5-Inch 14 HP 429 cc Hydraulic Auto-Feed Electric Start Chipper Shredder

Kohler Engine Troubleshooting

Here are a few troubleshooting steps:

• Ensure sufficient gas and oil is in engine because engine has a low-oil sensor (10W30 oil)

• If it is a chipper, make sure nothing is jammed inside which is stopping the drum from rotating.

• Make sure the fuel lever is all the way to the right.

• Put choke halfway.

• Make sure key is turned on/safety switch turned off (if your machine has one)

• Put gas a bit past the turtle.

• Make sure spark plug is in correctly.

• If it still does not start and your machine has a key/safety switch, the key/safety switch wire could be faulty. To confirm, unplug the key/safety switch wire and then try starting up your engine. If it turns on, then the key/safety switch wire is faulty, and we can get a new one sent out to you.

If these steps do not work, please contact Kohler at enginefieldservice@kohler.com (1-800-544-2444) and they can provide you with more assistance as they cover the engine related issues. *For electric start models, if you continue to have issues starting your engine, please contact support@detailk2.com and we will provide further assistance.

• 99% of starting issues are due to sensitive or defective safety switches, not the engine. 

• Check oil level, halfway up on filler threads. 10W30

• Check Gas Level

• Make sure spark plus wire is seated on the plug

• Make sure slap shut off switch on top of chute is turned and popped out (run position)

• Make sure red bar is not pressed onto shutoff switch under chute. (Pull up on the red bar.)

• Make sure feed roller cover is closed and safety switch is depressed

• Make sure cutter wheel cover is closed and safety switch is depressed

• Try to start - half choke, gas on air cleaner to the right, set to turtle, while cranking with key in right hand slide choke to the right slowly until fires.

• If no fire, Unplug the connector for the TOP SLAP SWITCH

• Try to start - If no fire, unplug the connector to the RED BAR switch

• Try to start - Motor should fire

• Call DK2 for warranty replace switch or technical help, 888-277-6960

• Hydraulic OIL check and setup

• Fill black canister with AW32 

• start engine

• allow 5 mins for oil to fill new pump, hoses, valves, hydraulic feed wheel motor.

• move the feed roller stick shift level (under feed chute in center) down to the feed position (down is feed, center is off, up is reverse)

• Shut engine off

• fill canister to about 1 inch from top, tighten sliver cap.

• Starting engine with feed roller in off position is recommend in case you have wood in the chute cutting area.

• To check your fluid level in the black canister, loosen the nut on top and read the dip stick.