Kohler K161 slight miss.

[Diesel Krazy]

I have a Kohler K161 in my daughters 1962 Original. It starts and runs great except for a slight miss. It doesn't do it all the time. It does it mostly at high RPMs and when fully warm. It will be 15-30 seconds between the miss and seems to do it less under load like driving up a small incline and does it more with no load going down an incline. I have decarboned the head and installed a new head gasket and head bolts and checked points adjustment .20 and installed new spark plug .25 and cleaned the fuel tank and installed a complete new glass fuel strainer. I ran a tank of new gas through it with Seafoam in it. I did try adjusting the carb and it seemed to be almost perfectly adjusted before I adjusted it. Any ideas what could be causing this slight miss? I don't have lots of educated experience with engines or carb adjustment. Hopefully it's something easy that the experience of everyone here can help me figure out. Thank you.

[J-Mech]

First off, reset the points like this: Static Timing

Did you replace the spark plug wire, spark plug, points and condenser? If not, do all that.

If it still doesn't go away, I'd check your valve adjustment. If it's still there after all that...... it probably needs a valve job.

[Diesel Krazy]

Thanks for the advice. I have not replaced the plug wire, points or condensor yet. I will order them on Monday. I did replace the plug with the proper one. The spark plug wire looks original, it has the old school metal clip on the spark plug end. I just now attempted the timing as you advised but I cannot find the hole to see the timing marks. Mabe I'm looking in the wrong spot?? Hopefully I can keep this going for the rest of the summer, my daughter really likes driving it around. If it winds up needing a valve job I would just have the engine completely rebuilt, if the price isn't too crazy. Any ballpark ideas of cost to rebuild one of these Kohlers? Thank You for your help. As far as valve adjustment, the little info I read about this engine it said the. Valves may not be user adjustable? Is that correct?

[Diesel Krazy]

I bought a new spark plug wire and points and condensor. I will have it installed this evening. I'm not sure about checking the timing, I haven't yet found the information needed to check the timing on this engine. Thanks.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Diesel Krazy

I haven't yet found the information needed to check the timing on this engine. Thanks.

I gave you the link on how to static time. If you have questions on flywheel marks refer to the Kohler manual. You have all the info you should need.

[olds45512]

The "miss" as you describe it could also be the governor hunting a little bit which explains why it doesn't do it under a load. Let it run until it gets warm and starts missing and watch the governor arm to see if its moving when it happens.

[Diesel Krazy]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

I gave you the link on how to static time. If you have questions on flywheel marks refer to the Kohler manual. You have all the info you should need.

The location of the timing marks is what I haven't found yet. I guess I have the incorrect manual. The two manuals I found do not show where the timing marks are located on my engine. I will try searching some more. Thanks

[J-Mech]

You can't find them on the flywheel? Or you can't find the access hole to find the timing marks?

[Diesel Krazy]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

You can't find them on the flywheel? Or you can't find the access hole to find the timing marks?

I can't find the access hole.

[J-Mech]

I'll go look at one of my engines here after bit and see if I can grab a pic.