12
Clean Air Intake/Cooling Areas
To ensure proper cooling, make sure the grass screen,
cooling fins, and other external surfaces of the engine
are kept clean at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often under
extremely dusty, dirty conditions), remove the blower
housing* and other cooling shrouds. Clean the cooling
fins and external surfaces as necessary. Make sure the
cooling shrouds are reinstalled.
NOTE: Operating the engine with a blocked grass
screen, dirty or plugged cooling fins, and/or
cooling shrouds removed, will cause engine
damage due to overheating.
*Cleanout kits 25 755 20-S (black) or 25 755 21-S
(gold) allow inspection and cleanout of the cooling
fins, without removing the blower housing.
Ignition System
Carbureted Engines - Use an electronic Capacitive
Discharge (CD) ignition system. Other than periodically
checking/replacing the spark plugs, no maintenance,
timing, or adjustments are necessary or possible with
this system.
EFI Engines - Incorporate a computer-controlled
battery ignition system with individual coils. Other than
periodically checking/replacing the spark plugs, no
maintenance, timing, or adjustments are necessary or
possible with this system.
Check Spark Plugs
Every 200 hours of operation, remove the spark plugs,
check condition, and reset the gap or replace with new
plugs as necessary. The standard spark plug is a
Champion
®
RC12YC (Kohler Part No. 12 132 02-S). A
high-performance spark plug, Champion
®
Platinum 3071
(used on Pro Series engines, Kohler Part No.
25 132 12-S) is also available. Equivalent alternate
brand plugs can also be used.
1. Before removing the spark plug, clean the area
around the base of the plug to keep dirt and debris
out of the engine.
2. Remove the plug and check its condition.
Replace the plug if worn or reuse is questionable.
NOTE: Do not clean the spark plug in a machine
using abrasive grit. Some grit could
remain in the spark plug and enter the
engine causing extensive wear and
damage.
Figure 12. Removing Elements.
3. After the main element is removed, check the
condition of the inner element. It should be
replaced whenever it appears dirty, typically every
other time the main element is replaced. Clean the
area around the base of the inner element before
removing it, so dirt does not get into the engine.
4. Do not wash the paper element and inner element
or use pressurized air, this will damage the
elements. Replace dirty, bent or damaged
elements with new genuine Kohler elements as
required. Handle new elements carefully; do not
use if the sealing surfaces are bent or damaged.
5. Check all parts for wear, cracks, or damage.
Replace any damaged components.
6. Install the new inner element, Kohler Part No.
25 083 04-S followed by the outer element, Kohler
Part No. 25 083 01-S. Slide each fully into place in
the air cleaner housing.
7. Reinstall the end cap so the dust ejector valve is
down and secure with the two retaining clips. See
Figure 13.
Figure 13. Heavy-Duty Air Cleaner Assembly.
Main
Element
Inner
Element
Dust
Ejector
Valve