stevasaurus 22,197 #1 Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) I thought I would just post the pictures of what happened. I did not want to do a whole "How to" thread, as we already have some excellent threads out there. Prondzy's "How to Thread" was my inspiration...along with the Kohler Manual. Here is Mike's link... The manual is in the Manuals section. I am going to number the pictures so it is easier to talk about things...should there be questions or comments. Thanks Took pictures of linkage, gas lines, etc. to be able to put it back together. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Now we are looking at the parts cleaned, bored, etc...from the machine shop. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. a short video of the new Kohler running. Edited January 9, 2017 by stevasaurus 18 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris sutton 610 #2 Posted January 9, 2017 Done a nice job of that Steve and its sounds nice too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,028 #3 Posted January 9, 2017 Should be good for another 50 years. Did it throw a rod or just have a bad knock? I'm glad to see you needed to use a hammer to get that pesky nipple out; it was too serene up to that point. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,975 #4 Posted January 9, 2017 Nice job as Chris says. I'd have painted it though before installing it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,197 #5 Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) One thing is the paddle broke off the piston rod. It also had a broken spring on the ACR...and the rings were by-passing oil. I don't know when the paddle broke off, but it caused the scoring on the crank shaft journal. Had that turned to .010 under. Norm, I did not paint it because it was my Dad's and he did the pin stripping on it. I wanted to save that and not have it look new and have to do the rest of the horse. I have another K 181 to do on my 876...I am thinking painting that one and a restoration. Edited January 9, 2017 by stevasaurus 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 8,945 #6 Posted January 9, 2017 You could set up at the Big Show and rebuilt motors while entertaining everyone with you stories 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,197 #7 Posted January 9, 2017 Jim...this was my 1st one...I am so dangerous about this it ain't even funny. Give me a transmission, I feel better in that arena. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,643 #8 Posted January 9, 2017 I know I'd feel better about rebuilding engines if I could walk through it a couple of times with someone that truly knew what they were doing. Hands on kind of thing, I've always learned better that way. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,547 #9 Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) Good job Dino! Taking lots of pictures is one of the most important things you could have done as a first timer. Have a couple.if questions: Noticed you originally had the .003 piston installed. Did the machine shop stamp .010 on the block deck? Is that what the cylinder was bored to? Noticed tappets weren't marked for location after install. They are different lengths, did you get lucky reinstalling them? One final question: Do you have a final tally on what the rebuild cost considering you did all the labor? Again, great job on the photos and rebuild! Edited January 9, 2017 by oldredrider 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #10 Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks Steve ,for the photo tutorial, I'm getting ready to try to tackle one of the K181's I have for my dad's original CUB CADET, I pilfered from a couple old Gravely riders that actually has the ring and pinion gear bendix starters vs the old Delco belt drive starter/generator,Jeff. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #11 Posted January 10, 2017 Great photos showing a rebuild! Thanks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #12 Posted January 10, 2017 nice job steve,i too was curious about the ,010 stamp and the 30 thou piston,did you hone and put a 30 back in,usually the stamp on the block means the crank has been turned,curious minds want know 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 8,945 #13 Posted January 10, 2017 @stevasaurus If I tried to rebuild a motor I would have a big pile of parts left over without any idea where they belonged. There would probably parts that were not even related to the motor. You did a great job. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shynon 7,427 #14 Posted January 10, 2017 Nice job Steve , now that was easy wasn't it? On to the next one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,571 #15 Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) I have seen many Kohler rods have hairline cracks at the oil dipper. I have sen a lot of damage from them. looks like you caught it in time. When rebuilding a Kohler, get that rod checked even if it looks good. Edited January 10, 2017 by squonk 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,123 #16 Posted January 10, 2017 Very Nice Steve!!! And thanks for all the pictures too!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 8,770 #17 Posted January 10, 2017 Looks Great Steve! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,197 #18 Posted January 10, 2017 Thanks guys. @oldredrider , this block had the .003 piston...the manual talks about that they either came STD or .003 from the factory...might have had something to do with the bore. Anyway, the machine shop bored the cylinder to .010. They also turned the crank journal to .010 under. I bought the piston .010 and the piston rod .010 over on E-Bay. The machine shop stamped the .010 on the block...I'm not sure if that means the cylinder or the journal. The piston did not have a stamp on it...nor did the rod. The machine shop charged me $119.34 their work and they ground the valves also. The parts on E-Bay were like $85. I did buy a few tools, but I don't count that. I did have the tappets marked, but I knew the shorter one was the exhaust. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,547 #19 Posted January 10, 2017 The mark on the deck represents cylinder bore. Now anyone who pulls the head off will know what size piston is in it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougC 2,641 #20 Posted January 10, 2017 Congratulations and thanks for posting the pictorial. Very interesting and informative. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #21 Posted January 10, 2017 That engine should last another 50 years, Steve. Good job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
857 horse 2,581 #22 Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) This is better than a Cowboy movie.......and more interesting than the last few labotomys I was involved in,,,,,, Steve,,,good son is all I can say,,,,No doubt,,dad is proud of you,,,,,, Oh,,,,,and you do cool stuff,!!!!! thank-you Pals !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited January 11, 2017 by 857 horse 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,404 #23 Posted January 20, 2017 Nice Job Dino... This is how he cooked it...'course I helped a little ....trying to talk him into breaking it in doing this! My bad for not getting a shot when it was smoking. Put up that video of it running Steve... sounds awesome! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,197 #24 Posted January 20, 2017 Thanks for those pictures Jim. That video is #65 above in the 1st post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkskin's mower junkyard 1,117 #25 Posted January 20, 2017 rebuilding a engine is somewhat nerve wrecking at times. i dont have tools to do valve jobs i need to invest in them. because i take all engines to local shop for valve jobs. but my first rering was a 17.5hp briggs intek. thing smoked like a freight train. tore it down head gasket was good and factory cross hatches was still in cylinder but rings were done. yea i asked for advice when redoing it because it was my first. local shop told me i would never get it running. well i followed all directions and i put it back together with new rings and gasketkit. that thing ran so good. i sold it too lol. since then i rebuilt a ton of briggs. and one kohler. still waiting on the kohler to fire up due to it needing a valve job lol. i got a 90s flathead 8hp briggs i got to do too with cast iron bore. local shop gave me engine out of there scrap pile because i wanted it due to it being a cast iron bore horizontal but has a broken rod. blocks fine. ill probably get it running and put it on something special i have sitting in the yard. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites