Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Is there something (a part maybe?) missing from the Kohler 8hp horizontal shaft engine?  This BCS tiller always starts on the second pull (even when stored all winter) and it ran for me for a few days but today it started 3 or three times and ran fine but then this last time it would not start. Its not getting gas. I pulled the air breather cover off to take a look at the carb and noticed two shiny fittings that I don't remember seeing (they could have been there before/ i forget things) but  I'm wondering what they are and if they need to be attached to something. This BCS is out in the middle of a field and its a long long push home (in the rain)  if I cannot get it started.  I pulled the spark plug and its bone dry in there.

Don't know what those two fittings are for but from the pics, it looks like fuel line is properly connected.  Pull the float bowl off to see if you're getting fuel to it.  If it's empty, check the fuel system from the tank on down to the carb.  If it's clear, the float needle is probably stick.  Time to clean the carb.

It looks to me to be a fuel pump,  maybe someone disconnected it years ago (from leaking)... They put a pump on the unit to allow the tanks lowest spot to be below the carb...

Without the pump hooked up, the fuel will only flow till the tank level reaches the height of the carb inlet....(I bet you have Half a tank left ...Right?)

Try filling the tank up all the way and see if it starts..

Good Luck,

Friiy

Take more pics,   Let us have the model number..  Get your wife to take a picture of you pushing the tiller in the rain... 

Good Luck,

Friiy

Ta-Da! fuel pump!

 Well, yes there is only half a tank of fuel left.  And when i pull the plug to look in the combustion chamber it is dry as a bone.

 I have replaced faulty fuel pumps before on other equipment. There's not that much too it. Why would they have just abandoned this one?  

We had 3 inches of rain last night and that tiller is sitting way out there.  Up to its belly in a pile of wet manure that I was tilling under. I snapped the starter cord from pulling it so many times.  Wish I owned a pair of muck boots. My shoes make a slurping sound when they sink into the manure. I may just leave it there with a tarp. The rain is supposed to stop Sunday. That should give me time to find a starter cord.   

Thanks for this info, this is my first Kohler.

The fuel pump from Kohler is about 80 bucks.. It is always cheaper to keep the tank full on a job and bypass the pump... Sometimes the fuel pump leaks, someimes it leaks into the engine case and spills oil/gas all over your floor. The Kohler 8hp is a great engine, MAybe you can just buy the guts for it (diaphram/gasket). Someone may make the part now (aftermarket). When you buy the rope, be sure you get good rope from a lawn shop, Get a really tight small braid. I Think the size of rope you need is #6 or #6 1/2.. The think you also need about 6 feet length.... Is this iller he one that had the ACME engine on it? Good Luck, Friiy

Pull off the carb, flush everything with carb cleaner, blow it out with compressed air.

friiy wrote:

Yes, I measured it.  3/16th" (#6) by 6 feet.  Kohler does not offer a rebuild kit (diaphram) for this pump. I'm not sure if it is a mikuni or not (there are diaphrams fo those).

http://www.nitrolawnmower.com/nitro_lawnmower_026.htm Try these guys

friiy wrote:
I will give them a call. thanks