Will start and run but not enough power to turn blades properly. Have replaced in line fuel filter and put on new blades. Choke does not seem to be sticking. Air filter is clean. Haven’t checked carburetor yet. Any ideas?
Low power output for Zero Turn Z231KH
- Thread starter rxgolfer
- Start date
Captain13
Active member
Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Check/replace the spark plug.
Will the engine reach ful power with no load? If so, make sure there is no obstruction under the deck such as twine or wire wrapped around a spindle.
Is the gas fresh?
Make sure the carb butterfly is wide open with the engine running at half throttle.
You may have some debris that has made it to the carb. Can you drain the carb bowl and check for water/dirt?
Will the engine reach ful power with no load? If so, make sure there is no obstruction under the deck such as twine or wire wrapped around a spindle.
Is the gas fresh?
Make sure the carb butterfly is wide open with the engine running at half throttle.
You may have some debris that has made it to the carb. Can you drain the carb bowl and check for water/dirt?
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
install new plugs, check colour of old ones.....
maybe weak magneto ?
was it running fin for hours before this 'loss of power' happened...?
maybe weak magneto ?
was it running fin for hours before this 'loss of power' happened...?
thanks for input. Plug looked ok except for last few threads on bottom of plug were blackened. I will replace. Does not reach full power with no load. I will double check for obstruction under deck. Didn’t notice any thing when I replaced blades. Gas is fresh. I will drain carb bowl and check carb.
I will replace plugs, old were blackened on last few bottom threads.is 1.5 years old, ran fine until a month or so ago started losing power and has slowly gotten worse. How do I check the magneto? Thanks for your input.
grab a spray bottle with straight water in it
start the engine cold
now spray each of the exhaust pipes where they come out of the engine
which one is cold? The hot one will evaporate water almost on contact, the cool one will not.
the cold one is the misfiring cylinder now you have to find out why.
likely coil failing, kohler engines are notorious for failed ignition coils...I am going through it now on a ZG127S. Stupid Kohler.
spark at the right time, fuel, and compression are all an engine needs to run...which one does your engine not have? That is engine diagnosis basics.
start the engine cold
now spray each of the exhaust pipes where they come out of the engine
which one is cold? The hot one will evaporate water almost on contact, the cool one will not.
the cold one is the misfiring cylinder now you have to find out why.
likely coil failing, kohler engines are notorious for failed ignition coils...I am going through it now on a ZG127S. Stupid Kohler.
spark at the right time, fuel, and compression are all an engine needs to run...which one does your engine not have? That is engine diagnosis basics.
Thanks all for your replys, I can’t find the problem. Took to Kubota dealer , they are about a week out getting to it.
Thanks to all for replying. Kubota dealer called me today and said it is good to go. They said one ignition coil was going bad. Covered under warranty. I am stoked to get it back so soon now I can put my wife back to work lol.
I can't imagine a Kohler twin eating an ignition coil....
Just had to replace both coils on my ZG127, had one going south. Mine were original DSAI coils, which are replaced by the MDI coil conversion kit.
I forgot how much I hated working on lawn mowers out in the heat....spoiled by an air conditioned shop now for my day job. Then come home and work in my home shop, 107 in the shop with heat index of 128. I love summertime even the heat, beats cold short winter days.
Just had to replace both coils on my ZG127, had one going south. Mine were original DSAI coils, which are replaced by the MDI coil conversion kit.
I forgot how much I hated working on lawn mowers out in the heat....spoiled by an air conditioned shop now for my day job. Then come home and work in my home shop, 107 in the shop with heat index of 128. I love summertime even the heat, beats cold short winter days.
I’ve had to replace a coil 3 times in 200 hours on my Kohler. Luckily it is cheap and easy. Not much power running on one cylinder.
Those coils will delaminate due to moisture and this will cause them to miss, the last time I replaced the coils on my Tank I rubbed them down with WD-40, 3 yrs so far so good! I store my mowers and tractors under cover but that doesn’t stop the natural condensation!
DSAI coils are solid-state, encased in epoxy.
No moisture will get into them. But they still quit working. Kohler admits that they are a cheap, flawed design that is known to fail prematurely. That is why they came out with the DSAI to MDI coil conversion kit, which is two coils and a short harness and a set of destructions. Fixes the problem. I have never had MDI coils fail that I know of. Plenty of DSAI's though.
No moisture will get into them. But they still quit working. Kohler admits that they are a cheap, flawed design that is known to fail prematurely. That is why they came out with the DSAI to MDI coil conversion kit, which is two coils and a short harness and a set of destructions. Fixes the problem. I have never had MDI coils fail that I know of. Plenty of DSAI's though.