Magnum "M" vs K Series?

[71_Bronco 1,072]

What was the difference, if any, between the Magnum Kohlers and the "K" series?

 

There's a Magnum 8 for sale locally, never seen an M8 before. Has a recoil starter on it.

 

Would a regular "K" series starter bolt onto it? Or are parts not very interchangable?

[ebinmaine 72,671]

I'm not sure if the parts are interchangeable. If it has a pull start now there's a pretty fair chance it does not have a charging circuit. That's okay as long as you charge the battery on your own.

[JAinVA 4,636]

I just bought an 8 horse k series electric start and the starter looks like a standard  k series but I haven't taken it off to see.Finding an electric start fly wheel for either can be difficult and expensive.The k series has cast fins like its bigger siblings.The M series 8 horse takes an expensive plastic fan that is unique to the 8hp,and seems to be harder to find than the flywheel itself.The aluminum bearing plate has the usual differences that the bigger M and Ks do.I just bought an M8 bearing plate and the place where the starter mounts has a cover bolted to it to block off area.This seems have been done to pull start Ms so you may just need a toothed flywheel and starter.

Edited August 12, 2020 by JAinVA

[Stepney 2,354]

I'm not sure about the 8hp, but seems to me the 10-16 used a flange mounted starter instead of the side mount like our old K's? 

In general they were mostly the same old engine, just fitted with a solid state magneto ignition. 

[953 nut 59,990]

If ti isn't electric start and you want an electric start keep looking. Buying all the parts will be prohibitively expensive.

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Reason I ask is because I have a K181 with a Starter / Generator that has a blown rod (my fault) currently in my Commando 8. I have another K181 with a newer electric starter set up that I was going to pull off and swap on the Starter / Generator.

 

This would leave a pile of K181 Starter parts left over, that I was thinking might be usable on the M8.

 

The shroud / aluminum bearing plate on the M8 looks like it has a provision for a starter, with a little block plate where the starter gear would pop through.

 

I also read on an older WH thread that the newer internals wouldn't work with older internals (and vice-versa). The thread also said that the newer M-Series had newer electrical with no points system for the ignition.

 

Oh, and on some of the newer M-Srries, some had carbs that did not have adjustments for high / low end.

[953 nut 59,990]

        Not sure if all the parts and pieces will work but if you already own them it is worth a shot. Probably Kohler didn't reinvent the wheel and used most of the same castings. You might be able to use the bearing plate from the blown-up K181 on the M8.