Replacement Parts - Prices Up, Quality Down

[rmaynard 15,501]

While rebuilding my K161 engine for the 701 project, I have rebuilt the original carburetor several times only to have it fail over and over again. To be specific, rebuild kits (if you can call them that) which only includes the float valve parts and gaskets, are not the same quality of similar parts from the past. Float needles stick, the brass seats are not machined smoothly at the bottom, rubber gaskets fail, (they swell as soon as gasoline hits them and are impossible to reinsert into the groove), and the prices have doubled. I had another carburetor on hand that I could "rebuild" and swap out but that one failed as well. The thing that gripes me the most is that when you finally get the float valve to work right, you come back an hour later only to find gasoline dripping down onto the fuel pump because the cheap little fiber washer on bowl bolt is leaking. Before the pandemic, I bought a pack of 5 good rebuild kits for $20.00 on Amazon. Today they are $9.00 each for junk.

 

Is anyone else having these issues?

 

Okay, that's my rant for today.

[WHX?? 48,823]

We had this discussion about carb rebuild kits a bit ago. Consensus was to just use the Kohler ones. They have gotten pricey too tho. 

[ri702bill 8,327]

Agreed - just be careful it is not substituted for the OE part "by mistake" 

 

Did a bit of searching - most of what Oregon and Stens sell are manufactured elsewhere; Rotary is based in Georgia and claims the 80% of what they sell is made in the USA. See if the seller offers a real warranty - most Jungle and Fleabay sellers do not.....

[Sailman 1,291]

Not sure where he sources his rebuild kits but I have bought several kits from Norman at I Save Tractors and have had no problems with those. Anyone else?

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

37 minutes ago, Sailman said:

Not sure where he sources his rebuild kits but I have bought several kits from Norman at I Save Tractors and have had no problems with those. Anyone else?

 

I second that. I have used I don't know have many from I save tractors and never had an issue. Matter of fact I just put one in a carb on a 1067 this week and it's been great so far. I can't say about other brands though, I only get kits from isavetractors.com.

[Ed Kennell 38,196]

59 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Before the pandemic, I bought a pack of 5 good rebuild kits for $20.00 on Amazon. Today they are $9.00 each

That's about right for everything Bob.     Your 2021 $1.00 is worth about $0.50 today.      Problem is I have trouble doubling the price of everything I sell.

[lynnmor 7,307]

I have had the cheap float needles stick because of the razor sharp corners digging into the sides of the seat.  The answer was to chuck up the needle in a small drill chuck and radius the corner with a fine stone. 

[ri702bill 8,327]

3 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

The answer was to chuck up the needle in a small drill chuck and radius the corner with a fine stone. 

BUT - wasn't that the Manufacturers job to do just that ?????? It's like going to a Breakfast Diner and ordering 2 eggs over easy - and having the cook hand you an apron, telling you that you have to cook them yourself !!!!! 

[lynnmor 7,307]

Just now, ri702bill said:

BUT - wasn't that the Manufacturers job to do just that ?????? It's like going to a Breakfast Diner and ordering 2 eggs over easy - and having the cook hand you an apron, telling you that you have to cook them yourself !!!!! 

No, it is not the Chinese manufacturers job, their job is to collect your money.  Your job is to get the stupid thing running despite all the junk standing in your way. 

[ri702bill 8,327]

1 hour ago, lynnmor said:

No, it is not the Chinese manufacturers job, their job is to collect your money.  Your job is to get the stupid thing running despite all the junk standing in your way. 

I respectfully dis-agree, on the grounds that I refuse to (using a phrase my old Boss loved) attempt to polish a turd. The more pressure you apply, the more it dries out and crumbles.

This comes from more that a decade of having to deal with marginally designed products at work - the Mfg. Engineers were expected to be the miracle workers to tweak the Assembly process so that there is no scrap generated, only "acceptable" product went out the door and the profits rolled back in - NOT !!!! 

Edited April 19, 2023 by ri702bill

[rmaynard 15,501]

And don't get me started on Chinese carburetors. I used to speak no evil about them because six years ago I put a Chinese carb on my B-100 (K241). It worked like a champ. Just like an OEM carburetor. I didn't even have to adjust the high or low needle valves. Fast forward to last week. While I was waiting for more crappy kits to arrive, I decided to purchased a Chinese replacement carb for the K161. It was delivered next day. Here is what was wrong with it:

The float valve seat was not replaceable. It was pressed into the carb. The hole in the seat was so small that the bowl would take so long to fill that the engine would starve for gas. The needle was not brass, but pot metal with a rubber tip.

The low speed jet did not function at all. Screwed all the way in it ran as bad as all the way out and everything in-between.

The high speed jet was not much better.

The throttle throat was so small in diameter (about 1/8" smaller in diameter than OEM, I doubt it would even work on a K91.

