another
 

well, my buddy (lill cub) was mowing with my 102 today and he heard something ratteling. He stopped to see if it was the hood or gas tank, but as he did that he heard it let go. another connecting rod broke. that is the third k241 i have in my garage now with a broke connecting rod. is their any thing to do to prevent this? well i guess i will be heading to cubcrazys to bring her back to life. RIP K241. MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE!!!:beatdeadhorse:

Sorry to hear that Darren.

I have had a few Kohler connecting rods let go. I have read and now believe, that the Aluminum Rod gets fatigued over years. Now, anytime I open up a Kohler, it gets a new connecting rod regardless if it looks and checks out good. Cheap insurance as compared to tearing one down again.:ThumbsUp:

That rattling was probably from one of the rod bolts backing out causing a lot of play in the connecting rod. That's what happened to the motor in a tractor I got for parts. But since these blocks are cast iron sometimes you get lucky and nothing else breaks. You see cast aluminum motors put the rod right through the side of the block all the time.

shouldwe,
Not good when a engine goes south! I have worn them out but not had one come apart YET!
Good luck with the repairs. That 102 is a mate to the one I have. Yours looks a little better than mine.
Regards,
Chris

well, i got it the motor out today, the rod broke about an inch and a half up from the crank. the crank looks like it will be ok might have to take it down ten, but we will see. it looks like it is going to need a master kit. i would like to get another motor so someday when i get around to rebuilding this one i will have one on the shelf. it is all in fun with these old beast.

David Kirk, (a Kohler engine genius) says you can fit a 18 hp con rod in the 10,12,14,16 horse Kohler engines. The 18 hp con rod is forged instead of diecast and it is made of Alcoa aluminum, and is supposed to be very good insurance against rod failure.


He talks about it here-http://www.kirkengines.com/Hyperlink%20Files/KILLER%20KOHLER%20Part%20I.doc

For more of his interesting pdfs scroll to the bottom of his site- http://www.kirkengines.com/

[QUOTE=ljones;74897]David Kirk, (a Kohler engine genius) says you can fit a 18 hp con rod in the 10,12,14,16 horse Kohler engines. The 18 hp con rod is forged instead of diecast and it is made of Alcoa aluminum, and is supposed to be very good insurance against rod failure.

Do not forget to balance the rotating assembly if you change to a different rod.

I opened up my 123's engine last summer and the rod was blown in that, it only a small chunk out of the skirt of the cylinder. Thank you cast iron! :beerchug::Kohler1: