My LT1750 Craftsman with a 17.5 HP Kohler engine will sometimes start and run fine. Sometimes it will crank and crank with no sign of spark. Sometimes it will crank and eventually start backfiring. Sometimes it will start and then die after a couple minutes of running and then restart soon afterwards. Very frustrating! I have replaced the sparkplug and oil and it has new gas.

Make sure the choke is coming off. Check the compression.Many times the head gasket may leak when the engine heats up. Also check for spark sometimes the magneto can heat up and quit after running a while. See if it will run if you prime with a little fuel, if so ,some of the Kohler engines this size have a fuel pump that could be failing. Check for vapor lock. It takes air and fuel properly mixed, spark and compression any of these missing the engine dies.

So it will crank over when the plug is out but not when the plug is installed? I would try jumping it off with another battery. If it cranks over fine, you need a new battery. If it still has problems, that might be one you'd want to take to a shop. Could be a bad starter, or could be a sign of something wrong internally with the engine.

Yes, adjust your valves.

sounds like the spindel bearings going bad next time feel spindles for heat ounds like one or more are bad need to be replaced.

my 15 hp kohler engine backfired while i was using it, now it wont crank and backfires thru carb

start solenoid def will it start if you jump it off by placeing the red possitive to the starter cable lug. the solenoid is about 15 dollars.

Try cleaning or better yet, replacing the spark plug. Depending on age and how your tractor was maintained, there are other possible causes.

• Gummed up fuel system
• dirty fuel filter
• defective or misaligned armature/magneto (part that causes your plug to spark, igniting the air/fuel mixture, thus starting the engine)
• throttle linkage/cable problems
• low oil level. Some Kohler engines use a low oil shut down sensor which won't allow the engine to run or start to avoid internal damage.
• Mechanical engine problems

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carb float sticking open dumping gas into cylinders

Sometimes there is rust on the crankshaft and the magneto can not pick up the signal. Leave the sensor on the engine, try cleaning the rust off the crank damper and then run a clean rag between the sensor and crank. The gap varies but a old fashion matchbook seems to work in case the sensor is loose. Good Luck

Check your spark first,if you do not have spark your problem is the coils-if you do have spark the problem probaly lies withone of your valves getting stuck after getting hot and soonas it cools down a little it closes and then you can restart it till it gets hot again.Hope this helps