18hp Kohler Dieseling

72Rockcruiser

72Rockcruiser

LETS GO BRANDON!
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Charlotte, NC
I recently bought a cheap, previously enjoyed John Deere l110. (Rebranded by Scott’s) riding mower with an 18hp Kohler engine. It has some minor issues that need tinkering with, but it has been mowing fine. Until I go to shut it off. It will diesel like a bitch. It looks to have a new fuel shut off solenoid, and I have seen(googled)/tried shutting it off at low and high engine speed. Should I just put a new carb on it? They look cheap online. Is there a recommended brand for Kohler or will cheap Chinese work fine?

Thanks! Kyle
 
See if Stens makes an aftermarket carb; you should have lots of choices for a small Kohler. Less than OEM, but more expensive than the sketchy China stuff. The Stens carbs I've seen are usually Japan or China, depending on what company is the contract manufacturer. The stuff that Stens sells is usually pretty decent quality though, so it's not much of a gamble compared to some brand you've never heard of that costs $11 on Amazon..

I actually just installed a Stens carb for a Honda pressure washer , and it was perfect for the $30 I paid (less than half the OEM price).
 
Just idle it down and shut it off. Throw it in gear or engage the blades and let the load kill the engine. Can't help on carb brands other than to say to stay away from the Chinese junk.

I'd rebuild the factory carb if it were mine but I'm not convinced that is what the issue is. Maybe heavy carbon build up or something
 
72Rockcruiser said:
I recently bought a cheap, previously enjoyed John Deere l110. (Rebranded by Scott’s) riding mower with an 18hp Kohler engine. It has some minor issues that need tinkering with, but it has been mowing fine. Until I go to shut it off. It will diesel like a bitch. It looks to have a new fuel shut off solenoid, and I have seen(googled)/tried shutting it off at low and high engine speed. Should I just put a new carb on it? They look cheap online. Is there a recommended brand for Kohler or will cheap Chinese work fine?

Thanks! Kyle
Click to expand...

New factory carb. About twice what cheap Chinese would cost but it will actually work.
 
ponykilr said:
Before you buy a carb, try pulling the plug wire while it's dieseling. Could be that the ignition is still making a weak circuit halfass firing the plug.
Click to expand...

^ this.

My ignition switch last summer was on its way out and ours was doing this. Now it starts but wont shut off. :lol: A simple ball valve in the fuel line fixed that issue though.
 
StretchASU said:
^ this.

My ignition switch last summer was on its way out and ours was doing this. Now it starts but wont shut off. :lol: A simple ball valve in the fuel line fixed that issue though.
Click to expand...

Hmm... the switch is one of the other things I was gonna fix, it sometimes does nothing when I turn the key to start.

Really hoping it’s not a carb. A factory one is more than I paid for the mower
 
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