Back in the shop doing light duty things

MNGB

MNGB

Tractorologist
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Been going into the shop the past few days kind of easing into working again trying not to upset the hip, anyway yesterday and today I've been working on the K341 16 hp Kohler that I got out of one of the Ariens GT I salvaged earlier. worked on getting the flywheel cooling tin off and couldn't budge the 4 screws holding the air screen on used the impact driver no joy so I got the hot wrench out and turned them red but still luck so heated them again this time enough to melt the Phillips slots (they were reamed out) then used a chisel and hammer and they came loose and got all 4 out, the flywheel shroud and flywheel had a big mouse nest in it, got that cleaned went to the CS PTO side and got the electric PTO clutch off it was a little stubborn but came off, cleaned up the dirt and to my pleasant surprise the block has a pilot ring machined into it this allow the Power King clutch adapter (hogshead) to be centered when mounting it and the clutch assy this is the first K341 I seen or even heard having the pilot ring. I'll use degreaser to clean it up good then remove the flywheel and check to see what the mice did under it and remove the oil pan to see what the bottom end looks like
 
MFDAC said:
That's good news, Gary! Glad you are doing better. The K341 sounds a lot like the K321. As you know I've been getting to know one.

Post some pics when you can.

DAC
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Hi Doug thanks they are basically the same the K341 just has a bigger bore both are excellent engines, will have to get some pictures sometime
 
Dug into the engine a bit more this morning got the flywheel off doesn't look to bad mostly dirt etc from running some light rust the lower bearing plate has some corrosion from the mouse pee but will clean up. Removed the oil pan there was about a 1/2" of oil like stuff in the pan no metal parts and looking into the bottom of the engine it looks good did see some surface rust on the cam shaft where the fuel pump had been remove and the hole was open to the elements but that will clean up, looked at the valves while still installed but I can see the intake is recessed so I'm going to buy new OEM valve and install, will add pictures when I get them from the phone to my laptop got them

20220305_093326.jpg20220305_093335.jpg20220305_093401.jpg20220305_093521.jpg20220305_093534.jpg20220305_093552.jpg20220305_093558.jpg
 

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Looked thru my Dremel attachments and found a small wire wheel used that on the cam shaft and it cleaned right up, as I thought it was only surface rust cleaned the oil pan good temp reinstalled it cleaned the mouse pee corrosion off the bearing plate it has some pitting but cleaned up good and will serviceable.; All the innards look good, so far so good, the fuel pump carb and cylinder head had been robbed off the engine, I have fuel pumps and Carbs on hand but no cylinder head so I bought one off Ebay so its could be compete but I'm going to order a few more parts, both valves, a compete gasket set a new cylinder head gasket a set of cylinder head bolts (I may have enough but not sure if I have 10 as needed)
 
MNGB said:
Looked thru my Dremel attachments and found a small wire wheel used that on the cam shaft and it cleaned right up, as I thought it was only surface rust cleaned the oil pan good temp reinstalled it cleaned the mouse pee corrosion off the bearing plate it has some pitting but cleaned up good and will serviceable.; All the innards look good, so far so good, the fuel pump carb and cylinder head had been robbed off the engine, I have fuel pumps and Carbs on hand but no cylinder head so I bought one off Ebay so its could be compete but I'm going to order a few more parts, both valves, a compete gasket set a new cylinder head gasket a set of cylinder head bolts (I may have enough but not sure if I have 10 as needed)
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If I had known you needed a head, I could have sent one! Got a K341 here with no crank and needs bored!
 
MNGB said:
Sorry Noel this one stays here it has the centering ring machined into the block which is very rare on a K341 and that makes it a drop in for use in a Power King
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Thanks for the pics, Gary. What is this "center ring" you are speaking of? Engine looks really good especially since you said the head was gone!
I took the grenade gears out of the K321.

DAC
 
MFDAC said:
Thanks for the pics, Gary. What is this "center ring" you are speaking of? Engine looks really good especially since you said the head was gone!
I took the grenade gears out of the K321.

DAC
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Propane1 said:
Could you show a picture of that centering ring Gary. ? Never seen one like that msybe.

Noel
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Look at his pics above, #4 & 5 show the ring.
 
Gary what gasket set are you ordering. I’m repairing a broken governor rod on a K301 and will be ordering a new gasket kit soon. Are you going OEM or after market. So far I can’t justify the difference in price. I’ve talked to a couple of guys that rebuild Kohlers and they are very happy with some of the after market kits. One guy told me a few have the head gasket with no metal ring which is no good to be careful.
 
KennyP said:
Any application with a bellhousing/clutch involved
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Hi Goug & Noel as Kenny posted look at pictures 4 & 5 you see the CS then looking at the block you can see where it has been machine off 1/4" leaving a ring (actually Kohler refers to it a a pilot) this centers the clutch adapter( in PK speak the hogshead) to the engine now the engines without the pilot ring can and are used it throws all the clutch setting engine mounting off by 1/4" so the engine mt bolt hole have to be elongated the clutch flywheel has to be moved forward 1/4" etc, so this engine having the pilot ring machined in makes it a drop in engine for PK's Here's a couple of pictures of the hogshead installed looking at the 2nd pic you can just make out the hogshead fitting around the pilot ring

HPIM2091.JPGHPIM2092.JPG
 
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Sawdust said:
Gary what gasket set are you ordering. I’m repairing a broken governor rod on a K301 and will be ordering a new gasket kit soon. Are you going OEM or after market. So far I can’t justify the difference in price. I’ve talked to a couple of guys that rebuild Kohlers and they are very happy with some of the after market kits. One guy told me a few have the head gasket with no metal ring which is no good to be careful.
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Hi Jim I went with an aftermarket gasket set I've good luck with aftermarket parts for Kohlers as to the head gasket I can't say for sure there is one with but the pictures show it in a plastic bag to hard to see for sure looking at the picture again it looks good I maybe wrong but I think the newer engines like the Commands has the fiber head gasket with & without the metal inner ring and I would never install one without the metal ring, have to add I didn't have good luck with same as CS seals for my M20
www.ebay.com

KOHLER K341 ENGINE GASKET SET 45 755 04 LASER 94445 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KOHLER K341 ENGINE GASKET SET 45 755 04 LASER 94445 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
 
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Hi Noel & Doug, before I put this engine into service or at least service ready I'll inspect the gears very closely if there is any wobble / play or wear they will come out if they are good I'll leave them. You ( I ) can definitely feel the vibration when they are left out, if had had to remove the crankshaft for machine work I would definitely go with Kirk Engines CS balance kit and leave the gears as paper wts. A note about feeling the vibes without the gears its noticeable (for the most part) from about 1600 to 24 / 2600 R's after that little to no notable vibes
 
MNGB said:
Hi Jim I went with an aftermarket gasket set I've good luck with aftermarket parts for Kohlers as to the head gasket I can't say for sure there is one with but the pictures show it in a plastic bag to hard to see for sure looking at the picture again it looks good I maybe wrong but I think the newer engines like the Commands has the fiber head gasket with & without the metal inner ring and I would never install one without the metal ring, have to add I didn't have good luck with same as CS seals for my M20
www.ebay.com

KOHLER K341 ENGINE GASKET SET 45 755 04 LASER 94445 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KOHLER K341 ENGINE GASKET SET 45 755 04 LASER 94445 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
The head gasket in that link has no ring on it.
 
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