I like that orientation of the tether kill switch. Lot better than in the face of the dash like most people do. Belt guides look good. Hope you’ve got whatever ate that belt taken care of, i guess that was your clutch linkage like you mentioned. I see the taper lock pulley, that’s some real fancy stuff! Love it.
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Ok, I need some suggestion for a carb for the CH13 Kohler I have installed in this. I bought a new Amazon copy carb as the old one was rusted badly. It runs OK, but whenever I go over rough terrain it burbles, spits and sputters. This uses a plastic float so I don't think I can adjust it.
Does anyone have an idea on a workable replacement carb? I would mind going to a slide bore carb but then I will have to rework the throttle and lose the governor.
I have an adapter for a slide bore carb for a honda GX390 but the bolt holes are just a little off. I guess I can slot them a little.
I'm open to ideas.
Thx Torgo
RichieRichOverdrive Moderator
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A GX390 carb may not be a bad idea. That style of carb isn’t too bad about flooding when bouncing around in my experience, however the only carbs designed to handle that sort of thing are slide carbs. My mikuni works in any direction besides upside down, and still runs great upside down until the bowl runs out (much to my chagrin, as I’m sometimes under the tractor when it’s upside down running and puking oil on me)
Hey that’s the exact same grille I’ve got on mine!
Do you know what engine originally came in the tractor? If it was a Tecumseh, the front frame horn is taller than the Briggs and onan tractors, so the engine stirs higher in the Tecumseh chassis. That front section just bolts on, so if yours was a Tecumseh and you want to lower your CG, see if ya can find a front frame horn from a Briggs/Onan and you’re mint!
As far as carbs go, a slide carb really wakes them up more than anything. Much better throttle response at any rpm. Mikuni is popular, I think I’m going to try a Keihin on my next build. I’ve heard they’re much easier to dial in. Just measure your stock intake manifold diameter and that’s the size carb I’d go with. Should be a pretty good match for the engine. China knockoff carbs are much cheaper, but honestly can be a headache to tune and don’t hold a tune very well
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Yeah, I may have to go to a slide bore carb. Just hoping to keep the governor as I don't know how the Kohler will take being over rev'ed and not sure about the flywheel as the shroud is plastic. Maybe the valves will float before anything bad happens.
I tried to use a GX390 Carb and it bolts up OK but the throttle turns the opposite way as the Kohler. I would have to modify the butterfly lever.
I hate to switch out the engine as it does run well on level ground and it would be starting over again. I have a Briggs V-twin 16hp and a Predator V-twin 22hp I could use.
OR I have 2 Predator 224cc engines in boxes in my shop. I have all the parts to build one up to put out 10-12hp and a lot less weight and lower center of gravity. I was going to put one in a Wheel Horse I have but that is way in the future. I would be giving up the electric start and the charging coil. Maybe I will look for a GX340 or Gx390 with electric start. Or just pony up for a 15hp Predator with electric start.
CraftsmanQuad19 Veteran Member
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Those kohlers are pretty stout overall I believe. And don’t worry about the plastic shroud. As long as the flywheel hasn’t been dropped or smacked with a hammer or anything the valves will float long before you’re in any danger of the stock flywheel coming apart.
As far as the Briggs 16 horse, I’ve got one in mine. It’s okay, the stock rings don’t last very long ungoverned and the valve springs are super wimpy. They drop valve’s pretty easily. Also, one pushrod in each cylinder is hollow, thin walled, chinsy aluminum. You would definitely want to steal another pair of steel pushrods out of another vanguard. Anything from 14-20 hp, vertical or horizontal. They’re all pretty much the same.
Don’t know a ton about the predator 670. Quite a few guys were running them at GER while we were there for LCQ and TTC. There’s plenty of info on them, but I don’t personally have any knowledge of them.
There were several predator “max performance” 459cc engines at TTC as well. They seem alright for a single cylinder, but I much prefer the scream of a vtwin
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Well, I have parked this for the winter. I need to think about what I want this tractor to be.
The current Kohler carb is OK if I just want to putt around the yard, and I could at this point make it mow or move snow.
I have a blade I may install for winter but with the big tires chains are off the table, but screws would still clear. I heard there are a couple grades of ice screws, does anyone know which ones are best?
I think I just talked myself into putting the blade and hand throttle back on and using it for snow duty if we get any this winter.