Well with the purchase of a stupid hill bike I now find that I am actually a mechanic

Bloody spark plug is black, cleaned it and now black again, so will have to replace it and probably more... anyway, current one is a Denso so I am looking for recommendations for a good one if this one is not good! Maybe replace with same, I havent a clue

Many thanks all

Rosco

The best thing to do is clean the air filter, as you is running too rich matey and your burning unnecessary fuel I'm not sure what the OEM plug is for a Kholer engine, but I have found that NGK plugs are good on single cylinder engines...... by the way what was the starting problem? dirty plug? you might need to adjust the mixture on the carb.... which is a bit of a black art.... still reckon that a trip to the mower shop might pay dividends in the long run

if you could give a bit more info on the engine I might be able to steer you in the right direction..... Kohler make hundreds of different engines.... it's not just a case of 6hp... there's probably 20 different types to choose from  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Cheers Miggit, I will try the NGK, its a Kohler Command Pro 6. With plug cleaned it starts and runs perfectly but then plug soots up so I assume the carb is running rich as you suggest, will try a new plug first then tackle the carb

Take the air filter off and try that..... don't blatt it down a dusty track..... but running it stationary wont do it any harm..... and could prove if that's the fault before drastic surgery is advised We aren't talking Range Rover technology here... it's a 2 wheeled lawn mower without any blades  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

They've been making that engine for years... and changed the the thing so much.... it's gone from this



To this



Which is a knock off Honda design..... and then there's the little matter of fuel tank, reckon that will have been stripped off, so it probably wont look anything like the above...... This is your chance to be David Bailey  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

The second picture is exactly the one, will try the air filter option today cheers

Have you ever thought about an engine upgrade..... something like this could be made to fit....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LF178FDQ-6Hp-L70...Swqu9VOlk0
you could then run it on Red diesel..... or for that little extra zoom Deep Fried Mars Bar Fat But you'd better keep an eye of for the Polis  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

the air filter is under the plastic cover with the nut on the top.... you'll probably find another nut under that holding the filter on..... there might also be a removable foam band over the filter, this can be taken off, have the crap knocked out of it and replaced..... that'll teach it  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Thanks Miggit, have already dismantled it and cleaned filter, just having problems sourcing spark plug, cant get one till Monday, gap on old one is massive

err, ever thought of giving it a little tap on the nose?.... if you hold the plug and gently tap it (2-3 inch movement, not dropped from a great height) on the nose with it's own weight, you see the gap close up.... it wants to be about 25 thou or 1 mm max and 15 thou or 0.6mm minimum, if you over do it then it's possible to open it up again but be very gentle as they can snap the arm.

 Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Kohler recommend a Champion RN14YC plug.... that's a middle of the road plug, and one of the NGK equivalents is the BPR5ES...... that is the standard Honda plug..... and it also happens to be the standard 3.5 V8 Range Rover plug too. A BP5ES will also do the job, surely they have invented Halfrauds in your neck of the glens.... failing that what about a local Golf Club, most of the kit that they use will be Honda powered, they might have a spare plug  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Honda 4 stroke engines also used in lawnmowers, log splitters etc so suppliers of these might have plugs too. But limited point in changing plugs if reason for fouling not eliminated. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Manual says NGK BPR4ES, so have ordered one for Monday as no one stocks them, also was told the Denso equivelent is a different one from the plug it had in, I know it wont solve issue but another item eliminated

The temperature range difference between a BPR4ES and a BRP5ES is minimal and is very unlikely to effect the running of the engine..... it's only when you get it horribly wrong that things can take a turn for the worst.... to low heat range and it could melt , or act like the rods that you heated with a blowlamp on the very early petrol engines, and you'll never turn it off Too high and it could get wet or foul up..... wonder where I've seen that before

CS buddy, why do you think I suggested going to a Golf Club, I believe that they cut grass at such an establishment  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!