Kohler 14 hp

[Joshyg 3]

Does anyone know the difference between the Kohler k321as and the k321s

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,057]

[WHX?? 55,626]

AS has the short base for short frame and later shaker plate tractors. 

Edited Wednesday at 02:51 AM by WHX??

[JCM 10,931]

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

AS has the short base for short frame and later shaker plate tractors. 

Whose better than you.     

[Joshyg 3]

Will a k321s fit on a c145

[pfrederi 20,037]

You will have to remove the shakerplate set up and make a lower mount for the PTO hoop.  If the K321 oil pan isn't drilled and tapped for bolts on the PTO side you may have to use J hooks.

[Pullstart 69,185]

But the engine block is all the same.  I’d suggest if you have a donor engine, use its oil pan and run it.    If not, that’s ok too.  Just make sure that the crankshaft height is where it needs to be, for the belt guard to properly clutch with the belt.  

Edited Wednesday at 01:12 PM by Pullstart

[Achto 31,244]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

But the engine block is all the same.

 

Not always true. There are 2 different block configuration where the oil pan mounts. I was going to convert my pulling engine from a shaker mount oil pan to a frame mount oil pan and could not.  

 

Note: Oil pan bolts run from the bottom through the oil pan and thread into the block.

 

This engine the bolts run from the top through the block and thread into the oil pan.

[Pullstart 69,185]

Good call.  Yeah, I probably knew that too.. 

[kpinnc 17,468]

4 hours ago, pfrederi said:

If the K321 oil pan isn't drilled and tapped for bolts on the PTO side you may have to use J hooks.

 

If you have a drill press and tap set you can easily drill and tap the oil pan to work with a Wheel Horse direct bolt on. I've done several and they are identical to factory. 

 

I'm not a fan of J hooks for this application, but it will work so long as they don't stretch or bend. 

 

The blocks that have the tabs holding the oil pan (see below) are the ones I am referring to. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 04:37 PM by kpinnc

[WHX?? 55,626]

50 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Yeah, I probably knew that too.

Or you woulda fingered it out toot sweet like we did ... 

[WHX?? 55,626]

45 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

drill press and tap set you can easily drill and tap

You lost me there for a second KP but I think I see the light. 

Are the bosses in the pan to do it or don't need them? 

46 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

J hooks for this application, but it will work so long as they don't stretch or bend. 

I don't think yer gonna do that to a 3/8 J bolt! 

[kpinnc 17,468]

On 3/25/2026 at 1:22 PM, WHX?? said:

Are the bosses in the pan to do it or don't need them? 

 

To match up to an OEM pan, the two holes on the PTO side that hold the pan on have to pass all the way through the pan. 

 

The factory bolt holes in the pan have a beveled cut in the bottom so drilling them with a 1/8 bit from the top on your drill press is easy and they remain centered. 

 

Then you flip the pan over and re-drill with a 5/16 bit using the 1/8 hole as a pilot. 

 

Flip the pan again and tap from the top with a 3/8 tap so the threads are continuous all the way through. 

 

Simple. Just don't do this without using a drill press. Handheld drilling tends to "walk" around and will allow the initial 1/8 drill to drift off center. 

Edited 11 hours ago by kpinnc

[Joshyg 3]

It might seem like a dumb question but I’m 13 trying to learn, but would it make sense to just bolt the k321s directly to the frame?

[WHX?? 55,626]

1 hour ago, Joshyg said:

seem like a dumb question

Only dumb question is one that doesn't get asked. Our bad for perhaps talking over your head. 

 

Early and some late horses they did bolt a AS it directly to the frame. Later models it was deemed to make them more vibration  pleasing so they came up with isolation mounts and came up with different designs to do such. You'll see this in many other brands as well. Some K models were even adapted or designed to get a AS model under a short hood where frame to hood clearance was at a premium. As such as what we call a big block in a short frame. 

This is an example of a AS model directly mounted on the frame. 

 

If this doesn't clear things up for you Josh ask away. We are here to help you learn. 

[ineedanother 1,963]

@Joshyg , not to create any additional confusion, but if your k321s has the correct pan for being frame mounted, I believe the only other mechanical conversion you would be faced with would be the PTO Housing Rod ("hoop") and bottom bracket for it. Notice the bottom bracket as part of a shaker plate, and the other one bolted to the mid-tach bracket when the engine is mounted on the frame. The bottom of the "hoops" are of different length as well. All are readily available parts from folks here...

[WHX?? 55,626]

11 hours ago, ineedanother said:

create any additional confusion,

Well you just confused me Ineed ...  and that ain't hard to do. 

I think what he means is what are you planning to do Josh? or just want to learn?

INeed piced a example of a AS mounted on a what we call a shaker plate. His first pic.  Where a AS is mounted on a plate with vibration isolators. Not directly mounted to the frame. 

Edited 3 hours ago by WHX??

[ineedanother 1,963]

1 minute ago, WHX?? said:

Well you just confused me Ineed ...  and that ain't hard to do. 

Well Jim, I do that to myself sometimes...

I might have misunderstood by thinking that @Joshyg was considering removing the shaker plate from a c-145 and mounting a k321 directly to the frame. 

[WHX?? 55,626]

4 minutes ago, ineedanother said:

Well Jim, I do that to myself sometimes...

I go play with a FEL when that happens ... 

[ineedanother 1,963]

2 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I go play with a FEL when that happens ... 

I'm playing with wheel weights this evening because they're simpler and the weather is crappy 

[953 nut 64,582]

On 3/25/2026 at 6:48 AM, Joshyg said:

Will a k321s fit on a c145

 

13 hours ago, Joshyg said:

It might seem like a dumb question but I’m 13 trying to learn, but would it make sense to just bolt the k321s directly to the frame?

None of us were born knowing anything, we asked a bunch of questions and learned from others. We will gladly share information with you, please ask.

The K321S will be able to be bolted directly to the frame, as has been said before, the K321AS mounts to the shaker plate and that will need to be removed. 1977 and earlier C Series garden tractors used the same frame and the standard oil pan and the 300 series garden tractors (314) also shared the same basic frame and used the 321S

[Joshyg 3]

Thanks, I was looking for a simple way to mount this engine without having to take everything off again 

[Joshyg 3]

Whx what I would like to do is get it running smoothly, maybe get a plow, and repaint it.