OEM Prices

[MalMac 1,331]

I have got a k321 that needs rebuilding. In all the Kohler's I have rebuilt through the years I have always Use OEM parts. With that being said I started pricing OEM for this K and I can not believe how much they have jumped just in the last 6 months. This is the first time I have even thought about aftermarket. I have always paid the extra for the OEM but the increase this time has really got me shaking my head. Not so sure it's worth it anymore. Where does one draw the line? In some cases the OEM has not only doubled over the aftermarket but quadrupled. It's gone nuts. Kohler has now reached what some of the Onan stuff cost.

[squonk 41,013]

I had a K341 that needed a crank plus the usual boring ect. Shop insisted on OEM Kohler. Estimate was over $900! :jaw:

Edited January 30, 2013 by squonk

[Kelly 1,029]

Sometimes you can find a NEW short block on ebay for $700 or so.

[Ken B 3,164]

IMO it depends on what you are going to use the tractor for. If its going to be a hard worker that you expect to last another 20 yrs.+++++ then it might be worth it to go the extra mile. It is getting a little out of hand these days on the cost of parts for these Kohlers.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

I assembled a K-301 (for my son) yesterday using one of the infamous eBay kits and all I will say is that you get what you pay for.

There's no way I would stand behind it, so it's not hard to see why a shop whose reputation is on the line would demand OEM parts.

[rmaynard 15,417]

I assembled a K-301 (for my son) yesterday using one of the infamous eBay kits and all I will say is that you get what you pay for.

There's no way I would stand behind it, so it's not hard to see why a shop whose reputation is on the line would demand OEM parts.

Terry,

I am curious as to what you found wrong or bad about the kit. What was included in the kit besides gaskets and seals? I value your opinion.

[MalMac 1,331]

A couple of years ago I got a Aftermarket kit just to try it. After opening the piston and seeing how they did not even bother to remove the flashing from when it was molded I put it back in the box along with all the other parts of the same brand and sent it back. Like TT said you get what you pay for. I think now one has to consider the over price cost of the OEM. I guess there is not much of an option out there. You ether pay for junk and take your chances or way overpay for OEM. To me it is starting to get really frustrating. Maybe its time to start getting out of the game. The motor I am rebuilding is one that will get some hours put on it. So I don't want junk but your going to have to do a heck of a lot of work to pay for the difference in price. There are many ways of looking at this as there are opinions.

I have often wondered about just how much more quality the OEM parts are over some of the aftermarket. In todays world so many manufactures make parts for not just them selfs but slap their product in a box and put another label on it. I am not saying Kohler does this. I would not be surprised to find a company making products for Stens, Rotary and a host of others all out of same assembly line. Sure would be a big pull the wool over your eyes to find out some of OEM Kohler stuff come off the same line. In today world I could really see that happening.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

I am curious as to what you found wrong or bad about the kit. What was included in the kit besides gaskets and seals? I value your opinion.

The kit contained the piston kit, (piston / ring set / wrist pin & clips) connecting rod, gasket set with seals, both valves, points & spark plug, and valve guides - which weren't needed. This is the first one of these kits I have been around and since my son was paying for the parts, it's what he could afford.

I was not thrilled with the quality of the wrist pin clips or how they seated. It was like the grooves in the pin bore weren't deep and/or wide enough. I worked with them enough until they looked like they would stay put. I have witnessed the carnage from a clip that popped out and I'd rather not have that happen.

The connecting rod has more casting flash than what I like to see. The end of the dipper even had a rough blob of aluminum left there from the casting process. I guess I'm just used to OEM.

The spark plug might work as a potato gun igniter, but I would never put it in an engine. I never opened the box containing the points.

