Balance gears

[Gregor 4,847]

I have been reading a couple of old posts about balance gears in a Kohler engine. On the two 14s I rebuilt,I removed the balance gears. I have a 3 more 14s and a 16. They seem to run fine. I am not smart enough to know when balance gears are rattling, or when a Kohler, just sounds like a Kohler. Would you open them up and remove the balance gears, just to avoid a problem? Or leave well enough alone.

 

Thanks  Greg

[kpinnc 14,630]

Me personally, I would remove them before alot of use if the engine has high hours. K series and Magnums are pretty much bulletproof without them. The problem is that these old engines run hundreds and thousands of hours. When those little bearings and stub shafts that balance gears run on get worn, it's only a matter of time. A nearly worn out Kohler will keep on running for years, but balance gears are definitely the Achilles heel if the engine has high hours.

 

Up to you whether it warrants opening an engine up just to get them- but I take them out without question if I open the block up for anything else.

Edited September 12, 2021 by kpinnc

[richmondred01 2,307]

The balance gear failed on this engine. It happens often especially when the engines are over 1000 hours or weren’t maintained. Things wear out at that age. 

I only leave them in on the m16 engines and I always press new needle bearings in and triple check the tolerance.
Depending on the hours and maintenance history, I personally would pull them during rebuild however, that’s just my opinion. 
Would I specifically, tear down the engine to just remove them, no. 
But if you have 800-1000 hours on the engine, it may be time for a rebuild anyway. 
 

Edited September 12, 2021 by richmondred01

[pacer 3,177]

A while back I got a MF1650 with the K341 with the usual  -- Oh, yeah that things been sittin out back for years, you want it? make me an offer (It had a tiller too!!) So, for $200 I drug it home. First thing I did was to get it running - if possible, and that was fairly simple. After an hour or so of seat time I was hearing a .... rattle? that I didnt like the sound of. I like to inspect a "new" engine anyway, so I went into it --as soon as I dropped the pan, I reached over and ckd the 'grenade gears'  Very sloppy! Jerked those out and then ckd the rod/piston/valves etc. The crank was'nt real bad at some .002/.003 under but while I got it out may as well correct it, and bore was good, so new set of rings, dress valves, etc.

 

Anyway, the moral of the story is it was a good thing I went into the thing, the rod would have probably gone OK for some time, but those gears was on their death bed.

 

If you have a lot of seat time with an engine and are familiar with its ... character? (every engine seems to have its own personality!) then when you notice a new/change in that 'character' from the engine stop and inspect it.

[Gregor 4,847]

On 9/11/2021 at 7:24 AM, Gregor said:

I have been reading a couple of old posts about balance gears in a Kohler engine. On the two 14s I rebuilt,I removed the balance gears. I have a 3 more 14s and a 16. They seem to run fine. I am not smart enough to know when balance gears are rattling, or when a Kohler, just sounds like a Kohler. Would you open them up and remove the balance gears, just to avoid a problem? Or leave well enough alone.

 

Thanks  Greg

This is why I asked. This is the Kohler 321 on one of my Masseys. Not sure how well the sound will come through. Using a stethoscope on the block, I only hear some ticking, like you might on any motor. The POPPING (or whatever) seems more noticeable at low RPM. I first thought it might be the PTO clutch, but everything seems solid, and tight. Switching on the electric PTO doesn't make any difference.