Battery Charging; Battery Maintenance - Kohler CV11-16 Service Manual

Section 8
Electrical System and Components
4. Remove the blower housing from the engine.
a. Trace the black ground lead from the SAM
and check that the ground tab and terminal
connections are all tight. Recheck voltage at
engine connector. If voltage is still low, check
battery, key switch, and wiring on unit.
b. When you are certain there is proper voltage
at the connector, retest for spark. If there is
still no spark, proceed to step 5.
5. If you skipped step 4, remove the blower housing
at this time. Check all leads and connections from
the SAM to the wiring harness and from the SAM
to the ignition module. Pay special attention to the
connection in the red lead, as the connectors can
be misaligned in a way that the terminals don't
make contact. Correct any problems found with
the wiring or connections and retest for spark. If
no wiring problems were found, or there is still no
spark, proceed to step 6.
6. Zero ohmmeter and perform the following
resistance checks on the ignition module. Module
should be at room temperature (70° F).
a. Remove the brown lead and test resistance
from the wide tab to the laminations.
Resistance should be 145-160 ohms.
b. Remove the yellow lead and test resistance
from the narrow tab to the laminations.
Resistance should be 900-1000 ohms.
c. Test resistance from the spark plug lead
terminal to the laminations. Resistance
should be 3800-4400 ohms.
If any of the resistance readings are outside of the
specified ranges, replace the ignition module. If the
resistance readings are all good, replace the SAM.
Battery
A 12 volt battery with a minimum current rating of 250
cold cranking amps is recommended. The requirement
depends on engine size, applications and starting
temperatures. Cranking requirements increase as
temperatures decrease and at the same time battery
capacity shrinks. Refer to the operating instructions of
the equipment this engine powers for specific battery
requirements.
8.8
If the battery charge is not sufficient to crank the
engine, recharge the battery.

Battery Charging

WARNING: Explosive Gases!
Batteries produce explosive hydrogen gas while being
charged. To prevent a fire or explosion, charge
batteries only in well ventilated areas. Keep sparks,
open flames, and other sources of ignition away from
the battery at all times. Keep batteries out of the reach
of children. Remove all jewelry when servicing
batteries.
Before disconnecting the negative (-) ground cable,
make sure all switches are OFF. If ON, a spark will
occur at the ground cable terminal which could cause
an explosion if hydrogen gas or gasoline vapors are
present.

Battery Maintenance

Regular maintenance will ensure the battery will
accept and hold a charge.
1. Regularly check the level of electrolyte. Add
distilled water as necessary to maintain the
recommended level.
NOTE: Do not overfill the battery. Poor
performance or early failure due to loss
of electrolyte will result.
2. Keep the cables, terminals, and external surfaces
of battery clean. A build-up of corrosive acid or
grime on the external surfaces can self-discharge
the battery. Self-discharging happens rapidly
when moisture is present.
3. Wash the cables, terminals, and external surfaces
with a baking soda and water solution. Rinse
thoroughly with clear water.
NOTE: Do not allow the baking soda solution to
enter the cells as this will destroy the
electrolyte.