Kohler K301AQS - Worth rebuilding?

[sbuck]

I have a Cub Cadet 1250 with a Kohler K301AQS engine.

Ran it a few times this season, and one day after starting it and moving it a few hundred feet, then engaging the PTO, it died.

The starter would clunk/click, but couldn't turn the engine. I was unable to rotate the engine by hand.

Checked the oil and it was low. Assumed I seized it up because of this, so I pulled the engine off the machine.

I removed the pan on the bottom and didn't see any obvious damage/metal shards.

I removed the head cover and sprayed some PB Blaster around the cylinder and was eventually able to get the piston to move, and removed it.

Here are a bunch of pictures: https://imgur.com/a/eBIBtgJ

My small engine experience doesn't go far beyond carb work, so I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at here. Is this normal wear? Is this rebuildable?

[finsruskw]

Mic the journals on the crank to see if they are already undersize.
Clean the top of the piston and check for either STD, .010, .020 .030 to see if it had been rebuilt before,
Looks like the crank will need to be at least polished if not turned .010
Heck yes, I'd rebuild that in a heart beat if it checks out.
I assume you removed the starter and all the shrouds?
I once had a 1200 that would not turn or crank and the issue was mouse nests in the flywheel shroud so tight they bound up the starter.

Good Luck!

[ol'George]

It shows normal wear for it's age, not too bad really.
Yes it IS worth rebuilding they are good engines.
I'd say you got lucky, looks like the crank/rod lack of lube was what stopped it.
Honestly, it should be rebuilt, doing it properly,
not a "repair" of cleaning the crank up with acid and replacing just the rod.
the piston shows wear as does the rings, they don't owe anyone anything.
To do it right, it should have an oversize piston fitted as the bore might be egge shaped and tapered also the crank checked and ground undersize if out of speck, with corresponding undersize rod.
that said:

Ya you can deglaze the bore if, it is not scored( pic's are not clear), go new std piston with new rings and clean up the crank and replace the rod with new std.
it is cheap and down and dirty, that I would not do.
But I get the idea it is just a play tractor????????
and you are not going to work it like a weekly mowing or fitting a garden/snow plowing.
just my take
Edit:
I see Finsruskw multiple finger typing, is faster than my one finger approach. :>)

[R Bedell]

Heck yes, I'd rebuild that in a heart beat if it checks out.

Me too.

[finsruskw]

Multiple fingers???!!!
Naw, I do the hen house and religious method too, search and peck/seek and Ye shall find!!!

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by finsruskw

Multiple fingers???!!!
Naw, I do the hen house and religious method too, search and peck/seek and Ye shall find!!!

Hunt and peck, yep reminds me of being a kid.
I lost my gum in the chicken yard, thought I found it 3 times.
Now sitty folks might have to ponder that a bit.

[ironman]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Hunt and peck, yep reminds me of being a kid.
I lost my gum in the chicken yard, thought I found it 3 times.
Now sitty folks might have to ponder that a bit.

Well, at least now we know why you jump up on the fence and crow at the crack of dawn.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by ironman

Well, at least now we know why you jump up on the fence and crow at the crack of dawn.

Hell I get excited at the thought of the crack of "Dawn"

[TheSaturnV]

If I can rebuild one, anyone can. I stumbled my way through a K321 build, did it right and it's running very well now. Kept the original carb too. Kind of embarrassing to look back on all I didn't know, but I think it would be a perfect look for another novice to see what is involved.

https://youtu.be/HwZNLrAtP5Y

[RustyShackleford]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Hunt and peck, yep reminds me of being a kid.
I lost my gum in the chicken yard, thought I found it 3 times.
Now sitty folks might have to ponder that a bit.

Now that's funny