Wheel-N-It 2,976 #1 Posted August 9, 2015 Last weekend I thought it was time to do another upgrade to the trusty old 312-8 I bought new in 1991. I've already upgraded the seat with a nice highback seat from NT, upgraded the rear wheels and tires with ones froom a 520 Hydro, installed cast iron wheel weights on the rear with a pair of weights from my Grandfathers 1950's Simplicity two wheeled walk behind tractor, upgraded the original front 6 inch wheel and tire set with 8 inchers and new tires with some shiney wheel covers, and JayInNC made a nice stainless steel muffler bling do dad to dress up the factory exhaust system.Next on the list was an engine upgrade, so last weekend I took on that project. One of the Horses in the herd is a 1993 314Hydro with 540 hours on the clock. I don't really use it much due to the fact I'm more of a gear drive Wheel Horse guy. My 312 had 550 hours on its clock so i thought since the 314 had 10 less hours at 540, and a 14hp engine (2hp more than the 12hp engine on the 312) the choice was easy, remove both Kohler Magnums, and replace the 12hp engine with the 14hp engine. The 14hp Kohlers are a little smoother running than their bigger 16hp brothers, yet have the extra working torque power over the smaller 12hp Magnums.The swap was very easy, kind of a no brainer actually. The only extra thing I had to do extra was swap pulleys on the crankshafts. The hydro pulley is a larger diameter than the gear drive pulley so the swap was made, and a new Toro Wheel Horse drive belt was installed on the smaller gear drive pulley from the 12hp engine that now rested on the 14hp crankshaft.So anyway thats it in a nutshell. I hope you enjoyed reading about the upgrades, and hopefully something I've done will appeal to someone here who will then do the same to their favorite tractor. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,808 #2 Posted August 9, 2015 What? No blower? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,553 #3 Posted August 9, 2015 Yeah Van, No blower? Muffler bling is one thing...gotta get that Horse breathing! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
varosd 1,185 #4 Posted August 9, 2015 Now Van, you seem to have forgotten the golden rule...unless there are pictures, it didn't happen!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,191 #5 Posted August 10, 2015 You have to much time on your hands Van!!! Lol. Sounds like you did well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,976 #6 Posted August 10, 2015 Now Van, you seem to have forgotten the golden rule... You have to much time on your hands Van!!! Lol. Sounds like you did well. unless there are pictures, it didn't happen!! OK Don, I'll take some pics. Hopefully it will happen soon. Tomorrow starts another week of working overtime. This Summer has been Hot Hot Hot, and when I get home from work I have just enough energy to drag myself up the back steps to get inside the house and on the leather recliner.Jack, LOL seems right now like my time is more limited than ever. Things at work get more crazier each year, and more is expected of me to help keep some equilibrium about the work enviroment. Hopefully in about three and a half years I can retire and become a full time Wheel Horse Tinkerer. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
papaglide 542 #7 Posted August 10, 2015 Van it seems to me that you suffer from premature posting.....you can't possibly post a story about a repower without having any pictures! Especially when you mention BLING!! Looking forward to the pics. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,976 #8 Posted August 10, 2015 Van it seems to me that you suffer from premature posting.....you can't possibly post a story about a repower without having any pictures! Especially when you mention BLING!! Looking forward to the pics. Well actually what prompted me to start this thread Mike was I took a little break from mowing this afternoon because it was so hot and the Sun was seriously INTENSE !!! There was not a cloud in the sky, and I had enough of the Sun beating down on me. I got a little bored sitting inside in the AC and thought I would throw something on here about whatI i did last weekend which by the way was even hotter than this weekend. It was so hot that it took two beers to get the old engine off and three beers to put the 14 horse power engine on. Speaking of which, I totally forgot to say our good friend James Blankenship came to my house to help with the project. James is very bright and funny, and I was very thankful for his help and company. See what I mean about it being so hot? I totally forgot to include James in the story which makes me feel bad but I know he understands as he suffers through the same hot Summers as i do LOL. Two or more months of mostly 90 degree plus weather will cook your brain if you stay outside day in and day out year after year, especially as we get older. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 66,716 #9 Posted August 10, 2015 It was so hot that it took two beers to get the old engine off and three beers to put the 14 horse power engine on. Seems like that's about right for book time... I just lost the book. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdsl810 181 #10 Posted August 11, 2015 A little longer and you could have installed a six-pack... now that would be something 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
