Engine Swap Warranted? – Need Advice

[Jake217 20]

Hey All,

I picked up a 1986 312A with a one armed FEL a couple of years ago and ended up putting the FEL on my C-165 8 speed (pictures already posted) because I did not think it was a good idea to run the loader on the 312A’s Eaton 700. Well sure enough, as soon as I started using the 312A as my worker, it was clear the Eaton 700 was weaker than it should be. I picked up an Eaton 1100 in great shape and threw it in the 312A and put in the hydro lift. So now it’s a 312H, I guess.

Here’s the problem… The Eaton 1100 is fantastic, but it just seems like it might be a little too much for the K301. The K301 runs great, but the engine just sounds like its working way to hard going up the slightest hills. I don’t think Wheel Horse every paired a 12HP with the 1100 and leads me to think I should put in a little more power.

My plan is to take the K341 out of the C-165 and solid mount it to the 312 ( I’ll replace the shaker cradle bushings with some steel blanks I have). I rebuilt the K341 last winter (doing an Onan P220g this winter) and it runs great. I’ll throw the K301 in the C-165 with the loader and solid mount that one as well. I don’t think the K301 will have a problem with the 8 speed and the FEL.

Here are my questions…

Am I worried too much about the K301 straining with the 1100 and should I just leave it in there? Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Assuming I go forward with the engine swap, I know I need to move the rectifier and most likely the ignition switch from the C-165 as part of the swap due to the fact that my K301 has the dual stator and does not use a rectifier. Do I need to swap ignition switches as well? Am I going to have a problem with gauges, lights and any other electrical due to the different charging configuration?

Is there anything else I need to do that I’m not thinking about and should be?

Any and all help and opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[leeave96 487]

FWIW, the later model 312-H tractors with the Kohler Magnum 12 hp engines had the Eaton 11 (1100) tranny's in them.

[SousaKerry 500]

Not to mention that the C-125's had Eaton 11's in them also, and many had a long career. Mine ran fine until I lost a rod cap due to the previous owners failed rebuild. The 12HP I replaced it with had plenty of power but had a knock and I acquired a KT-17 II, so I swapped for MORE POWER, only thing i miss is fuel economy now.

But if it were me and the K301 is still running fine and not using oil or knocking I'd leave it in there.

[ericj 1,576]

check your pionts, timing could cause your motor to labor under a load. i had a 310-8 that did that just didn't the power it should have had. don't remmeber exactly what i did do but i know it was a combination of carb and timing and alittle govenor adjments. after i got it straightened out i was able to run a 48" deck under it with out a whole lot of trouble as long as i didn't let the grass get to far ahead of me. start with pionts and timimg and keep adj. to you get it were you wnt it. good luck

eric j

[Jake217 20]

Thanks Guys. I'm going to leave everything as is. Now I need to find another winter project. Shouldn't be to hard. Thanks Again.