K341 Rebuild any tips, tricks to make it better
 

I just have acquired a 1650 and the motor needs be rebuilt, I am looking for any upgrades people have done that work and don't sacrifice reliability. This will have to still blow snow and mow, I am sure it's like everything else how fast you want to go depends on how much money you have.

I am committed on rebuilding it and doing it right but if you are rebuilding the motor and get a little more out of it power wise one way or another why not?

I have found it a good practice (don't ask how I know) that even if the Aluminum Connecting Rod looks good.......REPLACE IT.

Other than the obvious parts that are worn or broken, the rebuild it straight forward.


:ThumbsUp:

Replace the governor and cross shaft and brass nut for the cross shaft. If the engine has balance gears, either replace the bearings and stub shafts, or just leave them out.

Thanks for the info and there is a ton of it, time to do the reading and figure out if it's going to be mild or wild one thing I do know it won't be stock.

Why not stock? They are torque freaks to begin with and last 30+ years between rebuilds with proper maintenance. Am I missing something?

Exactly. Go 'wild' and you will sacrifice reliability.

matt. can you tell me more about replacing the govenor stuff and the balance gear bearings

Always replace the governor gear and cross shaft when you have an engine apart. It's cheap insurance. The cross shaft wears where it goes through the brass nut to the outside of the engine, so replacing both the cross shaft and nut will take care of a very common oil leak on these engines.

The balance gear needle bearings have a hard life, and if you wish to keep the gears, the stub shafts and needle bearings must be replaced. If they wear and get loose, the gears will get tossed through the side of the block. This is why most people (myself included) elect to leave them out. The earlier engines did not have them and I couldn't tell a difference in vibration on the K341 that I removed them from.

I can sympathetic to that thought I have old rifles that have history behind them and would not dream of modifying them. I am looking for improvements that will enhance power that are easy to do while rebuilding the engine, and getting tips to replace items that one may overlook while rebuilding the engine.

I'll have to get those governor parts. Gosh it would be nice to put the balance gears in my K341 for my 169 to get every bit of smoothness out of that shaker but I don't want the things ruining the block because I know I would never find a used motor and don't want to spend the money on a brand new one