K-181 rebuild question

[gamaemry305 0]

Today I dismantled a Kohler K-181 with a broken connectiong rod. Upon inspection the bore looks good but there is a piece of lower bore broken off. Do you think I can clean that area up and rebuild since its the very bottom of the bore. Or is the block toast!

[can whlvr 994]

ive read here that if the rings dont come down near the broken spot you can use it

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Make sure there aren't any stuck pieces that could come out at a later time.

Use a stone on a die grinder or Dremel, etc. to smooth and blend the rough edge at the bottom of the cylinder, then lightly chamfer the corner so there's no danger of the piston skirt catching.

It's really no different than the procedure used to clearance the bottom of a cylinder when installing a stroker crankshaft, except yours was a surprise vs. being intentional and controlled. :thumbs2:

[specialwheelhorse 174]

I'm with TT on this, his is usually the best advice.

I got one running now that looked a lot like this

and I couldn't begin to tell you which one it is.

Jim in Texas

[sorekiwi 761]

What they all said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From the picture it looks like you got lucky! Every Kohler I have seen with a broken rod has punched the side of the block as well and either cracked it or put a window in it.

[Kelly 1,033]

Another thing to check I've heard on the small Kohlers the cam gets broken, you may want to pull it to see.

[gamaemry305 0]

Thank you all for the replies. In trying to figure out why the connecting rod broke in this case, this is what I have found so far. Scored journal on drive shaft. That tiny spring wire on the centrifical weights was unhooked from weight edges. Possibly from impact from connecting rod.

Could someone explain to me the principal of the weights?

Both weights move freely. But the largest one, which seems to pivot on a sliding pivot point, does not slide along that pivot point. Which seems to limit its movement.

Thank you for your help, Gary

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

The weights are the automatic compression release - or ACR.

Information and explanation of operation is in section 9 of the TP-2379 Kohler service manual

[gamaemry305 0]

Thank you TT. I found it and read up on the ACR. I hope to find a machine shop to get some measurements and their opinion on if it needs any machine work.

Gary