5 Things You Should Do To Your Kohler K Series Engine Right Now | Kohler K Series Engine Maintenance

Hope you found this video helpful! As always if you have any questions about your vintage cast iron small engine or vintage garden tractor you can always reach out to me directly by email, phone, or our website. Ask for Norman! I help every single person who contacts us whether they are a customer or not. Our mission is to Save the Tractors! Like, Subscribe and Tell your Friends!

Man I have a new Holland s-14 and a ariens s-18h both have Kohler engines and these things are unstoppable I have plows on both and have rototiller and 1 bottom plow also no problems since I got them and rebuilt them both were sitting in woods with moss growing on them lol love these things

I have to rebuild an engine just like this for John Deere 300 garden tractor I’m hoping I’m gonna be able to buy the parts to get this order rebuilt I want to rebuild this motor I’m trying to keep this tractor original

Man, I was intimidated by replacing the points, as I've never done it, but thanks to your instructions, I was able to replace and adjust it, and it runs so much more smoothly now. I put a Bosch 00012 coil on there, too. Who knew that a VW part would work so well on a tractor engine?

Some good info... I found a barn find on my 10 hp Kohler. The lady I bought it from she said it's been sitting in same spot for 25 years... looks brand new after cleaning up, just can't wait hear it run.... I got it for go kart for kids... but I'm not sure on it..for 25$ can't beat it

What would cause a slight knock when engine is running. It then disappears under load.

Where r u located in Maine? Im in Bangor i sometimes need case and jd parts

You lost me at replace the carb. Clean the original out, or rebuild it, if necessary.

Yeah where can I buy a carburetor or a 1250 international Cub cadet yeah but I need the whole I need every part to the corner where you could ever imagine and beyond it

Old boat anchor!! I'm done with these old k series motors!!!!

I'm guessing you sell carbs otherwise it's stupid to replace a perfectly good one with a Chinese knockoff.

British bloke here - this video is brilliant!
I've just picked up a Wheel Horse Commando 8 with a K181S - we obviously don't have many of them round here so this video is a great help is chasing down my no spark issue and general servicing. Thanks a lot.
Also, having looked at your website, I may now have to buy a load of stuff!

Why use a haywire adjustable wrench? Surely you have the correct wrench?

i bought alot great parts off you points condensors coils gaskets connecting rods im very happy with all parts =)

How 'bout just seein' if/how it runs first?

I keep having an issue of killing coils I buy 12 automotive coils from parts store that may be the issue any clue to my issue

K series like this on wheel horse

Totally opposite my philosophy especially as I've gotten older. If it ain't broken, etc. If it's running well, I figure don't knock success. I just do straight maintenance as though I've owned it since new.

I got my kit from you all and it's worked out great

I have worked on small engines for more then 50 years and spent many of those years as a auto mechanic, I also own a 1982 C105 Wheel horse tractor with a Kohler 241AS engine. There is no reason what so ever to replace a carburetor just because it is old. My 82 with 1000s of hours still has the original carburetor , The only parts that wear out are the throttle shaft and bushings which can be replaced for under 30.00. Seals and fuel needle for another 25.00. If you are installing a new Kohler carburetor they run between 300.00-500.00 if you can find one. My guess is you are replacing with a cheap Chinese brand, very bad advise.

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Head’s Up !!
No Spark, Note;
First check for spark plug terminal break inside rubber right angle plug boot, impossible to see.
before getting serious trouble shooting the rest of the ignition system.

Excellent video thanks👍🤠

I have acquired several of these series of engines over the years. Everyone did not run because the tops of the pistons had separated from the bottoms.
What are the odds?

will your carbs work for a 17 hp kolhler k series engine

I got a neglected k341 that smokes pretty bad. I got a head gasket and breather parts from you. Hopefully a clean up and valve adjustment will help me out. I already did the points and a fresh oil change.

Is this a joke? There’s very little that can go wrong with the original carburetor that you can’t take care of yourself. Even the worn out throttle bushing is no problem at all if you have plumbing solder and can build up the shaft with it I know what you’re thinking “solder isn’t strong enough”. Quite the contrary.Solder is soft and self- slicking, for lack of a better term and is great on throttle shafts. I use it all the time and have since the sixties !just be sure you have a little felt washer on the top side that you can put a drop of oil on once a year to keep the dust from going inside and erasing stuff that doesn’t need to be worn.Don’t make it more complicated than it is .And for God’s sake, don’t have anybody buy a China carburetor and get rid of one of the originals! I’m a purist/‘Fix anything that ever ran before ‘man,and that would make me break out in hives!Also worth noting, some of those older carburetors have a little miniature brass caps that you can take a blunted screw and dig into the cap and pull it out like removing a core plug from a car engine and it allows you to clean out the passages. Later on, the manufacturers realized that people were cleaning their own carburetors, so they started driving hardened ball bearings in those passages to keep you from getting in and cleaning them. Planned obsolescence at its finest or worst, depending on which side of the fence you’re on😳🙀😱😤

I need your help Norm!
KT19 kohler in rare C195 wheelhorse.
Ran fine yesterday. Today?
Half hearted attempt to start.
I checked it over...found blown fuse from ignition switch to ammeter. Attempted to replace fuse....crackling sound in fuse holder. Smoke coming from flywheel side of engine (near top of engine).
Each time I attempt to replace the fuse? Same thing. Key out of ignition. Now won't crank or even a solenoid "click".

