OWNER'S MANUAL MODELS K241/ K301 (10 hP) (12 hp) ' K321,& (14 hp) K341 (16 hP) operating & maintenance instructions Congratulations - You have selected a fine four-cycle, single cylinder, air-cooled engine. Kohler designs long life strength and on-the-job durability into each engine. . . making a Kohler engine dependable.. .dependability you can count on. Here are some reasons why: 0 Kohler engines are easy to service. All routine service areas (like the points, condenser, plug, and carburetor) are easily and quickly accessible. 0 air cleaner, spark L Parts subject to the most wear and tear (like the cylinders, crankshafts, and camshaft) are made from precision formulated cast iron. Because the cast iron cylinders can be rebored, these engines can last even longer. 0 Every Kohler engine is backed by a worldwide network of over 10,000 distributors and dealers. Service support is just a phone call away. Call I-800-544-2444 (U.S. & Canada) for Sales & Service assistance. To keep your engine in top operating condition, follow the maintenance procedures in this manual. Safety Precautions To insure safe operations please read the following statements and understand their meaning. Also refer to your equipment owner's manual for other important safety information. This manual contains safety precautions which are explained below. Please read carefully. WARNING Warning is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that can cause severe personal death, or substantial property damage if the warning is ignored. I AA injury, CAUTION Caution is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that will or can cause minor personal injury or property damage if the warning is ignored. NOTE Note is used to notify people of installation, important but not hazard-related. A operation, or maintenance information that is For Your Safety! These precautions should be followed at all times. Failure to follow these precautions in injury to yourself and others. could result 1A WARNING A db Explosive Fuel can cause fires and severe burns. Stop engine before filling fuel tank. Rotating Parts can cause severe injury. Stay away while engine is in operation. # xu v WARNING A WARNING Hot Parts can cause severe burns. Do not touch engine while operating or just after stopping. Explosive Fuel! Gasoline is extreme/y fiammable and its vapors can explode if ignited. Store gasoline only in approved containers, in well ventilated, unoccupied buildings, away from sparks or flames. Do not fill the fuel tank while the engine is hot or running, since spilled fuel could ignite if it comes in contact with hot parts or sparks from ignition. Do not starf the engine near spilled fuel. Never use gasoline as a cleaning agent. Rotating Parts! Keep hands, feet, hair, and clothing away from all moving parts to prevent injury. Never operate the engine with covers, shrouds, or guards removed. A CAUTION Hot Parts! Engine components can get extreme/y hot from operation. To prevent severe burns, do not touch these areas while the engine-is running-or immediately after it is turned off Never operate the engine with heat shields or guards removed. California Proposition 65 Warning I.--N..--. -..-v.. Wm.. ----. . .. "`J. IDo not touch running. wires while engine is Engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Electrical Shock! Never touch electrical wires or components while the engine is running. They can be sources of electrical shock. 2 Safety Precautions (Cont.) A 3 WARNING (A WARNING / A WARNING d!? Accidental Starts can cause severe injury or death. $5 St l @ 0 F : Carbon Monoxide can cause severe nausea, fainting or death. Do not operate engine in closed or confined area. Explosive Gas can cause fires and severe acid burns. Charge battery only in a well ventilated area. Keep sources of ignition away. Disconnect and ground spark plug lead before servicing. . , kcidental Starts! Before servicing the engine or equipment, always disconnect the spark plug lead to prevent the engine from starting accidentally. Ground the lead to prevent sparks that could cause fires. Make sure the equipment is in neutral. Lethal Exhaust Gases! Engine exhaust gases contain poisonous carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and can cause death if inhaled. Avoid inhaling exhaust fumes, and never run the engine in a closed building or confined area. Explosive Gas! Batteries produce explosive hydrogen gas while being charged. To prevent a fire or explosion, charge batteries only in well ventilated areas. Keep sparks, open flames, and other sources of ignition away from the battery at all times. Keep batteries out of the reach of children. Remove all je we/r-y when servicing batteries. Before disconnecting the negative (-) ground cable, make sure all switches are OFF. If ON, a spark will occur at the ground cable terminal which could cause an explosion if hydrogen gas or gasoline vapors are present. 3 Ignition Air Filter Coil Blowe !r Cooling Shrouds Spark Plug \ Carbur `etor / ,HOUSI Air lnta Screen / Oil Drain Oil Pan *NOTE: Dipstick or oil fill plug is optional and may vary depending on engine specification. I Figure 1. Typical Command Horizontal Shaft Engine. Straight 30-weight oil is preferred. SAE IOW-30 oil is not recommended above 32OF. Using this oil substantially increases oil consumption and combustion chamber deposits. NOTE: Using other than service class SG or SH oil or extending oil change intervals longer than recommended can cause engine damage. Oil Recommendations Using the proper type and weight of oil in the crankcase is extremely important. So is checking oil daily and changing oil regularly. Failure to use the correct oil, or using dirty oil, causes premature engine wear and failure. Oil Type Use high quality detergent oil of API (American Petroleum Institute) service class SG or SH. Select the viscosity based on the air temperature at the time of operation as shown in the following table. RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADES A logo or symbol on oil containers identifies the API service class and SAE viscosity grade. See Figure 3. 1 "F -i'O 1 -20 l---l $0 -10 ~ 3i i, 4b l$ 60 20 8:O $0; lb0 4 I I I $30 TEMPERATURE RANGE EXPECTED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE 1 Figure 2. Viscosity Grades Table. 