Hacksawhero123 351 #1 Posted March 18, 2019 Well, I’ve been busy with life and away from here for a while. Today was a bad day for the C160. I heard some violence in the block, followed by the unmistakable sound of a rod seizing up. I tore her all down and found chunks of balance gears in the pan. The boss holding the upper balance gear broke from the block, but no external vent holes or cracks. The rod is lunched, the slinger must have struck the balance gear when it went to the pan. The crank looks salvageable. I’m hoping to put her back to service. Wish me luck😂. Mark 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bc.gold 3,399 #2 Posted March 18, 2019 Ouch! Hope your engine block is salvageable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,973 #3 Posted March 18, 2019 4 hours ago, Hacksawhero123 said: Wish me luck Hope it works out for you. I'll be following along to see what happens. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,536 #4 Posted March 18, 2019 Yet another first hand testimonial for the removal of balance gears! Please share some pictures of the carnage. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,332 #5 Posted March 18, 2019 Are the 14 hp bad for the balance gears or are they all this way. How far down do you have to dismantle to get them out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hacksawhero123 351 #6 Posted March 18, 2019 This evening I will renew my supporter status (like a dummy I let it lapse) and post some pics. Thanks, Fellas. Mark 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hacksawhero123 351 #7 Posted March 21, 2019 Carnage pics Mark 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hacksawhero123 351 #8 Posted March 21, 2019 Afternoon Gentlemen. Good news. I found a K341 nearby. It turns over, looks original, and is complete minus the carb. It most likely has a stuck valve. I’ll pick it up tomorrow for $225. I’m still taking my old motor to the machine shop. If it’s salvageable, I’ll rebuild it and shelve this other one for a rainy day. Thanks for the condolences.😂. And the moral support. Mark 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,382 #9 Posted March 21, 2019 I am glad I removed the balance gears from my K341 in my C165! I really didn't notice any difference in the amount of vibration afterwards either. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hacksawhero123 351 #10 Posted March 22, 2019 My new protocol is to remove them from any equipment that comes through my shop door. Terminate with extreme prejudice 😂 Mark 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MalMac 1,328 #11 Posted March 23, 2019 I agree get them out, now with that said. The Magnum 14 and 16, they need to stay in there. I took them out and ended up with a ultra micro vibration, almost sonic like. After doing some research, I found on Brian Miller’s web site that on the Mag 14 and 16’s need to stay in there do to the way the engines are balanced. I figured he knows a whole lot more about them then I do. I found out first hand. Glad I did not keep running them without on a 14 Mag. It would have ended very bad. Now I have K series I have, I have removed them all with no problems. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,159 #12 Posted March 23, 2019 Yeah, I'm another convert.... A while back I had seen a couple post mentioning the "grenade gears" - I had never heard of them! So as the weeks slipped by I became more and more concerned about a .... rattle?? in my 341. I have heard many noises from engines - piston slap, rod loose, valve clatter, etc but this noise was different. Feeling frisky one day I decided to go in and check, after all these engines are relatively easy to remove and take the pan off..... whoa, those 2 gears were very loose! I feel sure I would've been looking at a similar 'grenade blast' like hack saw shows if I hadnt made this relatively easy/simple check. Wisely I went ahead and pulled the head and removed the piston/rod and valves for inspection. Found the rod/piston were well in specs, but did go ahead and throw a new set of rings in, and gave the valves a 'clean up'. Doing this sure gave me some additional comfort knowing with removing the 'grenade gears' and a wellness check on the rest of motor that I should go a long while yet...... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,202 #13 Posted March 23, 2019 Look at the bottom of the cylinder apron and see if any chips or cracks. If not you should be good to go. You were lucky I’ve seen them blow out the side of the block. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
