I have a Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor with a 15.5 Kohler Engine. Its a 2000 model NoNNN-NN-NNNN It starts fine when choked but when I move the throttle to run the engine stalls and quits. Between Choke and Run position on the throttle The engine will pulsate fast to slow. I have new gas in the tank and a new fuel filter. also I have cleaned the carburator and air cleaner. I will only hve access to my computer Monday Tuesday and Thursday till 4:00. I will log back on thursday.39595.6443627315
HelloCustomer/p>
It sounds like your carburetor needs a more thorough cleaning. How did you clean it the first time? Did you pull the bowl off and clean the jets or did you just spray cleaner down the carburetor throat?
Gil
Experience: Master Service Technician for Kohler Motors. Certified Marine and Outdoor Power Equipment Technician
I pulled the bowl off and soaked everthing in carb cleaner.
Okay, it sounds like you must have missed a jet or one is just being stubborn. Let me check on the type of carb and I will get back to you ASAP.
Gill thanks for your reply. I have to leave my computer now but I will log back on thursday. I'm going to go ahead and accept you answer so you get paid. One more question. What is the best way to clean the carb jets?
HiCustomer
The best way to clean the jets is with a can of spray carb cleaner and some compressed air. If the can of carb cleaner has a thin tube which you can attach to the spray nozzle that would be great.
Turn off the fuel supply or pinch off the fuel line with some vise grips. Remove the air filter and the carb bowl. Be careful not to knock or dislodge the carburetor float. Let it gently fall open.
Spray the carb cleaner up the centre main jet. Spray the carb cleaner up under the body of the carburetor into any holes that you can see. Look into the throat of the carb through the opening where the air filter was. Spray the carb cleaner into any holes that you can see facing you. You should see carb cleaner come out from under the carb body when you spray in these holes. Use the thin tube to get the spray right into the area you are aiming for. Follow this with a gentle blast of compressed air. Don't put the air nozzle right up to the carb, hold it back a few inches. Be careful of the float.
If there is a high and/or low speed screw in the body of the carb you will need to remove it or them. First, turn the screw in (clockwise) until it GENTLY bottoms out, counting the number of turns. DO NOT screw the adjustment screw in tightly. This will damage the end of the screw or even break it off. Once you have counted the number of turns until the screw bottoms out, remove the screw completely. Watch out for small o-rings and washers. Spray carb cleaner into the adjustment screw hole followed by the gentle blast of compressed air. Now, replace the screw and screw it GENTLY all the way in. Now, back it out the exact number of turns to the position it originally was in. Hopefully, that makes sense and I've explained it clearly.
Replace the carburetor bowl being careful not to crimp or twist the gasket around the top of the bowl. Is the air cleaner new? If not I would replace it. Check your fuel lines to make sure they are not sticky, spoungy or rock hard. If they are then they should be replaced. Check that they are not crimped or obstructed in any way.
Make sure the throttle is not loose by gently wiggling the top of the throttle. It should be nice and firm in the carb and have no side to side movement. Make sure your choke is functioning properly by opening and closing the choke while watching down the air filter side of the carb. It should close completely when the choke is on and open completely when the choke is off.
Remove the vise grips from the fuel line or turn on the fuel supply. Try the motor now. Hopefully, that should have cleared the problem up. If not then I would suggest taking it in to a repair centre as the carb may have more problems than just plugged jets.
I believe there is also a fuel pump on that motor. If the fuel pump is shot I would expect the motor not to run at all so I think you should be OK in that area.
Is the Kohler motor a CV16? It should say somewhere on the motor exactly which motor it is. I couldn't find the exact Craftsman model number that you gave in your original question but I found one that is probably very similar to yours. If the motor is a CV16 then there is a carb kit available... Kohler part number 12-853-95-s. There is also a fuel pump kit available ... Kohler part number 12-559-02-s. If the motor is NOT a CV16 then please let me know and I can find the correct parts for you. I will need the spec.number also.
Hope this helps. If not, let me know and we can re-assess the situation. Good luck and let me know how things work out.
Gil, My Kohler Engine Model No. is CV15.5S, Type No.41596. I don't think mine has a Fuel pump at least I haven't seen it described in the manual. I will try clean the carb jets per your instructions and will get back to you and let you know if that solves the problem. Per my manual the carb kit is 12-853-94-S
You're right that model doesn't have a fuel pump. Give the cleaning another try. You may need the carb kit if the inlet needle valve is sticking. The number I have is 12-757-03-s. Either your number or mine is a change up part number so if you go to buy one then take both numbers with you. Give it a try without first. Let me know how you make out.