K361 Rebuild. First one for me. Differences?

[Fordiesel69 270]

I have a K series rebuild manual, however it does not seem to cover anything on the 18HP K361 overhead valve. 

 

I have a few questions.  I assume it is just a K341 with some push rods / overhead valves.  Ebay does not seem to have any rebuild parts.  Brian Millers page also does not list anything.

 

Is this project even worth taking on?  Its for a power king,

[rmaynard 16,146]

Check the manuals section. I uploaded a K361 manual today.

[Fordiesel69 270]

Great.  Will look it over.

 

Good news is the engine has a rod knock but has not blown yet.  So im sure the lower end is identical to the k341 on down.

 

I wonder if it is wise to remove the balance gears.

 

I also wonder why kolher never made this engine into the magnum line?

[MarkPalmer 81]

This engine was only made for a few years, because it ended up having some reliability issues.  It retained the slinger type oiling system of the other K engines which didn't supply enough oil up to the head causing valve guide and seat problems.  The high duration camshafts are very commonly pilfered out of the K361 and installed in the smaller K singles for pulling, as you might have seen on Brian's site.  I have seen a lot of these engine blocks and most of the other internal parts, less the cam, for sale on Fleabay.  In fact the cam alone is worth as much as a complete engine.  I don't think the rod is the same as the K341, I believe the K361 used a forged aluminum rod made by Alcoa- another item popular among the puller crowd. 

 

-Mark-

[Fordiesel69 270]

So with those reliabilty issues, is it worth rebuilding?  I have access to a machine shop to do the guides.

[MarkPalmer 81]

Just my opinion, but it would be worth rebuilding for nostalgia purposes because so many have been scrapped and there are few out there that are in service, and you can even run it hard as long as the RPM's are kept up and the engine is kept well maintained.  This is one engine that does not tolerate slow speeds or idling very well.  If you rebuild and run it, it really is something unique to have as far as Kohler engines go.  I think the whole design of the K361 was a hasty mistake on the part of Kohler to rush an OHV design to the market in response to Tecumseh doing so. 

 

-Mark-

[Fordiesel69 270]

Maybe going to syn 5w-40 oil and keeping the rpms up on start will help.  I am actually trying to think how the oil gets up to the head.  I was looking at the book and have no clue how oil is splashed up there at all.....

 

My honda OHC has a wet belt that slings it up.

[MarkPalmer 81]

The valves only got what oil was slung up there on the K361, so higher RPM gave them more oil.  Some of the smaller OHV engines on the market still use slingers, but they are vertical shafts so the oil gets to the valvetrain easier as it doesn't have to be slung upwards.  I just remember the guy at the show I saw the K361 on had it in a Simplicity, and stressed keeping it at top governed speed or close to it all the time. 

 

-Mark-