Head gasket on the k301

[Thegearhead0324 1,352]

Hello all. Today it was ok enough outside to go out in the shed and replace one of the many things I bought from fleabay. I decided to replace the head gasket, (all original, never taken off.) I was really nervous, but surprisingly all 9 bolts came right off no problem. Also, I've definately seen worse. For 50 years old, this thing really surprised me. I also replaced the front breather cover filter and gaskets. Here's a couple before and after pics.

[Ed Kennell 42,081]

Looks good....what did you use to clean it?

[953 nut 60,160]

          Remember to redo the torque on the head bolts after it has run for an hour or so.

[Thegearhead0324 1,352]

A soft wire wheel on a cordless drill, brake cleaner, and a microfiber cloth. Used the kohler manual for torque spec and sequence. I really thought those bolts would give me a hard time I was prepared for the worse, but it was literally like butter.

Will do, that actually slipped my mind about the retorque lol. I got the carb off and few other things too that I gotta take care of. 

[midpack 1,011]

did you check the head for flatness? I have a K341 that I'm getting ready in case my series I KT17 bites the dust  

the head was so far out I ended up milling it flat, then doing the 180 grit sandpaper on a surface plate thing to make sure it was flat

 

sometimes it's good to have a machine shop at your disposal! 

[Ed Kennell 42,081]

I just decarbed my K-321.   It took about an hour of polishing  on a piece of 1/2" thick glass to get the head back to flat.

[Thegearhead0324 1,352]

I checked the head and block were perfect. As for carbon build up... most of it wiped off there was nothing hardened. I guess I was really lucky lol.