WHEN I START THE GENERATOR I HAVE TO HOLD THE START SWITCH ON TO KEEP THE GENERATOR RUNING.

The power for the run side of start switch is not making it to the coil. Check wires and switch.

Sounds like a blocked pilot jet in the carby.
Forget the chemical just poke it with something fine.

First thing to do is get a "Wiring Diagram" for your Unit.
Once you get the diagram, just Follow the DC Ignition Power path from
the Battery, on thru to the Ignition Coil. Somewhere you aren't getting
12Vdc to the Ignition Coil, UNLESS the Start Switch is in the Start Position. It shouldn't take longer than about a hour, with a VoltMeter to find where the circuit isn't being "Made", and fixing or replacing that part. More solutions to different engine and generator problems at http://solosmallengine.blogspot.com/ and http://solo.ecrater.com

sounds like a shorted ignition,, but use care in doing that or the wires will melt, and it could fry your starter too

Please test the following and get back to us. Repace the receptical with one from a electrial store have found that many of them turn out to be bad once you replace it retest for voltage. If it still has no voltage then get back to me by posting a responce here to this question.

The problem is that you are not creating voltage. Remove front cover. Place a volt meter on the breaker. Start genset and you will see no voltage present. The problem could be with the brushes, rings, rotor, stator, voltage regulator, or control board.

Kohler generators feed the generated voltage back into the control circuit board to tell it to keep the fuel pump (electric) runing and the ignition on. IF there is no voltage generated (bad brushes or?) then the symptom you describe will occur. The motor runs fine, but it isn't generating electricity.
Jim Russell

Hi,

Try reseting it once an try

1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Center (Select) buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 8 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

you mean you turn the key of and engine keeps runing? if that's right posible some one conect you radiator fan to a ignition power and that keeps engine runing because the fan keeps turning and acts like generator putting power back to system, but if not let me know and don't mark my answer as inapropiate,
just can figure your question, you know what's bad? with this web page, than i'm here i will say may be waisting my time trying to help people for free and then after that people still mark my answers as inaproiate, is that fair? whell good luck and let me know, good luck