around choke shaft and entire tank will drain. I took carb apart and needle / seat / float look good but it was still flooding. With bowl off and fuel line connected I found that pushing up on float did stop fuel flow so put it back together and it now seems to be holding, maybe just some crud on seat? I have spark but still couldn’t get it going, even squirting gas in carb, and spark plug was badly flooded. Tomorrow maybe.
Try using starter spray and see what happens good luck.
👍🏻👍🏻 exactly what was wrong with mine!!! After I replace the spark plug in the battery drain the fuel put new fuel in.... 🤦🏻♂️
Tony mine is just like yours except for the fuel thing, however, since I didn't have a shut off valve, the oil would fill my crankcase and was not good. I did buy a shut off valve but it didn't stop the oil from going in the crankcase. Keep your eye on your oil. Just an FYI
Thank you will keep eye on it.
Glad it’s working again!
Me too!
Its a safety thing. The solenoid is also referred to as an anti-backfire switch. Its not a high probability, but your mower could catch on fire with a backfire at the exact engine timing. {Probably worth replacing the solenoid). You could also install an inline fuel shutoff and run the engine until you're out of gas in the carb but over time, its still probably cheaper to just replace the solenoid.
i have a fuel shut off valve waiting to install on it next couple weeks. Thanks
Mine is doing the same thing I'll try this
Gotta have either on shelf….😂
yes sir always
Gran dia bro
hey there good to see you
You can do that as long as you remember to idle it down before you shut it off.
I do that anyway but still good info for everyone else. Thanks for watching.
Oh boy I hope that's my problem
Yeah what you do is turn it all the way down let it run for a while that way the gas shut down a little bit then shut it off it still might backfire just a little bit maybe not turn off that’s what I heard to turn it down let it run first force shut it off I do that all my lawnmowers like at right then I let it cool down that way that way they start lot better
Thanks great info
I see what you're doing here. Basically with you pulling that rubber boot off, you're bypassing the fuel solenoid. Cause the boot is what seals the main jet that the fuel runs into the bowl through. Since you pulled the boot off, the fuel can now run through the main tube past the plunger. That's why you can leave the fuel solenoid unplugged, cause, well first off it doesn't work anymore anyway, and second you bypassed it, so there is no use for it anymore.
Yes and it still runs good with no problems.
@@OurCabinInThewoods That's good! I didn't even realize what the boot was for until I thought about it just now. I have a 2006 riding mower with a Kohler Courage 19 in it, and it has been backfiring when you shut it off for years, and I have been wondering why. Then I realized a long time ago when I did a carb cleaning job on it, I lost the plunger boot for the solenoid, so I put it back on without it thinking it wouldn't really change anything, but now I know that's the reason why it's been backfiring since!
But it's been the best and most reliable mower I've ever had, the only problems it's ever had was the need for that carburetor cleaning I talked about, a new spark plug, and some new filters, but that's it!
@@G.K._Workshop101 I have couple people email me and there's backfired and end up replacing that valve. The other one said he added and turn of fuel valve and ran mower out of fuel before turning off. So many different variables out there I don't know but mine works great thanks for commenting
@@OurCabinInThewoods Interesting. No problem! Have a good night!
Can i use W40 instead of started fluid ??☺😅
Yes you can just be very careful with that
@@OurCabinInThewoods thank you so much 4 your advice😊
You put too many adds in your video if you didn’t do that it would be great
Sorry im not monetized so YT controls that. Thanks for watching