Courage V twin

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by jim nicholson

Yes, it does have considerable compression.
All cables and connections are good. I kind of think I'm looking at a broken compression release [ if it has one ] or an internal starter problem.

Then how do you explain it cranking good with a jumper battery?

[Sam Mac]

I'm betting on a bad starter.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

I'm betting on a bad starter.

X2

[jim nicholson]

Well this is an update on the Courage 25 HP SV730 engine. After another couple years of fighting the engine to get it started I finally burnt the starter. Previously I had taken the starter and had it checked and all was good. In the meantime I had helped a neighbor remove a blown Generac 27 hp engine and install a new Vangard in his Dixie Chopper. He didn't want the old engine so I took it for various exterrnal parts one of which was the starter. It seemed a better built starter than the original Kohler plus it was a solenoid activated bendix. I did some serious comparisons and found the Generac starter to be almost a direct replacement for the Courage starter. The ring gear tooth pattern was exactly the same on both engines. The pinion depth was exactly the same.The only minor difference was the mounting bolt bosses were a little bit narrower on the Generac starter. This was fixed by elongating the holes a little bit. I had to run a new battery cable from the starter to the hot post on the battery and the original cable became the pull in wire. It has worked fantastic. I think the Generac starter is a heavier built unit, Part # 10455515. I'm sharing this in case anyone is interested and may have the same problem with the 25 HP Courage that I did. [ATTACH][ATTACH]thumbnail (2).jpg

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[crazycubtrio]

Before the starter upgrade how did the engine start after it was run awhile and warmed up? I have a single cylinder courage that I had a tough time getting it to spin over on the first start after it sat days or weeks. Turns out the vents in the fuel tanks went bad and upon cool down it would push gas through the pump into the carb and finally the engine. When it got bad enough I would notice raw gas blasting out the exhaust when it finally started. I started turning the fuel off at the valve and haven’t had trouble since.

[johncub7172]

Thanks for sharing! My "outlaw" FIL has the '12 CC LGT 1050 with the Courage 25 and has problems starting after warmed up, like after mowing for awhile. The starter seems not to be able to crank the engine over, as if the starter was weak. I also thought by the sound of struggle, that even the engine may have been knocked out of time somehow. My wife used it and hit a big stick that stalled out the 50" mower deck and tractor one time, though. Once in awhile, the engine will start as should when ran hot after mowing, but don't start hard when cold. I told him to just open the hood, and turn the engine around to the power stroke by hand from the plastic flywheel screen, and that would allow the hot tractor to start on some occasions. However when running, there is no power or performance loss during mowing duty.

[BCDSFCRET]

Check the valve tappet clearance, I do small engine repair and have found your symptoms on quite a few engines. I don't know the spec for your engine but you can look it up. Once set you will find that your starting problem are resolved.
Brian

[jim nicholson]

The valve clearance has been adjusted every spring. Not the problem but with the Generac starter it now spins good.

[jim nicholson]

Originally Posted by crazycubtrio

Before the starter upgrade how did the engine start after it was run awhile and warmed up? I have a single cylinder courage that I had a tough time getting it to spin over on the first start after it sat days or weeks. Turns out the vents in the fuel tanks went bad and upon cool down it would push gas through the pump into the carb and finally the engine. When it got bad enough I would notice raw gas blasting out the exhaust when it finally started. I started turning the fuel off at the valve and haven’t had trouble since.

The engine runs great once it is started [hot or cold].
The fuel vents in the cap would not keep it from cranking over but It would keep the fuel from getting to the carb if they were plugged. Sounds like you may have a fuel solenoid problem. Especially if the tank is higher than the carb and the float needle doesn't shut it off when the bowl is full. Fuel leaks into the engine diluting the engine oil and could hydraulic the piston preventing the engine from cranking over. Shutting the fuel off is always a good thing.