Kohler K321 won't start

[Seneca]

Gents, Kohler K321. Over three or four months became harder and harder to start(cranks great). Replaced coil, plug,condenser, points. Started right up. Ran fair for a day then got very hard to start(again). Now won't start regardless of what I do. Checked points, checked and cleaned carburetor. Nice electric blue spark a plug and gas drips from carburetor when (lots of) cranking. Shot w/ starting fluid. Nothing. Any advice???????

 

[Bob]

Could be lots of things, a stuck valve for example. However, I'd start simple, and try ANOTHER new spark plug.

 

[Tom Arnold]

I'm assuming that you have a start/gen unit on this engine.

If so, then remove the wires going to the Field and Armature terminals. Use a pair of jumper cables from another battery and hook the POSITIVE post to the engine block and touch the NEGATIVE jumper lead to the Armature terminal. This will cause the engine to spin backward and allow you to take a true reading of the compression in the engine.

Because this engine has ACR (automatic compression release) you cannot get a proper compression reading by spinnning the engine over in the normal direction. If you can't get more than 90 pounds of pressure, then you have an internal problem. Stuck valve, burnt valve, mis-adjusted valves.......... you may have to remove the head to find out.

When........ if ever..... have you decarbonized this motor?

 

[JT]

Seneca,
OK, lets start from scratch.
You say you have a good, hot, blue spark? Do you have the coil hooked up correctly? It will fire if it is backward, but not correctly, Did you put a new plug in it again, even a new one can be bad. Did you time the engine, it could be retarded, it is firing a way past TDC, henceforth, firing with no compression. Did you put a Kohler coil, points and condensor in it, I have had aftermarket, auto parts stuff appear to work, but will not. Did you change plug wire? If you did, did you use a wire cored plug wire? A silicone wire will fire, but not under compression.
You tried it with ether and nothing?
If you have all the above and still will not run you have lack of compression, either burnt/stuck valve or worn rings. If this an original engine, I would take the head off and check the top end of the engine.
Jim

 

[Seneca]

All ignition parts are OEM Kohler. As I said--it ran immediately after I did the ignition and carb tune-up then it died again. Also I mentioned that it has a good "electric blue" spark, is getting gas to the carb. and 'sucks' on your hand palm when 'hand' choked....I am mystified.
Thanks for any and all responses

 

[sojono]

try putting a little gas in spark plug hole reinstall plug and see what happens gas and fire = combustion this is first thing i try when one won"t stsrt.

 

[Jeff]

I agree with Bob and others on this. Sometimes a plug can show a good spark when outside the combustion chamber but, once installed, it doesn't fire at all. Frustrating but it is the cheapest place to start.

 

[lucas boy]

try monitoring the voltage while cranking.the battery ignition needs at least 9 volts to fire good. oem points need to be cleaned before installing with a clean cloth . did you get the right condenser, mag and batt ignition use different condenser but same points. .. on the compression side, i think you should get about 50 pounds when cranking. i end up checking valve adjustment and sometimes do a cylinder leakdown test to see if air is getting past a valve or rings..

 

[IH2444]

valves. Carb should not drip.