4 Fuel Recommendations WARNING: Explosive Fuel! A Gasoline is extremely flammable and its vapors can explode if ignited. Store gasoline only in approved containers, in well ventilated, unoccupied buildings, away from sparks or flames. Do not fill the fuel tank while the engine is hot or running, since spilled fuel could ignite if it comes in contact with hot parts or sparks from ignition. Do not starl the engine near spilled fuel. Never use gasoline as a cleaning agent. Gasoline/Alcohol blends Gasohol (up to 10% ethyl alcohol, 90% unleaded gasoline by volume) is approved as a fuel for Kohler engines. Other gasoline/alcohol blends are not approved. Gasoline/Ether blends Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and unleaded gasoline blends (up to a maximum of 15% MTBE by volume) are approved as a fuel for Kohler engines. Other gasoline/ether blends are not approved. General Recommendations and store in clean, approved containers. A container with a capacity of 2 gallons or less with a pouring spout is recommended. Such a container is easier to handle and helps eliminate spillage during refueling. Do not use gasoline left over from the previous season, to minimize gum deposits in your fuel system and to insure easy starting. Engine Identification Numbers Purchase gasoline in small quantities When ordering parts, or in any communication involving an engine, always give the Model, Specification, and Serial Numbers of the engine. The engine identification numbers appear on decal (or decals) affixed to the engine shrouding. Include letter suffixes, if there are any. Record your engine identification numbers on the identification label below (Figure 4) for future reference. Do not add oil to the gasoline. Do not overfill the fuel tank. Leave room for the fuel to expand. Fuel Type For best results use only clean, fresh, unleaded gasoline with a pump sticker octane rating of 87 or higher. In countries using the Research method, it should be 90 octane minimum. Unleaded gasoline is recommended as it leaves less combustion chamber deposits. Leaded gasoline may be used in areas where unleaded is not available and exhaust emissions are not regulated. Be aware however, that the cylinder head will require more frequent service. MODEL NO. SPEC. NO. DISPL (CC) SERIAL NO. REFER TO OWNER'S MANUAL FOR SAFETY, MAINTENANCE SPECS AND ADJUSTMENTS. FOR SALES AND SERVICE IN US/CANADA CALL: I-800-544-2444 . KOHLER CO. KOHLER, WI USA , Figure 4. Engine Identification . Label. Operating Instructions Also read the operating instructions of the equipment l this engine powers. Pre-Start Checklist l Check oil level. Add oil if low. Do not overfill. Check fuel level. Add fuel if low. Check cooling air intake areas and external surfaces of engine. Make sure they are clean and unobstructed. Check that the air cleaner components and all shrouds, equipment covers, and guards are in place and securely fastened. l l Check that any clutches or transmissions are disengaged or placed in neutral. This is especially important on equipment with hydrostatic drive. The shift lever must be exactly in neutral to prevent resistance which could keep the engine from starting. l WARNING: Lethal Exhaust Gases! A Engine exhaust gases contain poisonous carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and can cause death if inhaled. Avoid inhaling exhaust fumes, and never run the engine in a closed building or confined area. 5 I Cold Weather Starting Hints 1. Be sure to use the proper oil for the temperature expected. See Figure 2 on page 4. 2. Declutch all possible external loads. NOTE: Do not crank the engine continuously for more than IO seconds at a time. If the engine does not start, allow a 60 second cool down period between starting attempts. Failure to follow these guidelines can burn out the starter motor. If the engine develops sufficient speed to disengage the starter but does not keep running (a false start), the engine rotation must be allowed to come to a complete stop before attempting to restart the engine. If the start is engaged while the flywheel is rotating, the starter pinion and flywheel ring gear may clash, resulting in damage to the starter. 3. Set speed control at part throttle position. NOTE: 4. A warm battery has much more starting capacity than a cold battery. 5. Use fresh winter grade fuel. NOTE: Winter grade gasoline has a higher volatility to improve starting. Do not use gasoline left over from summer. Starting 1. For a Cold Engine - Place the throttle control midway between the "slow" and "fast" positions. Place the choke control into the rron'y position. For a Warm Engine (normal operating temperatures) - Place the throttle control midway between the "slow" and "fast" positions. Place the choke into the "off" position. . 2. Start the engine as follows: For Rope Start Engines - Place the starting rope knot in the slot in starting pulley. Wrap the rope around the pulley. Pull the starter handle with a smooth, steady motion. For a Retractable Start Engine - SLOWLY pull the starter handle until just past compression STOP! Return starter handle, pull firmly with a smooth, steady motion to start. Pull the handle straight out to avoid excessive rope wear from the starter rope guide. Extend the starting rope periodically and check its condition. If the rope is frayed, have it replaced immediately by your Kohler Engine Service Dealer. If the starter does not turn the engine over, shut off starter immediately. Do not make further attempts to start the engine until the condition is corrected. Do not jump start using another battery (refer to "Battery" below). See your Kohler Engine Service Dealer for trouble analysis. 3. For a Cold Engine - Gradually return the choke control to the "off" position after the engine starts and warms ups. Stopping 1. Remove the load by disengaging attachments. ' all PTO Move the throttle control to the `"slow" or 6610w" idle position. Allow the engine to run at idle for 30-60 seconds; then stop the engine. If the carburetor on the engine is equipped with a fuel solenoid, move the throttle control back up between half and full throttle just before stopping the engine. Turn ignition switch "off." On engines so equipped, press and hold "stop" button until engine comes to a complete stop. Battery A 12 volt battery is normally used. Refer to the operating instructions of the equipment this engine powers for specific battery requirements. If the battery charge is not sufficient to crank the engine, recharge the ...