K181 Swap

[csvt99 173]

I am finally getting around to swapping out the 8 hp K181 on my 877 and decided to start a new thread about it. I just haven't had the time to document everything, but am figuring I might need some help from all of you to get everything back up and running. Fortunately, my dad grew up with wheel horses and is able to help me some. 

 

Here is a link to a previous thread of how I got here. I picked up the replacement motor from Squonk this summer. https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/97285-k181-rebuild-or-replace/?tab=comments#comment-1041647 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,465]

Excellent. 

I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress and the victory lap when it's running.  

 

 

Take LOTS of pictures and post them here. We like to see them and you'll have them as a reference point.  

 

If you mark the wires with tape there will be no questions as to where they went.  

 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,999]

Good luck with the rebuild. 

 

You might want to consider becoming a Red Square member.  Something like $25 per year.  One of the benefits is no limit on the number of pictures you can post.

[csvt99 173]

The only issue I'm having so far is hooking up the battery. I had taken it off to put on the charger before I got started on the motor, so I don't have pictures. I only have two wires that I can find that are to be hooked to the battery. One larger one and one smaller green wire that connects to the regulator. It seems these both would go to the positive terminal, but that leaves nothing for the ground. Any suggestions? I I might have to dig around some more to make sure there isn't one hiding somewhere. 

 

 

 

[squonk 41,099]

Ground wire from battery connects to the engine block anywhere (preferred) or to the frame. My 857 goes to the engine / belt guard bolt above the pulley.

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by squonk

[csvt99 173]

Ah hah! Thanks so much. I checked the corner of my garage where I stashed the pulley guard and sure enough the ground strap was laying with the cover. Now I just have to get the battery connected, install the new nipple and muffler, and hope she starts! 

[csvt99 173]

So I finally got everything set up, and last Saturday was nice so I fired her up and everything went well. However, I now have a strange problem. It is leaking gas through the carburetor somewhere/ somehow. It was pooling in the air cleaner cover, and the air cleaner was soaked with gas. I removed those pieces and set them outside to evaporate, and cleaned the remaining gas in the carb with a shop towel. I then stuffed a clean paper towel in the carb opening, and 24 hours later the towel is saturated in gas. But I can't see it leaking anywhere in the carb. 

 

Any ideas as to what is going on? I guess it is time to turn off the gas...

 

Thanks!

[wallfish 16,995]

15 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

Any ideas as to what is going on? I guess it is time to turn off the gas...

That's a typical condition of the float valve leaking.

[ebinmaine 67,465]

24 minutes ago, wallfish said:

That's a typical condition of the float valve leaking.

I'll second that. 

 

Time for a carb clean out. 

[csvt99 173]

I cleaned the carb when I switched it to the new motor. Is it possible I messed something up in the process?

[wallfish 16,995]

14 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

I cleaned the carb when I switched it to the new motor. Is it possible I messed something up in the process?

The float valve is leaking so that's where the gas is coming from if it's 100% dry on the outside of the carb.

Cleaning doesn't necessarily mean you messed something up but the valve isn't closing tight for some reason so it's leaking. You could try pulling it out and cleaning it. Or,  Order a rebuilt kit or just a float valve if all the gaskets are good

[ineedanother 1,369]

22 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

I cleaned the carb when I switched it to the new motor. Is it possible I messed something up in the process?

Not necessarily. If the carb is clean, the float and needle may just not playing nice or the needle might be rotated to a position it's not happy with. I would drop the bowl and work the float up and down a bit and try again before going much further. If you see crap in the bowl already you'll likely need to do a clean-out of your tank and lines but for some reason it sounds like your float isn't stopping fuel supply.

[csvt99 173]

Ok thanks. I did already clean out the tank and lines when I did the swap, but you never know, so I will give that a try. 

[ineedanother 1,369]

Another thought, a lot of carbs will not prevent the float from being reinstalled upside down. They reassemble just fine but the float will not raise enough to completely seal off fuel flow. Just a thought.

[pfrederi 17,738]

Make sure there is no gas in the float body itself...

[wallfish 16,995]

Shake it. If you hear, feel gas inside it won't float as high and therefore not shut off the gas flow.

Adjusting the float may help too if it wasn't already done or checked. You will need to remove the entire carb, not just the bowl, to adjust the float because you need to turn it upside down. If you don't have one, search the files section for the manual. It will show the spec and how to adjust the float properly.

 

[csvt99 173]

It was fine previously on the other engine. All I did was remove it, spray it with carb cleaner and put it on the new motor. I guess I may have disturbed something internally while cleaning, or perhaps it stuck fast because it had been sitting for a year or so.

[ebinmaine 67,465]

56 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

It was fine previously on the other engine. All I did was remove it, spray it with carb cleaner and put it on the new motor. I guess I may have disturbed something internally while cleaning, or perhaps it stuck fast because it had been sitting for a year or so.

Could be either one. No worries.

 

What exactly did you do as far as cleaning the fuel system?

New hoses?

Non-ethanol fuel?

Clean out the fuel pump?

 

Highly likely you could have dislodged a small piece of schmutz and it's stuck holding the float open.

 

[squonk 41,099]

If the needle is old it just may have been time for it to take a dump.

[csvt99 173]

I'm thinking I might just need to replace the carb instead of messing with it. I cleaned the gas tank, blew out the lines, replaced the inline fuel filter, and added fresh non ethanol fuel. I never use ethanol in my small gas equipment. Thanks.

[squonk 41,099]

1 hour ago, csvt99 said:

I'm thinking I might just need to replace the carb instead of messing with it. I cleaned the gas tank, blew out the lines, replaced the inline fuel filter, and added fresh non ethanol fuel. I never use ethanol in my small gas equipment. Thanks.

Do not throw out the old one. You don't find them every day. If you find you don't need /want it I'll take it. 

[csvt99 173]

Ok, I'll see what happens. I don't throw anything out and everyone yells at me for it.

[Handy Don 12,217]

21 hours ago, csvt99 said:

everyone yells at me for it

No one on this forum will join that chorus!

[csvt99 173]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

No one on this forum will join that chorus!

Somehow I believe that. If we did a genetic study of everyone on this forum I'm guessing many of us would have that gene. It just feels so good to use something today that you saved 15 years ago. This is how my ancestors survived the depression. 

[csvt99 173]

I removed the carb and the bowl. The bowl did still have some gas in it. Any thoughts? Not quite sure where to start. Thanks!