Cub Cadet XT1 Mower woes? Easy fix for hard starting Kohler 7000 engines 

I hope this simple adjustment saves you from an expensive repair visit. THANK YOU to those who have offered Super Thanks donations!

This guy is great at explaining. No fluff. Love that! Got my issue fixed.

Oh my gosh! After new spark plug, fuse, oil and gas, THIS is what the actual problem was! Thank you so much for this very insightful and well explained solution. Really, really appreciate it! Thought this was going to be an expensive trip to a repair shop.

Thank you

I have a 2015 XT-1 with hundreds of hours on it and it runs great! I mow over 2 acres once or more a week.

I have had to contend with a number of problems- 1) leaking electrical fuel shutoff valve- abandoned it-put in a manual valve, shut off the fuel when setting it up. 2) leaking float needle- can't find one- wish i could- It would flood when allowed to sit with the fuel on for a few hours, but its not a problem when running. 3) hard starting intermittently- found choke linkage would sometimes choke, sometimes not! It was on upside down and sometimes would jam!! fixed it!!! 4) slow to fill the carb when sitting for a week or three- added a marine style primer bulb. 5) junk and debris making it to the carb. Replaced it with a new filter and replaced the fuel lines which were degrading between the filter and the carb.(!) It would have been much better if they had gone with a separate choke cable and throttle cable. I may make this change later. Results: it starts fast and easy now. 6) Have had to replace the starter four times before I got a good one. the factory starter was bad, a replacement OEM starter was bad, (most frustrating) finally got a new premium starter from AMAZON- it worked, then failed because of poor construction - got another one -not a cheapy and constructed in accordance with automotive practice- and it has performed well since. Overall- a great mower/tractor but wow what a lot of un-called for problems with starting. I have had the carburetor off so many times it is getting pretty routine.

Extremely well articulated solution that everyone will understand. Thanks so much for this.

Mine wouldn't start after a cold winter's storage. Finally, I discovered that it was a dead or dying battery, so I charged it up. It runs now, but the revs are a little low. After seeing your presentation, I'm going to adjust the throttle cable. I have 36 years experience teaching high school English behind me. Your ability to express an idea and communicate quite well in general is as good as any I witnessed in any classroom. Thank you, kind sir.

Thank you for your help. This fixed my no start issue :)

Nice job on the choke adjustment. Here's one for you - grass is very acidic and when it gets wet it will rust everything. Alway blow off the mower and deck after cutting. How bad is it? My class 3 hitch broke off on a turn and I lost the trailer - lucky no damage. That comes from hauling grass, hedge and other lawn clippings when you have a lawn business and get rained on.

Do you read story books for children? I mean, record audiobooks for children. Your voice is perfect. The tone the pace of your sentences. You can make a decent paycheck maybe even be rich anyway good video thank you.

I have the exact same machine but have you noticed that the right exhaust pipe it’s melting my throttle cable and getting red hot any ideas why ?

I tried this and the idle seems too high after adjusting. Does yours idle too high?

Fixed and showed me how to remove the hood. Subscription, liked and watched the ads. Thanks soon much!!

Hey Barry. I ran out of gas today while mowing. I refilled and now the lawn mower will not cranck. I do have power as the hour meter comes on with 12.8 volts on the meter. No clicking nothing at all any ideas ?

Thank you

Great video. Dissapointed mine wouldnt start after a full tune up and this was the issue. Thank you!

Back in the "Good old days", when I was 19 - 21, I was a mechanic in a lawnmower/landscaping equipment shop. While I mainly worked on the 2 stroke stuff (chainsaws, blowers, hedge trimmers), I did the lawnmowers as well when needed (there was one other mechanic there). In those days it was mostly Briggs & Stratton, and Tecumseh engines. I've spent most of my life since then fixing broken things, mostly electronics and IT equipment these days (permanently grease stained hands gets old) I'll be 64 in a few weeks. And while I do have a lot of experience repairing small gas engines, it's been a really, really long time since I have done so. I probably would have figured out it was the throttle cable position, EVENTUALLY, but not until I did everything else and probably started drinking again. I was going to pull the carb in the morning and clean it. A high of 45 degree (f) temp the last few days didn't help either My Cub Cadet (XT1 Enduro 46 inch) only has 2.8 hours on it, but it's REALLY dusty out here. I bought the 5 hour maintenance kit with it, so i put in new plugs, fuel and air filter. It started right up after I adjusted the throttle cable. A high of about 45f degrees didn't help much. You saved me a lot of work and at least one sleepless night. Much thanks to you.

Finally, I have been dealing with a long crank in summer and a no start in winter & the solution was so easy. Thank you

One can confirm the choke plate is all the way closed by removing the air filter and looking in the carburetor. Don't over tighten the linkage screw. There isn't much metal there; it's easy to strip.

Right off the pallet brand new CC w/ a Kohler 7000. Couldn't start. Wouldn't even puff. Turning over so clearly not electrical. I looked at the motion of the choke actuator and it looked just like that of an older stretched cable. Moved the cable 1/4" "tighter" and it fired right up. Probably not adjusted/installed correctly at the factory. Thanks for the insight!

Excellent video, this was exactly my problem on a brand new unit that only ran 2-3 times before. You could see the choke plate wasnt closing more than about ⅓ under the air filter.

Barry! Thanks! I thought this was going to be about the hesitation when it starts to turn over-sounded like you have that. I believe that issue is caused by the ohv valves being out of adjustment. I saw that on Donyboy73, he has a video on the issue.