Stator? Volt regulator? Something else?

1 re power with a honda or honda clone.

Any one interested in buying one still hooked to the tractor let me no I got one

Nice job Norm 👏 👍

I wouldn't replace the carb unless I had to because the original is 10 times better than aftermarket.

Well done on the video. You're a natural. Thanks for posting.

Have to check the block for warpage too, these get real hot by the exhaust port+valve then warp as you can see in your photo where the headgasket was failed/failing.

Also checking the valve guides is pretty important too, simply wiggling them at full lift is all you need the do to make sure the play isn't excessive.

What to do when the points don't open? Even when loosened and pushed toward the block like the video indicated. I also already replaced the plunger.

Great Kohler video for this engine, glad I stumbled on your channel. I am in the process of rehabbing a 10hp K241 engine. As a DYIr have worked on several small engines but this one is my “largest/oldest” hp small engine to get back to daily use that will be used to run a Lincoln Welder/Generator. When I got the engine, the fuel tank had fresh varnish smell in it and previous owner told me engine had not run in at least 15yrs. I took the air breather cover off, shot starter fluid in the carb throat, and the engine fired off for 5 sec so that told me, after a carb rebuild, this thing will be back in running shape:-)

Thank you for this information. Without breaking open the engine can you think why the points plunger isn’t moving when the crankshaft id rotated?

I have done these except replacing the condenser. Is this part particularly important for cold weather starting? Mine are very hard to start under 40F. If I use a booster I can get it to crank faster and that usually works. Or warm it up under a tarp with an electric heater.

hi good video I have question my brother buy carburator same on you web but I don't have information my question if you have the adjustment for this carburator is for caston iron 16hp kholer 341s like how mani turns for high idle and low idle thanks

Nothing like the old Kohler K-341. My only complaint, I wish they they didn't use aluminum to make the cylinder head. I get it, it prevents cold-starting incoming raw fuel from fouling the spark plug; and it helps to produce more engine power and torque when under a heavy load by retaining the majority of the combustion heat in one area, but I still don't like it.

Having just picked up a neat old John Deere 216, this might just be my new favorite channel & website. Thanks for the great video!

Picked up a Jacobsen Chief with a Kohler K241. Runs sweet.

Hello.This motor im working on looks just like yours here it has new carb which it does still pop just a little but whats throwing me off is i have adjusted the throttle now if i just barely move the throttle position it doesnt take much movement at all to slow it down or speed it up something just doesnt seem right about it and then it tries to over tach when i barely adjust could this be internal gov? going out? Tractor is not mine im just helping someone out but he put carb on it so i dont know how it was running before. Thanks for any help about it. B.

I am working on one of these K321 engines and while inspecting it the compression psi was 45 until adding some oil and then made it to 65psi. what would you think the issue would be? head gasket, rings or valves? is it time for an engine rebuild or replacement? diesel conversion?

Nice vid. I like the presentation. The info was helpful as well. I just bought a 782 cub cadet yesterday. The governor runs away all by it's self without touching the throttle. I have to manually adjust the governor to keep it running without over reeving the engine. Do you have a vid that goes into more detail on fix repair and/or replace the governor on a 17hp Kohler? I've tried searching a vid on just the governor, but failed to find the right vid so far. Any help from anyone would greatly appreciated.

why would you replace the carb if its working good

I believe it’s a 1990 engine and the condenser and points are original

Hello, I have an rv 4.5 ckm21 twin electric start. I noticed I wasn’t getting the back cylinder to fire so I swapped wires from the coil and got it to fire. It’s still only running on one cylinder. I changed the coil and it’s still doing the same thing. I ordered new points and condenser. When I get ready to set the points gap, how can I turn the motor over to get my points open all the way without going past it?. I ordered my parts from you. Also, would a bad condenser cause only one cylinder to fire or a combination of points and condenser?. It ran perfectly with only 150 hours on it. I shut it down to connect to rv park power, when I started it back up it ran horrible and when I put a load on it it would slowly stall out. Can condensor go bad that fast?. Thanks in advance

Dollar bill caused mine not to fire had some kind of wax or residue I use to use a dollar tell then lol use clean paper now

thank you for you're video

Excellent info. Thank you.