Hard starting OH160 Tecumseh, got any ideas?

[Superherojohn$]

Compression 110psi, New Carb. 14-16 Kohler, Great spark, Good key in flywheel,

Starts and runs on Starter fluid and then runs crappy until warm. 5-7 minute, Coughs back though the carb., back fires, it will die if you don't coax it along. If you play with the choke and get it warm, is runs fine. Idles a little fast for the centrifugal clutch. Gas is new. runs strong at high RPM.

If the Compression wasn't so good I would suspect intake valve issues but 110psi sounds like factory? Since it runs good once warmed up I suspect the carb is fine, perhaps an issue with idle adjustment but that doesn't explain the starting issues. once warm I can't reduce the idle screw far enough to get the idle low enough for the Centrifugal clutch.

I went with the Kohler carb because the original Tecumseh one was crap.

[ARGOJIM]

Could be a few things, did you check for a vacuum leak at carb. flange? If the engine has both stop screws at the governor arm 1 would be idle or low rpm and the other high, if it bottoming on low side it will go no slower.

[jpswift1]

Try adjusting your valves......it's easy to do on the OHV configuration.

[Superherojohn$]

I adjusted the valves and it got better, no more backfiring though the carb. still hard to start on gas. Starter fluid is its friend. The vales are supposed to be .005 intake and .010 exhaust. they measured .007 intake and .010 exhaust. I thought there was no way such a small difference could be the problem but since I was standing there with the valve cover off I would set them back to factory spec. Well how wrong could I be apparently .002 on a 30yo Tecumseh makes a difference!
So still hard starting but runs great once its going.

[msafi65]

If I remember right the intake manifold bolts to the head. Sounds like a vacume leak to me.