It was advertised as follows: K161 Carburetor Replacement for Kohler 8HP K90 K91 K141 K160 46 853 01-S, 46 053 03-S

So, graciously, Amazon took it back. 

Last night I finished rebuilding another carb for the K161. It ran great but after letting it sit, the bowl bolt would leak, so I carefully removed it, put some gasoline proof pipe sealant on the both sides of the fiber washer, and as of this morning, no leaks.

[Achto 27,594]

I have tried a few aftermarket carb kits and was never happy with the results. Now I will only buy the OEM kits, it must say "Kohler genuine part". They cost more but every thing fits as it should and I don't have any issues when I'm done. 

[WHX?? 48,823]

58 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

I put a Chinese carb on my B-100 (K241). It worked like a champ. Just like an OEM carburetor.

purchased a Chinese replacement carb for the K161. It was delivered next day. Here is what was wrong with it:

 

Same here seems like the luck of the draw. 

Ordered a carb for the cement saw and it was junk.  Let the flea bayer know and promplty refunded me. Didn't even want it back... makes me think the seller knows it junk. 

 

Try this on that bowl nut gasket Bob. Also works for holding the bowl seal & baffle in when the carb is mounted on the motor & you can get the bowl on. 

Edited April 19, 2023 by WHX??

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

27 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

 

 

What does a kohler kit run these days?

 

[WHX?? 48,823]

5 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

 

What does a kohler kit run these days?

 

10 to 15 clams & better. Yep used to be able to get a couple for that. 

 that part number Mike ... you'll see them for 25 and up...  

Edited April 19, 2023 by WHX??

[rmaynard 15,501]

So far, the pipe thread sealant has been holding. Time will tell. Now, about this. What exactly does "crafted in USA" mean? I'm guessing that it doesn't mean MADE IN THE USA.

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,594]

16 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

What exactly does "crafted in USA" mean? I'm guessing that it doesn't mean MADE IN THE USA.

 

It most likely means "the packaging sticker on this bag, which contains part(s) made and assembled in a country other than the USA, was crafted and placed on this bag in the USA by part time workers with no benefits." 

[squonk 41,136]

I use only Kohler OEM rebuild kits and have had the same issue with the carb nut leaking the last 4 I've done. So it doesn't matter what kit you get. Even tried it with a brand new bowl. Next one is getting Aviation Sealer!

[clueless 3,002]

I've often wondered what the legality of a company that states "Made In America" or The USA. Stihl, the outdoor equipment company has a commercial out right now that says Proudly Made In America. Do a little research and you'll find out most if not all of their 2 cycle carbs are made overseas. Just a couple of years ago they built a new carb manufacture plant in the Philippines. Now they do assemble everything here, but that's not really "Made In America", think about. Now I'm heading to get me a cold bottle of Anheuser-Bush-InBev Budweiser out of the Frigidaire.

Edited April 19, 2023 by clueless

[EB-80/8inPA 1,648]

57 minutes ago, clueless said:

Now I'm heading to get me a cold bottle of Anheuser-Bush-InBev Budweiser out of Frigidaire.

This whole thread is simply depressing.  Ugh.

[ri702bill 8,327]

13 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

This whole thread is simply depressing.  Ugh.

 

OK, kids -  time for a partial History "Lesson". I say partial - there were other players involved too, but I want to remind you of how GM "helped" get us to where we are today....

General Motors in 1995 got a new CEO with a different Business Vision. At that time, I was not yet working for my last employer, the Automotive OEM, but was working for their preferred Automation House. They shared their pain.....

 

The name of the CEO escapes me, but two of his mandates to Suppliers were....   

 

All suppliers will cut the cost of the product to GM by 10% each year for the duration of the contract - doesn't care how they do it - just do it. Most opted for offshoring their domestic products.

 

GM required ALL suppliers to have "an Asian Presence" to cut transportation costs, as GM was ramping up car production in the Far East. That created local offshore suppliers and support - new businesses in manufacturing and assembling automotive parts.... and down the road, outdoor power..........

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[953 nut 55,280]

Here is a little Blast from the Past.   The Japanese City of Usa became a manufacturing hub in the late '70 and early '80 tim period and all of their products said "Made in USA"

[WHX?? 48,823]

Well least they got a Mickie Ds...

[Sailman 1,291]

The term "Made in America" actually means assembled in America now....parts sourced from other countries. Major deception.

 

On Chinese carbs....I bought a used 50 CC yamaha for my grand kids and couldn't get it to run right no matter how I set the adjusting screws on idle or high speed jet. Took the carb apart and discovered....they didn't adjust anything! Just screwed in and out for show!

Replaced it with an OEM. 

 

As for AB Bud Light....no thanks.....

Edited April 20, 2023 by Sailman

[SylvanLakeWH 25,594]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

Here is a little Blast from the Past.   The Japanese City of Usa became a manufacturing hub in the late '70 and early '80 time period and all of their products said "Made in USA"

 

"Truth" in Advertising...