K301
 

Are the balance gears a necessity in these motors. Some have them and some don't. Had anyone not put them back in the block during an overhaul???

The short answer is .... NO.

Do all of the Kohler K301s have them or is there a date after which they were no longer used?

I think they started with the wide frames around 1971. I have engines out of 122’s and a 125 That don’t have them. I have a 1974 service engine that had them but are now removed.

So, my very late replacement motor definitely has them?

It would guess it does if it’s not an AQS. Never saw one with balance gears in it. Drop the oil pan and see if they’re in there.

I didn't think that it was a year thing "up to/after" with the balance gears. I thought it was a spec number thing, engines from each year that these engines were built, that were built either way, with or without the balance gears. I haven't been inside many kohlers that haven't had balance gears but once I get inside, none of them have their balance gears any more.

I would agree.

:IH Trusted Hand:

I was using a year for reference. A 127 does not show balance gears in the parts lookup. The 129 does. I would guess that serial numbers higher than 30XXXXX have gears but that’s just my guess. The only reference to serial numbers in the Kohler manual is for changes to the bearings and gears through the years. The manual does say this:
“Most K321 And K341 K-Series engines are equipped with a balance gear system. K91, K161, and K181 engines do not have balance gears. Some K241 and K301 engines are equipped well th a balance gear system.”

I believe this one won't have them anymore either. Thanks