Alrashid2 319 #1 Posted Thursday at 08:32 PM (edited) In my hunt to stop oil leaks on my Kohler K301 on my Wheel Horse 312-8, I have found that the Governer Stop Pin is the last thing leaking oil profusely on my engine block. After cleaning the engine block and running the tractor for just 5 minutes, the area around the Stop Pin (looks like a Philips head screw) will be seeping in oil. I know that the engine shouldn't be pushing oil out ideally, but I'm thinking this 1985 engine is getting up there and there may be a bit of blowback. Breather is assembled correctly. Anyway, to my question. I disconnected the governor from the carb control and was able to get a screwdriver in there to ensure it was tight. I then loosed it a bit (before I knew what it was) and pulled it out an inch before tightening it back down. Am I able to pull the Stop Pin out of the engine to replace the copper seal washer? Or would pulling it out be a big no no? Should I just let the engine leak a bit of oil instead of getting too far ahead of myself? Thanks guys for your advice here Original discussion on oil leaks from the Camshaft Cover that lead me to finding the Stop Pin leak: Edited Thursday at 08:33 PM by Alrashid2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 56,091 #2 Posted Friday at 12:49 AM As the name implies, the Governor Stop Pin stops the governor stops the governor gear from falling off its shaft. If you drop the governor gear into the engine's internals you will need to completely disassemble the engine. It ain't broke yet, don't mess with it. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alrashid2 319 #3 Posted Friday at 02:37 AM @953 nut gosh I guess I didn't realize how close I was to tragedy when I started loosening that screw! Tractor runs fine with it re-tightened so I assume the gear is still in place, haha... Yes Ill just let it go and get used to an engine that seeps a bit I suppose. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunahead72 2,447 #4 Posted Friday at 03:04 AM This may help your understanding of that assembly (it helped me). If you tightened the pin, and your breather is assembled correctly as you said, I would leave it alone and keep an eye on it. Kohler Governor Stop Pin -- Do I Have a Problem? - Engines - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,121 #5 Posted Friday at 02:47 PM Back it out again and give a clean with brake cleaner. Then apply some Loctite or Permatex paste thread sealer. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,743 #6 Posted Saturday at 09:44 AM On 1/2/2025 at 7:49 PM, 953 nut said: It ain't broke yet, don't mess with it. I agree. All of my Kohlers have "shiny" spots where oil seeps a bit. Especially around the Reed valve and fuel pump. I generally don't worry about it unless they have what I consider a significant leak. Point being- I'm about to change out the oil pan gasket on my Bronco. Apparently the one I used when I removed the balance gears either tore or shifted during installation. It will actually give a drop of oil on the floor after it's been running. If I can wipe it down after use and it stays clean, it's good enough for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,266 #7 Posted Sunday at 03:34 AM The governor gear rides on a pin, the screw sits level with the governor cross shaft, which is above the gear...pulling out the screw and not rotating the engine should allow the screw to be reinserted. It just rides next to the gear to keep it from migrating on its pin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alrashid2 319 #8 Posted Sunday at 08:35 PM (edited) Thanks guys for the advice here! Definitely seems to be from excess blowby. Breather is installed correctly. Seems like when I seal up one spot, oil pushes through another spot... The Governor Stop Pin is close to the exhaust though and seems to be spitting up onto the muffler as it was smoking when I finished running her today... I pulled the dip stick and there was a lot of air pushing out of the tube, which tells me I've got pressure instead of vacuum I think... I may go back and let the oil push out from the camshaft cover as that was easier to wipe away! After running 20 min I had about as much oil seeping out as I'd pull off wiping the dipstick 4 or 5 times... Edit: attached a photo of what the oil leak looked like from the breather gasket, before I replaced various gaskets... Same amount of oil leaking from the governer stop pin screw now. Is that too much oil? Not sure if worrisome or not. Edited Sunday at 08:40 PM by Alrashid2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,959 #9 Posted 17 hours ago 16 hours ago, Alrashid2 said: Thanks guys for the advice here! Definitely seems to be from excess blowby. Breather is installed correctly. Seems like when I seal up one spot, oil pushes through another spot... The Governor Stop Pin is close to the exhaust though and seems to be spitting up onto the muffler as it was smoking when I finished running her today... I pulled the dip stick and there was a lot of air pushing out of the tube, which tells me I've got pressure instead of vacuum I think... I may go back and let the oil push out from the camshaft cover as that was easier to wipe away! After running 20 min I had about as much oil seeping out as I'd pull off wiping the dipstick 4 or 5 times... Edit: attached a photo of what the oil leak looked like from the breather gasket, before I replaced various gaskets... Same amount of oil leaking from the governer stop pin screw now. Is that too much oil? Not sure if worrisome or not. Have you done a leak down test on the engine??? If you are getting excessive blowby from old age/use then you have to expect some oil seepage...If you feel a lot of air coming out the oil fill during the test your rings are bad creating the blowby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
