jaggedfel73 3 #1 Posted July 26, 2021 Hello all! I recently picked up a 96 314-8 and after some work I have it up and mowing. However I feel as though it vibrates a lot, I don't have another machine to compare it to. I know it's a big single 512cc cylinder so I expect some. It shakes pretty good, and after about an hour of mowing my feet almost feel numb from the vibration. I'll try to get a video tomorrow of it running, but was hoping to see what other peoples experience was with these engines. Thanks! Peter 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 59,900 #2 Posted July 26, 2021 Is the vibration coming from the engine or the deck? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaggedfel73 3 #3 Posted July 26, 2021 Vibration is definitely the engine, I did some scraping the other day for a hour or so and felt the same vibration. I can't even feel the deck run it has good spindles in it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,655 #4 Posted July 26, 2021 (edited) I wonder if the previous owner had it rebuilt and left out the balance gears. Magnums have plastic fan blades unlike the older K series, a missing fin on a K series caused vibration not true for you. Thought... are the two engine mounting bolts on the right side in place (the go in from under the frame...) Edited July 26, 2021 by pfrederi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaggedfel73 3 #5 Posted July 26, 2021 (edited) That's a possibility that it was rebuilt. Funny you mentioned engine mounting because that's something I did was remount it properly with grade 8 bolts. This was how it was mounted before They used brackets to "grab" the frame.... So it could be a possibility they left the balance gears out if they got inside it. Would no balance gears affect the life of the engine? Edited July 26, 2021 by jaggedfel73 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,655 #6 Posted July 26, 2021 (edited) Are there holes in the bottom of the oil pan that would align with holes in the top of the frame on the right side. The J bolt technique was not common. Most people leave out the balance gears during a rebuild. They can fail and destroy an engine, but from my personal experience they do make for a smoother engine. What is the spec number of your engine maybe it is not original??? Should be 601559 Edit; or maybe they swapped in a different oil pan..??? Edited July 26, 2021 by pfrederi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaggedfel73 3 #7 Posted July 26, 2021 It is 601559 on the engine. I took those bolts off and mounted the engine properly with bolts into the blind holes on the oil pan. I suppose the only way to tell of the gears are there is to take a look. I may just get some old 1/4" conveyer belt and mount the engine on that to help isolate the vibration. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
