[AT] Jim Dandy Question

[Larry Goss]

Right.  The fact that you told us that it's a Jim Dandy says a lot, Bob.  But there are at least five different engines that it could have.  Three of those are K-series Kohler's.  During major production times, each engine had its own specs on the carburetor, but right before Kohler announced they were making one last production run on the K-series, they simplified the carburetor specs and reduced the number of different ones.  Since the fundamental difference was the diameter of the venturi, changing the carburetor specs makes very little change in the operating characteristics.  You need to keep that in mind as you go forward on this tractor, because as parts become scarce, the OEM carburetor may not be available.  Last week, the word I got from Kohler was that neither the carburetor nor the rebuild kit for the engine I was working on were available.  I put on a long face, and a call was put in to the local warehouse.  It turned out that they had an OEM carburetor in stock, but had no rebuild kits -- take it or leave it.  I took it!  

In the meantime, I boiled out two carburetors, combined them into one usable one, and now have two carburetors to fit this engine -- a used one, and a brand new one.

Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob McNitt <nysports at frontiernet.net>
Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010 18:07
Subject: Re: [AT] Jim Dandy Question
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>

>   Larry, from my somewhat limited experience working on old 
> tractors 
> (and some newer ones too) filthy carbs and old gas probably 
> cause more 
> starting and run problems than almost anything else. I should've 
> paid 
> more attention to keep the carb (and fuel line, tank, etc.) 
> clean on 
> that Kohler. But since it's stored at my MIL's place and HAD 
> been 
> starting & running OK the few times I run each year, I didn't. 
> When a 
> problem arises, the old 20-20 hindsight suddenly kicks in. I've 
> also 
> noticed that usually the newer the tractor, the cheaper the 
> components, 
> and that includes the engines, etc.
> Bob
> 
> On 9/16/2010 5:03 PM, Larry Goss wrote:
> > BTW, Someone on this thread mentioned they were working with a 
> Command engine -- 18 or 20 horse.  Be aware that the 
> carburetor on that engine has a tendency to gum up, refuses to 
> idle, finally gets to the point it will not run, etc.  It's 
> all caused by a kind of algae growth in the anti-Dieseling valve 
> on the carburetor.  The valve is held to the outside of the 
> carburetor with a couple of Phillips head screws.  
> Carefully take it off, clean the gum out of the plastic parts, 
> and it will run like new again.  The growth is time 
> dependent.  It appears to only be a problem in Command 
> engines that set for long periods.
> >
> > Larry
>