Time to take an old horse behind the barn and do whats right.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

I guess it was 3 years ago, i got a free 312; it had sat 16 years in a field, it was very rusty, engine was stuck, 8spd was full of water, tires were rotted off.  I got it to run, but i spotted some stuff I knew would eventually do her in.  The shift levers were eroded to about 3/16" thickness and there wasnt any reasonable way to repair them.  Today the shifter shifted its last shift.  I really thought the hammering M12 would have been what did it, but no, shes forever in Neutral.

 

Ill save whats good, new tires, wheels, hood, gas tank, hubs, ill pull whats good off the M12.  Yes I know "just swap a good 8spd into it". Its not worth it, the 48" blade will look real nice on the 416-H

[ebinmaine 67,391]

Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA once told me that sometimes you can save several Horses by dismantling one...

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,314]

We’ve all done it at one time or another …

[Moonshine*Connoisseur 435]

This winter I'm going to dismantle a C-145 to save a gt-1600 and C-161. Bittersweet for sure. 

[Pullstart 62,829]

So it needs a shifter?  

[ebinmaine 67,391]

1 minute ago, Pullstart said:

So it needs a shifter?  

 

Engine has issues too.  

[Pullstart 62,829]

Gotcha.  Meh.  Add some 90 weight in the crankcase and spin’r up!  

[953 nut 55,156]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Gotcha.  Meh.  Add some 90 weight in the crankcase and spin’r up!  

When I was in high school we did that with an old Ford six that burned a 50/50 mix of gas and motor oil. I worked in a gas station and would save the drain oil for him and then he decided to go for the goooo stuff. We drained it, pumped in five quarts of 90 and off the went. Turns out hydraulic lifters and 90 weren't very compatible, not much lubricant was getting through the pushrods to the valve train either. The clatter it was making got to the point the kid's grandfather bought him another car.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

So it needs a shifter?  

It needs a transmission.  The set screw has rusted off, cant pull the broken stub out, the hi-lo shifter is holding on by about 20% of the rod thickness.  What sucks is, i gave away a C160 rolling chassis last year..the 8spd was mint but i didn't want to pull it because then it wasn't a roller..it was just in the way.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Gotcha.  Meh.  Add some 90 weight in the crankcase and spin’r up!  

Im tempted to tie off the governor and get far...far away, put the tach on it and see how hard she'll turn before the knock stops.  But its still got enough good parts to keep around, stupid part is its got a new rod, piston, rings, governor, carb, and it runs as good as any Kohler ive seen.  Its knocked like this for over 2 years and over 140 hours, the oil has 0 metal.

[Bill D 1,916]

1 hour ago, RED-Z06 said:

Im tempted to tie off the governor and get far...far away, put the tach on it and see how hard she'll turn before the knock stops.  But its still got enough good parts to keep around, stupid part is its got a new rod, piston, rings, governor, carb, and it runs as good as any Kohler ive seen.  Its knocked like this for over 2 years and over 140 hours, the oil has 0 metal.

I'd see if someone wants that engine.  Maybe it can be rebuilt.  I've got a couple here like that.  I'd like to find new homes for them.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

40 minutes ago, Bill D said:

I'd see if someone wants that engine.  Maybe it can be rebuilt.  I've got a couple here like that.  I'd like to find new homes for them.

I think the knock is the cam gear; i cant imagine its knocked this long, with new parts, and not come apart.  Cam gear had a bunch of lash i couldn't get rid of

[RED-Z06 2,221]

Heres the knock, after tightening the pulley, and deleting the balance gears.  This is with a new rod, piston..sounded the same with the old parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bill D 1,916]

Run it, just don't blow it up.

[kpinnc 11,979]

2 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Its knocked like this for over 2 years and over 140 hours, the oil has 0 metal.

Can you see the throttle butterfly screws? 
 

I had one come out and get squashed flat on the head. Thank goodness it was brass. 
 

Anyway, it sure had a knock until I figured it out. This was back when you could still get new Kohler pistons and such. I had quite a few dollars invested in that engine. 

[RED-Z06 2,221]

On 10/11/2024 at 1:15 PM, kpinnc said:

Can you see the throttle butterfly screws? 
 

I had one come out and get squashed flat on the head. Thank goodness it was brass. 
 

Anyway, it sure had a knock until I figured it out. This was back when you could still get new Kohler pistons and such. I had quite a few dollars invested in that engine. 

So, the engine was stuck when i got it, it freed up and ran but ran away...it didn't knock though, but I couldn't control the speed.  Pulled the engine, a flyweight had come apart..so i pulled the engine bare, new gear put in.  Figured..hone the bore and do rings while its apart.  After honing, i hot tanked the block, power washed it, 2 cans of brake cleaner.  Then assembled it back.  Started right up; ran perfectly.  After 2 hours, oil was black, and it was starting to smoke, and rattle.  After 1 more hour it was knocking.  Pulled it back off, heavy piston skirt wear, rings worn, rod measured in spec but barely, crank pin was in spec.  New rod, piston, rings, seals, removed balance gears.  Ran fine but rattled the same amount.  Its knocked ever since.  Im sure the rod was close to the small side of tolerance, my measurement tools arent super elite high quality but of the 100+engines ive rebuilt this is the only one ive ever had any problems with.

[kpinnc 11,979]

7 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

So, the engine was stuck when i got it, it freed up and ran but ran away..

I was just wondering since it happened on one of my rebuilds. 
 

My engine ran like a top for a few days and then had the worst knock you can imagine. Oil stayed clean but she sounded terrible. When I pulled the head I found a squished flat piece of carbon covered metal and when I cleaned it you could see it was some kind of brass. 
 

So I looked in the carb and found a throttle screw had come out and been ingested. I’m so glad that I used brass screws. Steel would have destroyed the head and brand new Kohler piston. Might have damaged the rod as well.