The 1872 starts very hard, why?

[inspectorudy]

I went to use my 1811 today here in Atlanta to haul a load of 2x4's, the temp is about 40 F, and it would not start. I jumped it with a charger and it cranked right up. It has been sitting for about a month and has summer gas in it. I'll run the rest out and then give an overhaul this winter. I have not checked the plug gap but I will. Thanks for the info about the misprint in the manual. I can see how thick oil, cold temp on the battery and old fuel can make a hard starting M18.

[1811woody]

Here I am about a month later right back in the same boat the cub has been sitting outside inthe cold and it will not start it wont even try to start It turns over pretty fast (the oil is winter oil) its got freash gas in it. Its got a nice blue spark , the plugs ate gaped at .035, its got a new electric fuel pump, I poured gas right in to the carb and it wont even hit.Is there any timming to these motors? What controls the timming of the crank to the cam is there a chain? What else could be the problem if it gets gas and has a good spark all thats left is timming?

[cubfan]

Just my two cents,but if it was a timing issue it would be popping back through the carb.If its getting a good spark and getting fuel INTO the combustion chamber it will run.Four things are needed to make an engine run,timing,spark,fuel and air.If all four of those are present it will run.It just sounds to me as though the fuel is not getting past the carb jet and into the combustion chamber.I would pull the plugs out pour a VERY SMALL amount of gas into the cylinders,maybe four or five drops,replace the plugs,spin it over and see what happens.If the plugs are good and getting good fire it will either start and run for a short time and die,backfire or spit back through the carb.May not be a technical way of doing things but it has always worked for me.

[1811woody]

Thats what I was thinking about the timming it doesnt back fire when it runs it runs very well I did pour some gas in the carb didnt fire I'm also wondering about a vacume leak at the intakecould be a possibility?

[ol'George]

Many posts back I suggested to close the gap on the plugs to .023-.025 and try to start it, have you tried that?
If it starts it is the coil/ign unit that is weak.
If it don't start, what have you got to loose?
BTDT

[1811woody]

Your right and my apologies I didnt mean to ignor that advise I thought I had it fixed I will go back and give it a try

[Gaden]

Originally Posted by 1811woody

Here I am about a month later right back in the same boat the cub has been sitting outside inthe cold and it will not start it wont even try to start It turns over pretty fast (the oil is winter oil) its got freash gas in it. Its got a nice blue spark , the plugs ate gaped at .035, its got a new electric fuel pump, I poured gas right in to the carb and it wont even hit.Is there any timming to these motors? What controls the timming of the crank to the cam is there a chain? What else could be the problem if it gets gas and has a good spark all thats left is timming?

You say it has a nice blue spark, but the problem is, what happens outside the engine doesn't necessarily mean that is what happens inside the engine, under pressure.

[1811woody]

I went out this morning without touching any thing but the key and it started right up I repeat The only difference is it sat in a 40ish degree garage since I drug it in yesterday from 18 deg cold. If its true the "coil/ing unit" is affected by temp then that was the best test you could give to prove or disprove that. I just wish it wasn't such a P.I.TA. to change it Or I would have done it along time ago! Can I replace this without pulling the motor??

[1811woody]

Originally Posted by Gaden

You say it has a nice blue spark, but the problem is, what happens outside the engine doesn't necessarily mean that is what happens inside the engine, under pressure.

That's true but its always been a pretty good way to help to test starting issues. Do you know of a way to bench test a ing module/coil from the kohler engine?

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by 1811woody

I went out this morning without touching any thing but the key and it started right up I repeat The only difference is it sat in a 40ish degree garage since I drug it in yesterday from 18 deg cold. If its true the "coil/ing unit" is affected by temp then that was the best test you could give to prove or disprove that. I just wish it wasn't such a P.I.TA. to change it Or I would have done it along time ago! Can I replace this without pulling the motor??

Guess it doesn't like being cold, just keep it nice and warm inside.