Video of the smokey K321
 

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...okeyKohler.mp4

I finally found some more time to work on the 149 recently. I've got a couple other posts about this machine, it had been sitting for quite a while and i never even attempted to start the motor due to the pan being completely stripped. The video is almost immediately after i started it for the first time, so it was stilll cold and the garage was about 40 degrees.

Anyway, i had to tear into the motor for a couple different reasons...one of which was that the balance gears were wobbling all over the place. I also pulled the piston and rod and re-installed them with the original rings. Everything was in spec for being rebuilt with a .020 over piston. I very lightly honed the cylinder prior to putting the piston back in.

The motor started almost immediately, as did the smoking. I am assuming oil is getting past the rings, i have zero experience with little motors, do you think the rings will seat better after getting up to operating temp for a while? There is also a pronounced metallic tap that is valve related, i adjusted the valves back in to spec so i am not sure what is going on there.

I hope the black frame doesn't cause any heart attacks, it's going to be black and IH Red.

I would not have re-used the rings. That may be part of the problem. Also, is the crankcase breather installed correctly?

I am just trying to get the thing running and take it from there. I put the breather back together as per a diagram i had printed out, but it does seem to have some excessive crankcase pressure right now so i was going to revisit that topic soon.

Would an incorrectly assembled breather also result the starter almost stopping occasionally...almost as if pressure had built up?

No...the engine's compression is far greater than what could possibly build up in the crankcase. Even if it did, it would just blow out the crank seals. The commutator in the starter might be dirty.

You think some oil might be getting past the rings? :bigthink: :bash2: Compression was awful.

This photo is after turning it over for about 8 seconds. The cylinder bore is definitely not symmetrical after looking at it turning over at higher rpms. This motor had already been bored .020 over and what i am seeing makes me think that it might the end of the road for this one.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5.../IMG_4803s.jpg

0.030" over or having it sleeved are both options. The only way to know is to measure the bore per the service manual.

The top of the bore is symmetrical and within specs, but i don't have the proper tools to check further in the bore where it appears asymmetrical. I am not sure if the additional .010 would even remove enough material to round it out. I have played with the sleeve idea, but i just don't know if it's worth it in the long run

I actually just keep thinking of the running 16hp horizontal vanguard that i let go for $90 on CL this week.

matt is right. the lower half is egged you need to get it to a machine shop and measure the bore with a dial. the slap you hear is the piston slop at the bottom of the stroke. had same deal with a k301. :bash2:when it rains it pours!!!!

In the long run, there is a finite and ever-decreasing number of usable K-series blocks. It hasn't had balance gears thrown through the side or a chunk taken out of the bore from a broken rod, so it can definitely still be used.

My Son and I watch the video several times. The head gasket is blowed and causing the ticking sound. When the motor revs up you can see the smoke come out the front of the motor towards the muffler.

Did you measure the crank and rod journal when you removed the piston?
What was the measurement and what tool did you use to measure it?

Best thing to do is take it to an automotive machine shop that has the correct tools to measure it.


I have two K321s with cylinder resleeve. Both are strong runners.