Garden Tractor does not start ?

[CP659]

I'm thinking that engine probably has a compression release for easier starting. At very low RPM (starting) it would open the exhaust valve just slightly on the compression stroke so the engine turns over easier at startup. I've run into this before on a Generator. Assuming it's an overhead valve (OHV) motor, you would look for the (probably silver) valve cover. It should be easy to remove and I was able to reuse the gasket as there's not a lot of oil pressure there. With the valve cover off, you'd see the rocker arms and where they engage the valves. With the spark plug out, turn the engine over slowly with a wrench. You should see the rocker arm for just the exhaust valve move slightly on the compression stroke. If the arm is moving, but not actually engaging / moving the valve then the arm probably needs adjustment. You'd need to look up the valve specs and set it with a feeler gauge, but it's really pretty easy to do and you should be able to adjust it right at the rocker arm.
I had a generator that used to be really hard to pull at startup and this was the problem.. Unfortunately I broke a couple pull starts before I worked that one out
Good luck!!!

[JADAQ]

Just curious, how did you get 14 volts on a 12 volt system if the engine wasn't running??

[tummyman]

I am blowing a lot of gas out my exhaust when I try and start. It is a Koehler engine. Any thoughts...????

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by tummyman

I am blowing a lot of gas out my exhaust when I try and start. It is a Koehler engine. Any thoughts...????

Float stuck open or needle and seat are worn. The 14hp Kohler on my 48" commercial mower does that if I don't clamp off the fuel line. The shut off valve does not completely shut off the gas flow, so I use small vice grips on the line. The engine would even hydro-lock with gas, if it sat long enough. It runs fine but I'll need to change the needle and seat at some point. Just add it to the list of projects!

[bigdog]

Well..... I have the final report regarding my tractor issue not starting.
Took me a while and a little thinking but finally got to the bottom of this !

Four letters, one word "M-I-C-E" !

I removed the top cowling that covers the entire engine. Not only did I find a lot of mouse remnants of cloth material (probably from building nests),
but also found two severed electrical wires, which were disconnected from what I think may be a coil ?

One of the spark plugs wires that come off the plug, connects to coil, then has two 14 gauge wires that connect to someplace in engine, exactly where I could not see where it led ? Is this a coil, because it looked like it was wrapped with cooper wire.

Also, I removed long piece of cloth material from what looked like a gear, that I suspect is tied to the starter assembly. This long piece of material
(actually looked like a 4" piece of rope) was wrapped around the gear, preventing it from rotating. I noticed when I attempted to start the engine that gear would spin, I suspect it turns something within the engine ? What is this gear, and is my description correct?

Anyway, removed all cloth fiber mouse remnants, patched the 2 broken wires together. Long story, engine started immediately !

Lessons learned, think simple !

[ursa minor]

Good detective work. You may want to find a way to toss some moth balls under your storage cover to discourage them from coming back. I've had them nest in a couple of my small equipment engines too, it's pretty common.

[bigdog]

Thanks Ursa MInor for suggesting to use moth balls under storage cover to deter the vermin critters
I've personally been using 'dry sheets' for years for same purpose and has not failed me yet.

This time around I failed my due-diligence and just forgot to do !
Note to self !

I have a convertible 'summer car', and when I store for the winter, place a dozen dryer sheets over the engine, tail pipe, and any other areas of access that mice can enter. My sister-in-law had an issue with her car with mice damage to electrical system that cost her over $1,000 in repairs ! Lessons learned !

[HomeWood]

I had a fan cooled Arctic Cat sled years ago. The motor suddenly overheated and cooked a piston one day. Mouse house was built around one of the jugs under the engine cover. I did not know it was there until I started the tear down. I hate mice!

[ursa minor]

I think I like your dryer sheet idea better! They definitely smell better than the moth balls. I'll put some under the hood and elsewhere when I put our "fun car" under cover in the garage this winter, great suggestion.

[chipj29]

I used dryer sheets in one of my snowmobiles a few years back. The mice used those dryer sheets to build their nest. So the dryer sheets may not always work.

[tis]

As I already said, they didn't work for us. We found mice in the boat.

[jbolty]

Pet stores sell bitter apple spray that keeps dogs from chewing things. I wonder if it would work for mice and if it would stay active long enough. Might be worth a try.

[Pineedles]

This discussion is so timely. My wife just texted me that she pulled the mower out of the shed but it seemed a bit sluggish when she started it. She took it to a next door neighbor who fixes anything for $50. Fix the mower $50, fix a leaky faucet $50. You get the idea.

She came back an hour later and the mower was fixed. Replace the plug, new oil filter, sharpen blade , and remove the rat nest. Seems he removed the front cover and an 8" rat with her baby ran out of the mover. He suggested putting out some de-con in the shed.

My wife told me that I would be collecting on her life insurance, if she had witnessed this happening.

[tummyman]

Originally Posted by HomeWood

Float stuck open or needle and seat are worn. The 14hp Kohler on my 48" commercial mower does that if I don't clamp off the fuel line. The shut off valve does not completely shut off the gas flow, so I use small vice grips on the line. The engine would even hydro-lock with gas, if it sat long enough. It runs fine but I'll need to change the needle and seat at some point. Just add it to the list of projects!

My engine did not have a fuel shutoff valve. Ordered one on Ebay for $6. Installed it last week. Results after a few days being idle....perfect....no more raw gas coming out of exhaust. Thank you for a great and simple suggestion. It really worked very well!!!!!!

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by tummyman

My engine did not have a fuel shutoff valve. Ordered one on Ebay for $6. Installed it last week. Results after a few days being idle....perfect....no more raw gas coming out of exhaust. Thank you for a great and simple suggestion. It really worked very well!!!!!!

Excellent! Glad I could help.