I have a 1999 John Deere LT 133 it has a Kohler 13 hp single cylinder engine
it has been hard to start for several years it has to crank over forever before it starts with the choke on like the gas runs back to the tank if it sits more than one day. A week or so back it wouldn't start so I installed a new plug I had not ever put one in it and the original had the electrode burned up it came out in two pieces and there was no electrode it had burned up. Anyway it still was hard starting and so finally I decided to put on a shut off valve inline for the gas and I picked up a fuel filter I put these on and that didn't help either now it is back firing out the exhaust like it is not getting enough spark it will crank over about 10 times and then fireworks with loud ignition of the fuel in the exhaust. Now it will not start at all just boom, bang, blam and nothing. I figure it is in the spark but I'm not sure I checked the wire by grounding and turning over the engine but there was no spark does anyone know if it has a module? or just a coil with points? I figured being a 99 it might have some sort of electronic ignition. Any advice is appreciated.

thanks,
DR :roll:

99, it should be a electronic.if its getting a backfire, sounds like its getting some sorta spark, maybe it has a sheared key.... or a valve my be sticking

Yeah, could possibly be an exhaust valve hanging but I doubt it. Easy enough to check, just pull the valve cover and watch the valve action. If the exhaust is slow to pop back up you may have found the trouble. These engines aren't known for valve problems other than in the lifter area and then its just noise. I would suspect that maybe part of the electrode is stuck under the exhaust valve.

Electronic ignition is what you have. It may or may not have a trigger module that tells it when to fire. If you have a trigger suspect this first in the electrical dept. It tells the coil when to fire and is supposed to make it easier to start by altering the timing slightly. When this thing is out of whack they sound just like you describe.

I'm not suggesting you go buy a trigger, they are about 75.00 from Kohler. Basic troubleshooting steps need to be followed to narrow the problem. IF you find you need a trigger I would do away with the pesky trigger and just buy a new regular electronic coil for a CV Command single. Kohler will tell you through tech help and across their dealers counters that you can't do this, the engine won't run.....they are wrong. I do it all the time.

Mike