K301a?

[drm101]

Just the 14 hp K series has balance gears, right? The 126 would have a 12 hp, w/o balance gears. Also, I see the newer style Kohler sticker near the bottom of the coil. My Mom has a 126, too. Great tractor.

[Mortgaged]

12, 14 & 16 all had balance gears starting in the early 70's. I don't know if they added them to the 10hp's or not.

I have a K301 with the gears removed and it runs great. Nice and smooth. Solid mount in a narrow frame.

The k321 in my 1450 didn't have the gears and suffered from vibration. When I rebuilt it I added the gears back to it and the vibration was greatly reduced. I will say that I spent quite a bit of time making sure that the engine was mounted properly and the cradle bolts were torque'd to spec which probably helped.

[HotRodCub]

Originally Posted by Methos

What's your spec number?

i think this is it 47504

[HotRodCub]

Originally Posted by Vince_o

Theres realy nothing wrong with the ballance gears, except the wear and ome off the shaft and threw your block. They started putting them in around the time of the 108 149 or wide frame tractors. On the 12 hp you can pull them out with out tearing the eng down, your case.... well you you know your going o rebuild it any way. The balance gear looks like its broke in half, but its made that way. Ive had guys tell me that their eng needs rebuilt cause it was knocking like heck, I pull the pan, wiggle the ballance gears, pull them out chec the rod cap, slap it back togeather and no more knock.

Ive run the 14 hp up to 4500 rpms wih no problem and no balacne gears. I dont see anymore vibration with or with out. Im sure the engineers have a reason for them being in there, I still take them out and on eng rebuilds, I dont reinstal them for people. Youll see my finger pointing to the balance gear.

That is the only reason I said its the wrong eng, now it could have been replaced with the black eng, lots of 12 were dont that way as they had problems, Ive heard.

I dont know if I have a pic of what the corect eng should look like, but eather way as long as it runs works and your happy with it, I am too. See I spend most of my time running from the corect police !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks! Im just trying to find out whats the best thing too . I've talkd to a few people thats had there rods do the same thing as mine, So we are trying to find out if theres a stronger rod that will work thats on the market. I sure would love to have the 126 running so I can mow with it!

Them corect police can drive ya crazy! They hate it that I put PopUp Pistons in my farmallCub over at the farmallcub site!

[Methos]

Originally Posted by HotRodCub

i think this is it 47504

That is a cub engine. Here's a link to the K301 spec chart.

http://cubfaq.com/k301specs.html

For the rest of the K's.

http://cubfaq.com/kohler_engine_specs.html

Thanks to Roland for putting this together!

[ol'George]

Those Kohlers are not prone to break rods if cared for.
The ones that do, have either been run out of oil or it was not changed anywhere near properly.
You only hear about the few that went bad from neglect you don't hear about the ones that are still running after 30+years

[jlampe94]

I'll back them up and say leave the balance gears out! Im having to rebuild my 129's 12hp right now because of them after only 3 years. that was with frequent oil changes and always right at full on oil. I caught it just at the right time, when i took them apart i was missing pry 5-7 needles in each bearing. So i would do yourself a favor and leave those things outa there. For rods ive just been using the stock ones and never had a problem.

[Vince_o]

What I meant by wrong eng is tha it had been replaced, due to seeing the balance gears in the block. Like someone posted they started putting them in in the 70's then took them back out, go figure. Also when I was at a Kohler school and talking with one of the instructors about finding a crank and rods for my welder, we got to talking about the old K's. He even agreed to remove the ballance gears.

I have bought many 126's with replaced engs, for some reason there seem to be a lot out there with black blocks. Also if you remember Allens from SC he couldnt find parts for his, differant type rod and piston in his. With some digging and a call to the engnieer at Kohler were were able to get him a rod. In talking with the engineer, the spec number comes up as a part, short block, and then you have to go to a differant page to the the parts. It comes up as NLA. Weve reslived blocks for customers and for some of Frans cubs over the years. As long as the the block isnt damaged, hole or crack, you can sleeve them for ever, well kinda.

If you need help on this project give me a call, our shop is a kohler dealer and we have a machine shop here. We also rebuild the hydro rear ends in the old to the new. Most shops wont touch them, but Franks good with them. I stick to the eng side of things and some 2 strokes.

864 895 8089

[HotRodCub]

I sure do thank every one for the tips!

Every 126 I've seen photos of had black blocks. When I get going on this engine i'll have to give ya a call.

[CHWNY]

My 680 12hp engine is black and I have a k341as that is grey, It is from a wheel horse tho. Are they replacements also?