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I have a CC 42 inch with a Kohler Twin Courage engine and I bought the tractor at the beginning of the season last year.
It seems that when the deck is not engaged and the engine is running in any throttle position, the engine does not running at a consitant speed. Sounds like it pulsates at different rpm’s. Should I be calling the dealer or could it be just a fuel issue since I did fill the tank with non enthroned fuel, with stabilized in early December.

Condition you are describing is called surging and is caused by a lean fuel air mix.
Regular pump gas (ethanol or not) would not cause this condition.
If machine is under warranty, then by all means contact the dealer.
He may make excuses as to why this happens. Tell him that you want it corrected.

It is a fuel related issue that warranty will not cover. You have a fuel delivery problem. Dirt in gas, Fuel filter needs to be changed, Carb needs to be cleaned or get fresh gas. I would start with fresh gas and new filter and let us know how it worked. Some have had good luck with Seafoam as well.

Might be a governor issue.

It sounds like you did everything right - full tank, stabilized gas... If it was running good and behaving properly before storage then there must be something that's gotten stuck or plugged a bit while sitting. I'd either replace the current tank of gas with fresh and add some Seafoam, or else add Seafoam to the current tank and use it up (then add Seafoam to the next fresh tank). I'd live with the problem til the carb has had a chance to recover with fresh fuel - and hope it clears up on its own. Last thing I'd do is change any settings from the correct position they were in last fall, to fix a problem that didn't stem from the settings in the first place. And DO NOT mess with the governor! If it was right last fall, it is right now.

If it turns out to be something where you need to take it to the dealer, if it were me I'd be very happy be able to tell them with a straight face that I had switched to fresh fuel etc. but had NOT taken anything apart or monkeyed with any settings. I'm sure dealers get tired of trying to fix the mess people make of their carburetors etc., and that gives them an excuse to charge YOU for the fix, saying it was what you did and not a warranty problem.

Good luck.

Ok, I was thinking it was some sort of fuel issue however I know about nothing compared to many members who participate on this site.

I will pump out and drain the fuel tank and then fill with fresh fuel and add Seafoam as recommended.i have never heard of this product before but can see itslocally available.

Better to use non ethanol fuel or does it not really matter? Thanks

Non-ethanol fuel is always preferable if you can get it at the pump. It's not an option where I am, only available in cans at an outrageous price. I think there's a good chance your issue will resolve itself under your current plan.

Darryl G said:

Non-ethanol fuel is always preferable if you can get it at the pump. It's not an option where I am, only available in cans at an outrageous price. I think there's a good chance your issue will resolve itself under your current plan.

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That good to hear especially since the tractor is virtually new, it has less than 12 hours on it so I’m hoping the Seafoam and fresh gas will do.
We have a Walmart nearby and they have a gas station there, Murphy USA and they do have a non ethanol pump and it obviously mote money. Last year, the local lawn mower repair shop owner claimed that most non ethonal stations don’t move enough gas so it could be stale so his thinking was to use premium gas.

From what I can see, the local Walmart gas station is always busy and can’t imagine their NE gas would be stale!

Ethanol is much less of an issue in equipment that is run on a regular basis such as a mower during the growing season. I had a similar issue to yours with my leaf vac/truck loader that would sit for 9 or 10 months. I would add star-tron fuel treatment to it and it would stop surging. I believe it's similar to Seafoam.

I agree with (bullrider) ... DON't mess with the governor, if you haven't done any adjustment to it DON"T !! the carb is the issue.

Bring your unit to the dealer you got it from.... Or call him first to see if there is any charge for the job since you used NON etho gas ..........

Yes drain the gas out of the tank and try new gas, but don't use any sta build or other stuff...

Here is a tip take the spark plugs out and spin that puppy over with the choke on so it will drain the carb on it's own... Then take the choke off and spin some more... This way you will have fresh gas in the bowl. Not the old stuff you had in there..

With the plugs out it's not a drain on the battery............ Oh and check for a mouse nest under the air shroud so you won't over heat your engine ~!~!

Let us know Mon Ami ~!~!

bullrider said:

It sounds like you did everything right - full tank, stabilized gas... If it was running good and behaving properly before storage then there must be something that's gotten stuck or plugged a bit while sitting. I'd either replace the current tank of gas with fresh and add some Seafoam, or else add Seafoam to the current tank and use it up (then add Seafoam to the next fresh tank). I'd live with the problem til the carb has had a chance to recover with fresh fuel - and hope it clears up on its own. Last thing I'd do is change any settings from the correct position they were in last fall, to fix a problem that didn't stem from the settings in the first place. And DO NOT mess with the governor! If it was right last fall, it is right now.

If it turns out to be something where you need to take it to the dealer, if it were me I'd be very happy be able to tell them with a straight face that I had switched to fresh fuel etc. but had NOT taken anything apart or monkeyed with any settings. I'm sure dealers get tired of trying to fix the mess people make of their carburetors etc., and that gives them an excuse to charge YOU for the fix, saying it was what you did and not a warranty problem.

Good luck.

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I didn't tell the OP to "mess" with the governor; I simply pointed out that it COULD be a problem with the governor, because, after all, it is the governor's job to control engine RPM. The notion that "if it was right last fall, it is right now" is false. Everything that breaks as a time in which it was right...right up until the time it broke. I've had experiences with "it was right when I shut it off a minute ago...and now it isn't."

Boudreaux In Eunice La. said:

Bring your unit to the dealer you got it from.... Or call him first to see if there is any charge for the job since you used NON etho gas ..........

Yes drain the gas out of the tank and try new gas, but don't use any sta build or other stuff...

