Maintenance Instructions
KOHLER TIPS
49
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR CARE OF THE
KOHLER ENGINE
Fuel System
●
Fuel must be clean—free from water, dirt, and
or ganic material.
● Change the fuel filter on a regular basis or when
contamination is suspected or found in the fuel.
●
The fuel injection pump module is a sealed unit
and is not serviceable; opening the fuel pump
module will void the warranty. Additionally, the
fuel pump module and the fuel line between it
and the injector are pressurized. For service of
the pressurized fuel injection system including
the fuel pump module, fuel line, and fuel injector,
contact your Walker dealer or authorized Kohler
service dealer.
Starting/Stopping
● Start engine with the throttle advanced off idle
(1/4 to 1/2 throttle). This will aid starting, espe
cially in cold weather.
● Keep the battery fully charged.
● Match crankcase oil viscosity to the ambient
tem perature, allowing the engine to crank faster
and start easier.
● Allow engine to run at idle for a few seconds
be fore stopping engine to avoid run-on or back
firing.
Cooling System
CAUTION
DO NOT use water or a pressure washer to
clean the cooling system on an air-cooled
engine; mud may form under the cooling
shroud on the cylinder head and cooling
fan resulting in engine overheating.
● Keep engine air intake screen and cylinder head
fins free of grass clippings, chaff, and dirt. In
spect intake screen and cooling fins for cleanli
ness and no damage.
● Check performance of the cooling system by
starting the engine, holding a hand adjacent to
the cylinder head, and feeling the cooling air
flow.
DANGER
Make sure to keep hands clear of exhaust
pipe, muffler, and moving parts when
checking airflow.
● Operate the engine at full speed when mowing.
This allows the engine to produce full horse
power and move more cooling air through the
engine cool ing fins.
Air Cleaner System
● Use
only
Kohler air cleaner and precleaner fil
ters. After market filters may not seal in the air
cleaner housing, allowing dirt to enter the en
gine. Also, af termarket filters often skimp on the
filtration media and require more frequent
replace ment (see following instructions).
●
DO NOT overservice
or frequently “disturb” the
air filter.
A dirty air filter actually cleans better
than a new one. Changing and cleaning the air
filter too often can actually reduce filter efficien
cy and increase the opportunity for traces of
dust to enter the engine.
● When the air filter element is removed or re-
placed, make sure all
dust is cleaned out
of the
air cleaner housing.
Use a damp cloth and
wipe the interior of the canister clean, including
both the inside and outside surfaces of the outlet
tube (a lit tle dirt left here will be sucked into the
engine and reduce engine life). When the filter
is reinstalled, make sure it
is seated tight and
straight
on the base plate for proper sealing.
Oil
● Single viscosity or multi-viscosity oils may be
used with the viscosity matching ambient tem
peratures for the engine operating conditions.
This will
aid starting
in cold weather and assure
proper lubrication in hot weather.
