K 301 muffler glows

[Merk]

by scleve
If the muffler is glowing red you are running to rich. The new improved (garbage gas) is so different from the old leaded stuff. I think you will need to adjust the the carb to run a little leaner. Also if you find a station that sells non enriched gas (no ethenol) I have better luck with that. Just my opinion.

The motor is running lean if the muffler is glowing most times. The muffler could be plug too. A worn carb shaft could have made the motor run lean before you replace it.

This info is in Kohler manuals:
A Kohler motor is design to run on unleaded fuel....Kohler recomends the owner to use unleaded fuel. Leaded fuel will leave deposits in the combustion chamber. The manuals aslo say its ok to run up to 10% ethanol in a Kohler motor.

[scleve]

When these motors were made you could add ethanol. If you look at the crap that is left in the carb bowls if it sits for a while they weren't designed for that poor a fuel. When you say lean are you saying to much fuel and not enough air or the other way around? A lot of the time I see that people describe things with different terms according to how they were taught.

[Matt G.]

Lean = too little fuel. Anyone who was taught any different was taught wrong. This is in basically every service/operator's manual ever written, as well as many other design and repair books.

[brentwd]

Well guys I got it figured out! I must have dislodged some sediment when I took the tank off cause it almost plugged up the sediment bowl inlet. When I would rev it up the INSIDE of the muffler would glow and not the outside. I'm sorry if I mislead anyone, but with the tractor dying at WOT, I thought it had something to do with the timing or carb. I have noticed a little more gear noise than before. Thanks for all the help

[Vince_o]

What is......WOT

[darkminion_17]

Wide open throttle or in your case Vince wide open tummy

[Merk]

by scleve
When these motors were made you could add ethanol. If you look at the crap that is left in the carb bowls if it sits for a while they weren't designed for that poor a fuel.

It sounds like you fuel storage habits need some improving. Gas needs to fresh (less than 30 days old) and you need to use a fuel stablizer. Fuel container needs to be sealable and store your container(s) in a cool dry place. Most if not all small motor manufactures want the owner to use fresh gas (under 30 days old) in their small motors.

[R Bedell]

Ok guys........Here is the response from the Kohler Technical Service Department....

Going lean from the “optimum” will initially raise the exhaust temperature, but once you’ve gone too lean, the engine does indeed have a cooler exhaust. Less fuel at that point results in much more air cooling the charge. Think oxy/acetylene torch when you adjust the mixture. At one point it will cut steel, change the mixture and it no longer will at too rich or lean.

One often missed scenario is a muffler that broke a baffle loose inside. It will partially plug the exhaust flow which will certainly provide those symptoms; running hot and red exhaust. I have seen many cases where that is the final cause. To test it a different muffler, or no muffler may be tried.

I would first drain the gas and buy some from a different outlet. You may be seeing a high alcohol content in that thankful which does create a leaner, hotter burn (beyond healthy for the engine). Don’t go adding Sea foam or MMO to the new fuel just yet, first try it as is. Once you determine the cause and correct it, then add the cleaner as needed.

It would be wise to verify valve lash also, as a tighter exhaust valve can cause that also. Same with a valve that has excess deposits on the stem; sticking slightly under load. Same scenario with an ACR that is stuck “open”


James D.
Engineering Technician-Contractor

Kohler Engines

[Methos]

Well I for one learned a lot from James reply!

[ACecil]

Originally Posted by Methos

Well I for one learned a lot from James reply!

Same here!