QuestionThanks in advance! JD-LX188 w/17hp Kawa engine started fouling L. plug a
couple of times per year. Got slowly progressively worse over the years. Now
it happens at least a couple of times per hour or any time you put a real load
against it & almost kill it, the plug fouls every time. Starts to miss a few
times, then fouls completely on that side & goes dead. You can even hit a
bump & make it start popping, leading then to a completely fouled plug.
Load it a bit & it starts to foul one plug (always L side). Sooty dry black, not
wet/oily. Clean or replace the plug & it's fine for a short while, but the
problem will recur. Used to be a minor inconvenience, now I can MAKE it
foul just by loading it hard or kicking in the blade in the lowered position. Is
this engine carbureted? If so, it's like a sticking or dirty float valve causing a
rich mixture. It used to "clear" itself, but no longer. Acts a lot like a too-rich
2-stroke. I checked the compression & it's v.g. and equal for both cylinders.
I read that someone replaced an ignitor box for a similar problem & it cured
it. Would you think it's the box or the fueling device? This doesn't have Fuel
Injection does it? It's at the point where I can make the plug foul any time I
want just by going through some thick grass too fast. Many thanks! Rusty
AnswerStart with a carb clean. It will be free. If that doesn't work you will need the ignitor.
This engine ALWAYS fouls the left plug first. It has what Kawasaki calls rebound induction, WTF, this is the reason that a Kawi runs so good. Do the complete carb clean first and change the oil and filter, use only NGK spark plugs and see what happens.
I'm guessing you will end up needing the ignitor, but try the carb first. IT'S FREE!!!!
