CNC 10 #1 Posted March 20 Hi guys I am rebuilting a K341s kohler engine . I have had it board and they install the vaules. Now I am tryting to time the crankshaft and cam. Is it possible to install the cam wrong? because the crank will not line up with the timming marks on the cam thanks CNC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,321 #3 Posted March 20 The Kohler Manual has good information on cam installation in section 12. If you have ballance gears in the engine I would suggest you remove them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CNC 10 #4 Posted March 21 20 hours ago, CNC said: Hi guys I am rebuilting a K341s kohler engine . I have had it board and they install the vaules. Now I am tryting to time the crankshaft and cam. Is it possible to install the cam wrong? because the crank will not line up with the timming marks on the cam thanks CNC Thanks guys for your help after reading the manual again I feel better about timing the engine. also I have decided to leave the blance gears out. So therefore all I have to do is line the long mark on the crankshaft with the dot on the cam. thanks CNC 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,609 #5 Posted March 21 4 minutes ago, CNC said: also I have decided to leave the blance gears out. Excellent idea!! We like to refer to them as "Grenade Gears" 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,642 #6 Posted March 21 I took the gears out of mine when I rebuilt it. Even with the specialist tools and knowledge to fit them properly they can still explode and they really don't make that much difference. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #7 Posted March 21 Sorry to disagree but I left them out of the last K341 and it has an unpleasant vibration. Just got another one back from the machine shop today. if the Balance gear shafts are in spec she will get new bearings and they go back in. These engines have run for hundreds or thousands of hours an small percentage failed from bad balance gears ...but were they properly maintained or just abused. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,237 #8 Posted March 22 Curious... Are balance gears unique to the K341? Do all K341s have them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #9 Posted March 22 Balance gears could be used in any Big Block K series and Magnums. They show with lots of variations, but I have to assume not all engines had them. I really think a lot of people leave them out as they are not easy to get installed correctly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,155 #10 Posted March 22 I have a rebuilt K321 in my 953 with the balance gears out. It has a slight vibration but it's a tractor by jimminy not a highway cruiser! The 341 that was in my C160 with the broken piston skirt had the balance gears ready to let go. Glad I tore it down. 1 bearing needle was found in the pan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,926 #11 Posted March 22 If I was having a Kohler rebuilt I'd plan to leave the balance gears out and have the crankshaft rebalanced to compensate. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,926 #12 Posted March 22 19 hours ago, pfrederi said: Sorry to disagree but I left them out of the last K341 and it has an unpleasant vibration. Just got another one back from the machine shop today. if the Balance gear shafts are in spec she will get new bearings and they go back in. These engines have run for hundreds or thousands of hours an small percentage failed from bad balance gears ...but were they properly maintained or just abused. I'd leave them out and have the crankshaft rebalanced. Kirk Engine's makes a plate for this or find the thread from @Greentoredabout his K321 rebuild. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,926 #13 Posted April 16 On 3/22/2024 at 9:22 AM, pfrederi said: Balance gears could be used in any Big Block K series and Magnums. They show with lots of variations, but I have to assume not all engines had them. I really think a lot of people leave them out as they are not easy to get installed correctly. I believe most John Deere spec engines came without them. I was looking a blocks on eBay and you can clearly see that the John Deere blocks weren't machined for balance gears. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,092 #14 Posted April 17 On 3/22/2024 at 8:43 AM, Handy Don said: Are balance gears unique to the K341? Do all K341s have them? I've never seen them in a K241/ M10, but every other big block I've opened had them. My Bronco's K321 got "degrenaded" last year. At idle, I absolutely can feel more vibration. Above idle, I can't feel anything. Personally, I'd rather leave them out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,321 #15 Posted April 17 Not all engines came with the balance gears, I have a K-301 from a Simplicity that had none from the factory. Looked up the Spec number and the parts manual said they didn't put them in that number. None are shown for any spec number K-241. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
