Kohler ignition coil work around

[WDP]

I have a Cub with the KT17S Kohler engine. It died while mowing, no spark now. Replaced points, condenser no change. I don't want to spend the $130 for a coil, I have 2 old chevy (6 volt, needs ballast resistors) coils, can I hook them up in series and get this to run? Thanks in advance

WDP

[GravelyNut]

Do you have a voltmeter? Check for voltage at the coil before going further. Ignition switch could have burned out and isn't supplying power to the coil.

[Bill Kapaun]

The only "bad" condenser I've experienced was a NEW one.
Temporarily remove it from the circuit and see if you get spark. IF the points are close, simply opening them will give spark. No need to crank the engine.

[Restrorob]

WDP,

As Bill posted with a new bad condenser I have ran across brand new points that were shorted out.

Maybe you should perform a coil test before ruling it as the problem ?


http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m314/Restrorob/Kohler/K%20Series/KohlerKTTwinCoilTest.jpg


Good Luck

[WDP]

Thank you Mr. Rob for the diagram, the primary is 52 ohms, so back to the original question- can the two coils be run in series to get the desired spark? Or better yet does anyone have a spare I can purchase?

WDP

[VegetiveSteam]

No you can't and yes I do.

[pugs]

Not sure on the KT17's and other twins but I know on the singles that if you just run a generic coil it will work but not for long. Get the Kohler coil and be done with it.

[WDP]

Thank you all. Got it, Harley universal 12V. Bent the supplied bracket to fit the mounting locations. Best part- Ebay, $14.95 and $8.00 ship. ZOOM-ZOOM.

WDP

[GeoMiklas]

I inherited my LGT and grandpa had already changed the original coil to two used automotive coils that he had laying around. Since inheriting it, the LGT ran well until one day something happened and it would idle rough, and choke out under any load.

So in looking over the coils I found that one was cracked, so I changed both. I went to the auto parts store to check twin-output coils. They had one such twin-output coil, but it was for a Saturn or other GM car. It was a 2-pack that mounts to the ignition module. So I walked out with two single-output coils and went home to mount them. It still didn't run right. So I took the cover off of the points and found that the plastic insulator had melted and cracked, and so the points were not working.

The next day, I bought new points and condenser. Went home and put them on. Still didn't run right. Checked the gap on the points several times. Still didn't run right.

Finally after messing with it for 5 days after work, I went and bought the Kohler coil for $137.45 plus tax. Went home and installed it. LGT fired up immediately, ran correctly at idle and under load, and has cut the grass twice since.

Moral of the story....don't waste time messing around trying to re-engineer the product.

George

[WDP]

Working just fine, 20 hours and a bunch of mowing, hauling. I just hate manufacturers that think their stuff is gold plated. I you need a coil for your Kohler try Harley Davidson.

WDP

[GeoMiklas]

Working just fine, 20 hours and a bunch of mowing, hauling. I just hate manufacturers that think their stuff is gold plated. I you need a coil for your Kohler try Harley Davidson.

WDP

I went to eBay and found the one that sold for $14.95. Assumming that is the one you bought, it appears to be almost a direct replacement. I would have definitely tried that one before spending the big bucks.

[kayeproperties]

So from what I understand is they are a direct replacement for a Kohler coil? How about on the v twins like 25 hp? Is there a way to cross reference these?

[GeoMiklas]

I don't think we can say that they are a "direct replacement". But they sure do look pretty darn close like the same thing. My brother has worked on small engines all of his life and rebuilt many small engines through the winters of his 24 years in park maintenance.....he told me to buy the Kohler coil because if the spark is too hot, you will melt a piston and that expense is far greater than the cost of the Kohler coil.


So from what I understand is they are a direct replacement for a Kohler coil? How about on the v twins like 25 hp? Is there a way to cross reference these?

[slapshotat90]

I don't know about melting a piston, but you can definitely damage your points if you run too much current or voltage through them.