Mower Deck for 1987-1989 414-8

[peter lena 9,993]

@ bradley david good  ,  ,  did you clean out and re grease those 6203 , wide grease shield bearings ? every related bearing  in deck / mule drive , has lucas x tra hd green chassis grease , ? wal mart  $7 , 550 deg flash point , polyurea rated , stays with bearings , what a concept , farm equipment , also have this in my pto lever set up detailing , no bearing whine , smooth / easy spin ups , pete https://www.landmsupply.com/lucas-oil-x-tra-heavy-duty-grease-14-5-oz?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20358896375&gbraid=0AAAAADm05vyAKEXdhbXkKPM5xHl6aJe6H&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtCuYCyJDKMPVKKh4js00k6y6h7ARmTfZL7aaD5V94IWRkGtSAvLpd1hoCcRkQAvD_BwE  bombproof  lube , also check walmart  $ 7 , pete

[bradleydavidgood 29]

On 8/20/2026 at 8:45 AM, 953 nut said:

            Rear discharge is the way to go,

I do like it.  I used it yesterday and it seemed to work well. And I love that I can trim close on both sides, especially because my yard is many small areas and it would be harder to turn around all the time.

[bradleydavidgood 29]

On 8/20/2026 at 9:36 AM, OoPEZoO said:

Welcome to the forum, glad you are getting things sorted out.  I'm just up in Willow Street, and there are quite a few more of us that are local if you ever need a hand to figure out a problem.  Just be careful of the guys who's answer is always "buy another tractor".....and I don't mean a replacement, I mean a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th......LOL.  I appreciate the videos of your trip to A-Z.  I've bought plenty of stuff from them over the years either at the Big Show or shipped parts, but have always wanted to take a trip up.  That wall of mower decks really makes me want to go check things out in person.

 

I'm also a fan of the rear discharge, especially with a manual transmission.  I mowed for 15+ years with a 36" rear discharge and my only complaint was that I wanted a larger deck.

Thanks!

 

Mine is not running that well.  It is loud and poppy and backfires and flames out the exhaust and seems like it is not the right mixture or something else going on.  The kid who sold it to me had just an angled pipe on the exhaust and also gave me the old muffler.  I installed the old muffler and yesterday as I was mowing it blew the muffler right off...it was old and rusty but something is way too hot and forceful at the exhaust.  Before I put another muffler on I need to get it running right.

The previous owner said he didn't rebuild the carb so I thought I'd do that.

And it slowed down going up hills and sometimes stalled out completely.  Maybe the fuel pump is weak or the line is clogged somewhere.

[bradleydavidgood 29]

Oh, and when it would slow down and almost stall, giving some choke got it going again and then I could throttle it up and close the choke again.  Also seems like fuel issue.

[Handy Don 17,197]

7 hours ago, bradleydavidgood said:

Oh, and when it would slow down and almost stall, giving some choke got it going again and then I could throttle it up and close the choke again.  Also seems like fuel issue.

Carb overhaul then mixture settings.

Governor setting and mechanism check. 

[bradleydavidgood 29]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Carb overhaul then mixture settings.

Governor setting and mechanism check. 

Great, thank you!

[OoPEZoO 609]

Agree with Don.  Sounds like typical carburetor “sitting around” with crappy gas in it. The maintenance manuals for these tractors/motors do a great job of getting things sorted out. Clean out the carb, set everything back the way it should be, and it will most likely run perfectly. At least that’s the experience I’ve had with any of the ones I’ve monkeyed with.  These engines are very simple and reliable if taken care of

[bradleydavidgood 29]

14 hours ago, OoPEZoO said:

Agree with Don.  Sounds like typical carburetor “sitting around” with crappy gas in it. The maintenance manuals for these tractors/motors do a great job of getting things sorted out. Clean out the carb, set everything back the way it should be, and it will most likely run perfectly. At least that’s the experience I’ve had with any of the ones I’ve monkeyed with.  These engines are very simple and reliable if taken care of

Thank you!

 

What manuals should I buy?

[Handy Don 17,197]

57 minutes ago, bradleydavidgood said:

Thank you!

 

What manuals should I buy?

Buy? Odds are once you know the engine make and model a diligent interweb search will turn up a downloadable manual. 

[bradleydavidgood 29]

32 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Buy? Odds are once you know the engine make and model a diligent interweb search will turn up a downloadable manual. 