If anyone can put an engine & tractor to the test, it's my boy. The engine is currently in long block formation waiting on a few more parts. Once it's on the tractor and running, we'll see how it goes. :confusion-shrug:

[MalMac 1,331]

TT, that is exactly how I found that aftermarket kit I got a while back. It was just totally not anything compared to OEM. Lots and Lots of flashing, The dipper was not remotely cleaned up after pouring, still ruff as if it just came right out of the mold. I miked the valve stems and they were not in tolerance straight out of the box! So whats a person to do pay the high price of OEM or pay the price of putting junk in. The old Fram commercial comes to mine. " Pay me now or Pay me later"

[illinilefttackle 399]

Hi Guys- I'm not a small engine expert-nor did I stay a Holiday Inn last nite- but heres my 2 cents- 5 years ago- or so-I got my first Wheel Horse-C-125 A. It ran ok but used some oil- I decided to rebuild the K 301 so it worked like it should, to match how well the rest of the tractor worked. I researched parts availability and cost just as you have done. Kohler parts were very high. I read all I could-including some articles by Brian Miller- he comes right out and says he uses "Stens" parts consistently and has yet to have had a parts failure. Based on that- I ordered my parts per the machine shop specs-gave them to them to bore & turn from. When I received everything back-I did notice some small areas that needed to be deburred, but nothing I had not see before in my 40+ years of automotive engine rebuilding. The parts seemed well made, Piston, Rod, etc . So with the usual attention to detail of good preparation, I put everything together-I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. The engine performs well-back up to putting out full HP no smoke, etc. So for 4+ years of plowing gardens, mowing, plowing snow, running a snow blower (knock on wood) it is still going strong. I use Shell Rotella Straight 30w in it-never a problem. So, in my case, the Stens parts worked great! Good Luck with whatever you decide-just remember-cleanliness & attention to detail=good results-Thanks-Al

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

Four years is good, but it would be even better if this taiwanese stuff will last 40+ years like some of the old Kohler parts.

The engine I just did for my son is not going on a worker, but we do want it to run well & and as long as possible.

If he had the money, it would have gotten OEM parts.

[rmaynard 15,417]

Thanks for the info TT.

I have used the aftermarket products from BBT Power Parts (sold by Maple Grove) which included a piston, rings, rod, wrist pin and clips, and valves. I can honestly say that I did not find any of the problems that you described. The gaskets and seals were from PrimeLine.

Two years ago when I was rebuilding the K241S for a B-100, I did some research on BBT and found that they are the OEM for some Briggs & Stratton engine parts. I don't know who else they manufacture for, but it would not surprise me to see Kohler amongst them.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

All of these parts, gasket kit, etc. were in plain white packages. The box containing the valves did have a Taiwan sticker. The valve guides were from Stens.

I am in not condemning the use of these parts. I am just stating the obvious "ya get what ya pay for" and one should not expect these parts to be of equivalent quality and/or lifespan of the OEM Kohler pieces.

If you have to replace these parts every eight or ten years there is no savings.

Given a choice, would I use them in an engine on a worker that I had to depend on? Nah.

[ericj 1,578]

i have used stens parts in several rebuilds over the years and have never had any problems they were workers when done but now only get occasional use. my daughter puts lots of hrs on my C120 AUTO aat the WHCC every year but htats about all it gets used for any more.

i have a k321 sitting on the bench that has been rebuilt about 2 yrs ago with parts from ebay like described above. the guy who rebuilt it didn't say any thing bad about the parts only that he likes to use oem parts. not sure what i would do if i had one to rebuild today. all i know is that i have to pay the big bucks for my onans replacement parts

eric

[Mr. 856 170]

Im doing a rebuild now and have. Splurged on OEM gasket kit and rod and went with aftermarket piston. Hopefully I can get 10+ years out of it. Its not worked hard often so I have high hopes for a good rebuilt engine that will last me a long time. Next time I might consider the aftermarket kit. I could have gotten everything aftermarket for less then I paid for just the kolher gasket kit and rod! Sheeeshh. Thankfully I have a great wife and got the thumbs up.