QuestionI have a Craftsman model 917.257550. Serial#041494E 004274 Kohler 14hp spec. CV14-1452. Just so you know i am not real familiar with small engines but i have learned alot fooling around with engine for the past few days.
Kohler engine will not spark when ignition key is turned. I pulled plug and visually looked for blue spark on plug while engine is turning over; nothing. I was then directed to change ignition coil b/c it was rusty. So i did(used business card to measure distance between coil & flywheel magnet). Still no spark. I then cleaned the magnet on the fly wheel with wire brush still nothing. So i am at a stand still. Do i now check for safety switch issues? Or do i take off flywheel and check stator? Again i am learning as i go.
Here are some previous symptoms prior to mower totally dying out.
On cold start mower would not start without ether shot to air cleaner. After engine warmed up would start flawlessly rest of day or until cold.
While blades engaged mower at times would act like it would shut off like i was choking it out. i would then disengage blades mower would go back to normal. Would do this maybe once an hour.
Is there a way to check stator prior to pulling off fly wheel as well.
Thanks any advice or tips would be helpful.
AnswerAaron
Put the equipment in Neutral or Park, disengage the deck attatchment or PTO and depress the clutch. Some lawn tractors require you to sit on the seat when starting the engine. If all the safety devices are engaged and the equipment still will not start, there might be a problem in the wiring or the switches/modules have gone bad. Check to see if the stop wire has rubbed against the flywheel. You will need to remove the air shroud to do so. If wire is touching the flywheel, repair the wire and reroute it. Either the safety switch is broken or the wires going to it are loose, or have some sort of corrosion on it. Check for good connections.The only reason to pull the flywheel is if the key way broke,that key way keeps the engine in time.