I bought a returned XT mower with the 22hp Kohler at Home Depot for $1,200 (reg. $1,900 at the time) because of this issue a few years ago.

You. Are. Amazing! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Much appreciation from Centerville, Texas, USA

Thanks!

Best advice I have found. Had the same problem. Video shows where the springs go and the movement of the throttle contraption. When the ignition switch arrives I will double check settings and cross my fingers. I'm sure it will come back to life

Mine the choke wouldn’t open when you take it off choke so I put a spring on

Thanks!

My choke was off, so I adjusted the choke cable. Still won’t start. New battery, plugs, fuel and air filters. I removed the fuel line between the fuel pump and one of the cylinders, and there was fuel in it. It did start one time and ran briefly but now nothing.

Hey I just wanted to thank you for this video on Kohler in my in my cub cadet. I've had issues when co'd with this for few years. I had to move the cable at least 1 1/2 inches to see choke movement but after it started immediately while cold. I will be subscribing to see what else you got. Thank you and this save me starters and cables in the future.

Thank you SOOOO much for the great video! This fixed my ZT1 in 5 minutes. It used to crank for nearly 1 full minute before turning over (if it did turn over at all). Now it fires right up! Much appreciated!!!!!

WOW, Great video . i suffered with this problem for a long time .. and your video solved the problem... thanks very much...

Wow! After a couple of hours diagnosing my no start problem I saw your you tube. Just as you described the throttle adjustment did not truly close the choke. I made the adjustment you suggested and after 3 seconds of cranking it fired right off! Never noticed any problem during the summer time but we are about 45F today and apparently that adjustment is critical in colder weather. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Alot of things are easily overlooked I have seen that on other mower where people just get frustrated and get rid of them

This was an awesome video! Very well explained. Even though we are mechanical people it is been frustrating trying to figure out why it doesn't cold start and this definitely fixed the problem. Thank you so much for your video

Worked great, exactly my problem. A free fix. Thanks a lot

Barry, you are awesome! I've been through multiple carburetors, fuel pumps, and spent hundreds in repair bills and this solved it immediately. Thank you! Thank you!

Thanks! It worked.

After winter my Mower would not start. Was just about to load up and take it in, but saw this video and went out and started right up!

Replaced my throttle cable and this worked perfect in instantly starting. Thank you!

Highly informative and helpful video. Thank you

Thanks Barry that helped me out.. Works Great Now.

Thank you that fixed the problem.easy start now

Yes, I had the same problem and it worked very good. Thank you very much Canada

Thank you even I can fix my problem

great tip fixed in 5 minutes. Well done sir.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I will check these things, thanks. I'll add that the mower has always been hard to start in cool/cold weather, and running a heater beneath the engine block has helped in the past. But it's getting harder and harder (and now impossible) to start.

It work at first strike, I suffered with it for years. Thank you very much

How do you put a more deck belt on 46 inch cut

This was my exact issue as well. Thank you sir!

YEP, that was the solution.. Thanks Barry!

Thanks for making a video that gets right to the point!

Exactly what was wrong with my XT1 , thanks

What mic are you using in this video?

Nice video very helpful😊

That's why my brand new one xt1 lt46 is getting sent back to Home Depot I did not buy a new machine to deal with this problem I like the machine but I cannot deal with this not starting when cold bulshit

Great video! Thanks

Thank you!

That may be the problem with my brand new machine that's a week old but you know what you don't spend $2,500 plus tax to Tinker with a brand new machine that should be set up perfect from the factory I do not want to Tinker with the machine and then don't tell me will you just voided the warranty sir

Thanks a ton!!

Good video but hard to see because your hair keeps covering what you're pointing at.

I was about to buy a new starter motor. I'm going to try this today. WOW Thank you for the tip!

Mine isn’t getting gas to the carb or fuel filter and also fouls the plugs with wet black sooty material on the plugs… I’ve literally done everything I can think of lol. Couple things I’ve done, new carb, new plugs, fuel filter, new gas, I’m gonna be doing a compression test but not sure if that’s gonna give me a good reading because of this thing called a ACR? But not sure how to get an accurate one when that is still there… maybe a rocker is bad or push rod is bent is what I’m hoping for and hoping it’s not the rings…

Also have the XT1. Have replaced two batteries, 1 solenoid, 3 starters…The mower didn’t have a fuel petcock and it flooded the carb then the cylinders then the crankcase. Assuming the battery is low, but even with a battery jumper, the engine begins to rotate then stops. When I grab the top of the engine and try to turn it by hand, it seems to bind until I rock it back and forth. Seems like the decompression mechanism may have issues. I’m going to get a new battery and see if that gets the engine turning.

Mine only has 40 hours on it and when I shut it off for a few minutes then go to start it then it doesn’t want to start and right away acts like the battery is dead but then will finally start after a few try’s. I don’t give it much gas and try with it on a real low say idle setting on the throttle. Anyone have any idea what might be going on? Runs great plus does not get hot at all. Do I need to use the choke every time I start it up even if it’s warm and been running several minutes before I shut it down? Thank you for showing us this fix. I’ll make sure mine is correct.

Awesome!! My Man!!

Thanks!

Barry thanks for the info! My 2022 Cub XT1 was hard starting last summer and no start this spring I was thinking I made a poor purchase until finding your fix.

Great stuff mate! Cheers 🍻