I usually find that those searches end in endless scam links.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,416]

What engine do you have? A K321 or a M14?

 

[Handy Don 17,197]

8 hours ago, bradleydavidgood said:

I usually find that those searches end in endless scam links.

I guess I’ve done enough that I can usually spot the “come ons.” I do occasionally register with them to get a particular manual I’ve been unable to find elsewhere. When I do, I use a disposable email address.

[OoPEZoO 609]

Manuals can all be found here on the forum site. Just search for your specific model off the ID tag on your tractor. If you are struggling, take a pic of the ID tag and post we’ll help you find it

[bradleydavidgood 29]

Thanks for the info.  The plate on the motor has no readable info on it anymore.  Just a silver plate.

 

Here are some pictures:

 

 

[bradleydavidgood 29]

Previously my tractor was identified as 87-89.

 

Apparently there was a different engine in 1987 than 88-89....

 

 

1987

• Wheel Horse model: 31-14K802
• Engine: Kohler M14S-601524
• Factory charging system: 3-amp dual-output, unregulated
• No conventional 15-amp voltage regulator.
• Factory headlights are powered directly from the engine's AC stator circuit and normally work only while the engine is running.

1988

• Wheel Horse model: 31-14K803
• Engine: Kohler M14S-601540
• 15-amp regulated charging system

1989

• Wheel Horse model: 31-14K804
• Engine: Kohler M14S-601540
• 15-amp regulated charging system

If you guys can't identify the engine exactly from the pictures, then maybe we can do it by looking for the regulated charging system.

 

Thanks

 

[953 nut 68,160]

With your air filter cover removed you will see the voltage regulator if yours is a 15 amp charging system.

[OoPEZoO 609]

I’ll bet the neighbors love that exhaust pipe….LOL.

[pfrederi 20,994]

You have the 15 Amp system   Spec 601540

 

Can see the regulator circled in yellow

 

 

[squonk 47,745]

On 7/9/2026 at 9:51 PM, Lane Ranger said:

i use a 42 inch recycling deck with my 314-8.  The baffle on a resr discharge holds ghe grass clips in a little longer for recuts!  But it also holds wet grass which i mowed over this week (dewy) that clings to the decks.   I had it off today to clean! 

@Lane Ranger Did you pull the baffle off and get all that grass that gets trapped behind it? 

[bradleydavidgood 29]

6 hours ago, OoPEZoO said:

I’ll bet the neighbors love that exhaust pipe….LOL.

Yea I was away for 3 weeks and the grass was high and the old muffler blew right off the side and dropped on the lawn.  I had the gun range ear muffs on so it didn't bother me and was determined to finish the yard.  I got the one side done then went down to the other side near the intolerant type neighbor who by the way runs loud equipment very often especially one of those very loud backpack blowers and has to get every leaf several times a week, powerwash everything, mow constantly, etc.  

 

Well when I turned around the wife was on the deck just looking at me and the man was almost jumping up and down like "no stop that!".  

 

I pointed to the little patch I had left as to say "Just this little bit more", and he jumped up and down even more.  It was really funny but I restrained myself from laughing and drove the tractor away, parked it in it's spot and turned it off. 

 

So yea they loved it.

 

If I saw/heard my neighbor mowing with no muffler, I'd take my mower over and finish it for him.

[bradleydavidgood 29]

6 hours ago, pfrederi said:

You have the 15 Amp system   Spec 601540

 

Can see the regulator circled in yellow

 

 

That's awesome!  Thank you!

 

Now for bonus points who can tell me if the tractor is 1988 or 1989 without any S/N or ID?

 

Or confirm that there was no visible differences those years.

 

 

[bradleydavidgood 29]

4 hours ago, squonk said:

@Lane Ranger Did you pull the baffle off and get all that grass that gets trapped behind it? 

I don't know what the baffle is but I don't think I have those circles around the blades like in your pic.

I do need to clean the bottom of the deck.  I'll have to do that in the next few days.  I'll make a video.

 

I was mowing wet grass and very tall dry grass.

[Brockport Bill 2,448]

On 7/11/2026 at 11:47 AM, bradleydavidgood said:

Thanks for all the replies, I'll go thru them soon.

 

In the meantime, I bought this deck

 

The next thing I'm wondering is what I need to hook it up.  After lunch I'll be taking a short video of my tractor and I'll post it.

 

Thanks!

 

people have there own priorities for "value" but IMO that price is high for that decks condition