Here is a tip take the spark plugs out and spin that puppy over with the choke on so it will drain the carb on it's own... Then take the choke off and spin some more... This way you will have fresh gas in the bowl. Not the old stuff you had in there..

With the plugs out it's not a drain on the battery............ Oh and check for a mouse nest under the air shroud so you won't over heat your engine ~!~!

Let us know Mon Ami ~!~!

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You're not going to generate much manifold vacuum with no spark plug in the cylinder.

You are almost right on that CPurvis............. With the choke on it will at least get rid of some of it... I was gonna say drop the bowl, but we all know that is gonna mess the warranty up......

Warranty should cover ALL aspects of a mower no matter what fuel is used if it's no greater than 10 pct. I think...

A lot of engines now say no etho at all or greater than 10 pct.... I wish they would make the right stuff with corn than putting it in our gasoline ~!~!

I am a K-100 fuel treatment dealer now and it's a etho reversal as well as absorbs water and stabilizes gas for a LONG time.....

K-100 also makes water burn ~!~!

Boudreaux In Eunice La. said:

Bring your unit to the dealer you got it from.... Or call him first to see if there is any charge for the job since you used NON etho gas ..........

Yes drain the gas out of the tank and try new gas, but don't use any sta build or other stuff...

Here is a tip take the spark plugs out and spin that puppy over with the choke on so it will drain the carb on it's own... Then take the choke off and spin some more... This way you will have fresh gas in the bowl. Not the old stuff you had in there..

With the plugs out it's not a drain on the battery............ Oh and check for a mouse nest under the air shroud so you won't over heat your engine ~!~!

Let us know Mon Ami ~!~!

Click to expand...

Needs to be maintained according to the manual in order to be covered under warranty. It appears that it's been stored greater than 90 days with the fuel in it and he doesn't say whether he ran it dry before storing. If he didn't the warranty is voided. I think it's unlikely that what appears to be a fuel related issue will be covered under warranty. It doesn't need to be ethanol fuel to cause carb problems...you must know that.

Yes I agree that storage over 90 days is not good at all... But like Bull Rider said ............ He put it in storage early December and it's the 1st week of April Only 30 days over the limit...

Years ago when I was doing warranty work I helped a few people out that were over their warranty by a few months....

Let's see what he does to solve the issue..... I hope he can do it by the advice WE ALL gave him...

cpurvis said:

You're not going to generate much manifold vacuum with no spark plug in the cylinder.

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The engine has an automatic choke.

Darryl G said:

Needs to be maintained according to the manual in order to be covered under warranty. It appears that it's been stored greater than 90 days with the fuel in it and he doesn't say whether he ran it dry before storing. If he didn't the warranty is voided. I think it's unlikely that what appears to be a fuel related issue will be covered under warranty. It doesn't need to be ethanol fuel to cause carb problems...you must know that.

Click to expand...

And, I have no way to get it to the dealer even if they corrected it for free I would have to pay to get it there and back.

I will first drain the fuel and fill with fresh fuel and Seafoam. Since the engine runs it should flush out and water or bad fuel if that is the case which I’m guessing it is.

Darryl G said:

Needs to be maintained according to the manual in order to be covered under warranty. It appears that it's been stored greater than 90 days with the fuel in it and he doesn't say whether he ran it dry before storing. If he didn't the warranty is voided. I think it's unlikely that what appears to be a fuel related issue will be covered under warranty. It doesn't need to be ethanol fuel to cause carb problems...you must know that.

Click to expand...

And, I have no way to get it to the dealer even if they corrected it for free I would have to pay to get it there and back.

I will first drain the fuel and fill with fresh fuel and Seafoam. Since the engine runs it should flush out and water or bad fuel if that is the case which I’m guessing it is.

Does Seafoam deal with water in gas?

Rickcin said:

The engine has an automatic choke.

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How does that make a difference?

cpurvis said:

How does that make a difference?

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I don’t know but thought I should mention it in case it could have some bearing on the issue.

What is really kinda aggravating is that ethanol fuel actually should be more expensive than 100% gasoline (only due to the stupid cost of making the ethanol) but we are subsidizing the ethanol with our tax dollars. I wish I had the option at local gas stations to buy non ethanol fuel. It's better for the engine and delivers better mileage as well.

Surging issue resolved!

Thanks to the advice of members on this forum site, my surging engine issue has been resolved!

I drain the fuel tank, bought some fresh ethanol free gas and added Seafoam (which I never heard of before) started the engin, cut the grass (only a /2 acre) and when finished I ran the throttle in several different positions and it was not surging.

Thanks for all of the great advice!

Glad you're issue is resolved, AND thanks for your problem solved reply !

Re: Surging issue resolved!

Rickcin said:

Thanks to the advice of members on this forum site, my surging engine issue has been resolved!

I drain the fuel tank, bought some fresh ethanol free gas and added Seafoam (which I never heard of before) started the engin, cut the grass (only a /2 acre) and when finished I ran the throttle in several different positions and it was not surging.

Thanks for all of the great advice!

Click to expand...

Always resist the temptation to change adjustments or settings that have not changed since before the problem started. Messing for example with carburetor float levels or mixture screws to compensate for some crap in the carburetor is just not good practice. I would have bet that clean fuel and some Seafoam would get you working again.

Unfortunately my surging engine issue has returned or I have been unaware of it for some time since it appears to happen only after I finish cutting the grass. So now it only happens after the engine is heated and has been running for a while so now I’m thinking it’s not a fuel issue?

Any suggestions or obvious items to check rather than having the dealer come pick it up at my cost? Thanks