I have a 27HP Kohler on my beavertail that died on me this weekend after running for about 1-1/2 hrs on a river. It seems like the engine vapor locked as it was heated up pretty good and the bearing at the top of the shaft was also pretty hot. Is this to be expected? I have never ran it this long at the temperature it was this weekend. (Wisconsin).
After it sat for 1/2 hr, I could only get it started on choke and it ran rough, again died on me after I ran it for about 2 minutes.
Please advise any tuning tips so I don’t get stranded again. I have the RPM set at about 3400, fresh oil/filter, carb has been cleaned, 87 octane, Ethanol free fuel.

I could hear sizzling in the carb after I took the air cleaner off. It would cough when I tried starting and gas would spray out the top. Even though it was hot, I had to choke it to get it to even try to start.

Stuck carb float? Have you cleaned the carb lately?

Yes, I recently cleaned it and actually took the carb off and checked things when it wouldn't start.
Fuel vent was open, fuel filter was full of gas, accelerator pump squirted fuel when I bumped the throttle.
Last night I checked the plugs, they were sooted. (probably from trying to start and only partially running) Threw new plugs in and it still started rough, but once it cleaned out, it ran good out of the water.
I'm wondering if the coils fault out or give real weak spark when it heats up. At one point (when I was stranded) I did get it started and ran WOT for about 50 yds and it just stopped, again couldn't restart.
The motor is a 2006, not sure of the hours. Compression is at 120 each cylinder. I've had this for 3 years, really never ran it hot like this.

Your OOW rpms are too low. Bump them up to 4k or so.

3400 is in water, OOW is about 3750. Probably too low to properly cool the engine?
Thanks for the advise, I'll raise that up.

I pulled the carb and it's very clean. I have the SAM unit on this one. Pulled the shroud, this is as clean of a Kohler that I've ever worked on. I bought the newer ignition modules and going to remove the fuel solenoid. We'll see how that goes....


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Does the kohler have a low oil shutoff?

It does but it's not hooked up. Never has been.


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