Piston slop... how long do I have? 10 hp Kohler

[Pullstart 63,487]

Frank smokes.  I thought it started clearing up, but maybe I was imagining things.  I had a spare head gasket, so tonight I pulled the head to inspect things.  The crosshatch is gone, it’s a nice smooth glaze.  With the slop you can see in the video, how long does this mill have before it lets loose?  If I keep it topped off and take it easy, are we good for a few months of Puttin’ around?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ACman 7,629]

Don’t know how long you have but I’d just add some Lucas  .

[Pullstart 63,487]

4 minutes ago, ACman said:

Don’t know how long you have but I’d just add some Lucas  .

 

I’ve got some Marvel Mystery Oil... would that help at all?

[JoeM 7,883]

Sounds pretty good, throw a set of rings in her! Might last a ling time putting and such??

[WHNJ701 4,165]

6 hours ago, ACman said:

Don’t know how long you have but I’d just add some Lucas  .

I redo alot of limited use garden tractors, one porter cable I have with a briggs smoked like crazy, I added a small amount of Lucas no smoke and actually cleared it up.  

[Achto 28,144]

6 hours ago, pullstart said:

I’ve got some Marvel Mystery Oil... would that help at all?

 

Marvel Mystery oil is good for some things  but not for this application. Lucas oil treatment has a clinging agent that will help seal things up a little better. It's one of two cures in a bottle that use regularly. I have one engine that smokes, it gets a 50/50 mix of Lucas & 30w with each oil change. This helps keep the smoke at bay. All of my other engines get a 1/4 cup of Lucas with each oil change, the clinging agent make the oil stick to parts better but does not cause a sludge build up.

 

A little Lucas demo for your enjoyment.

 

[Pullstart 63,487]

Thanks fellas!  It’s got a .020 piston in it o most likely someone’s been in it before.  There wasn’t too much carbon buildup, but I cleaned it all up anyways.

[Pullstart 63,487]

13 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

Marvel Mystery oil is good for some things  but not for this application. Lucas oil treatment has a clinging agent that will help seal things up a little better. It's one of two cures in a bottle that use regularly. I have one engine that smokes, it gets a 50/50 mix of Lucas & 30w with each oil change. This helps keep the smoke at bay. All of my other engines get a 1/4 cup of Lucas with each oil change, the clinging agent make the oil stick to parts better but does not cause a sludge build up.

 

A little Lucas demo for your enjoyment.

 

 

They’ve got Lucas about 2 miles down the road at Parts Plus, I’ll slap the head back on and toss some in 👍.   Thanks for the help fellas!  If the Lucas doesn’t clear it up by show time, sorry everyone for the puff puff.... some of Frank’s old habits are hard to kick!  

[Pullstart 63,487]

Genuine Taiwan Replacement Parts

 

 

[ACman 7,629]

My dad has that same display sitting on the parts counter and it’s at least 25yrs old. Didn’t matter who came in door everyone had to turn those handles. 

[Pullstart 63,487]

8 minutes ago, ACman said:

My dad has that same display sitting on the parts counter and it’s at least 25yrs old. Didn’t matter who came in door everyone had to turn those handles. 

 

That’s what the girls go right to when we walk in the door, they’re pretty good and two handed action!  I just haven’t ever thought to get some.  I’ll pick some up next time I’m out and about!

[oliver2-44 10,062]

Before you close it up can you mic the cylinder bore at the top and bottom of the piston stroke. That will help get a felling for how long you have. Also if you have a dial indicator can you measure any crank to rod slop by turning to the bottom of the piston stroke, then pushing down on the top of the piston.  I have a K301 that's worn .009-.010 over.  It needs coaxing to start, but runs with some smoke once it gets going.  Spark plugs foul in about 2-3 hours running.

 

When you start carrying a spare spark plug and wrench every time you ride it, you know its time!  

[Pullstart 63,487]

9 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Before you close it up can you mic the cylinder bore at the top and bottom of the piston stroke. That will help get a felling for how long you have. Also if you have a dial indicator can you measure any crank to rod slop by turning to the bottom of the piston stroke, then pushing down on the top of the piston.  I have a K301 that's worn .009-.010 over.  It needs coaxing to start, but runs with some smoke once it gets going.  Spark plugs foul in about 2-3 hours running.

 

When you start carrying a spare spark plug and wrench every time you ride it, you know its time!  

 

Hmmm, measure something?  That might’a been smart, huh?  I just torqued the head, but I haven’t had to replace the plug lately either... so according to that gauge I’m going to be all set!  

[953 nut 56,670]

9 hours ago, pullstart said:

Thanks fellas!  It’s got a .020 piston in it o most likely someone’s been in it before.  There wasn’t too much carbon buildup, but I cleaned it all up anyways.

Well you have a few more choices that weren't thought of before. If you have a standard block that needs to be bored out you can go +.020 and already have the piston      and if the engine in Frank can't be bored to +.030 it could be sleeved and you are back to standard.

9 hours ago, Achto said:

I have one engine that smokes, it gets a 50/50 mix of Lucas & 30w with each oil change. This helps keep the smoke at bay.

Kevin, the K-301 I am giving you burned so much oil I went to 50/50 Lucas and 30, It continued to smoke and I think it was probably just the oil burning,          the Lucas stayed in the crank case.       

[Pullstart 63,487]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Well you have a few more choices that weren't thought of before. If you have a standard block that needs to be bored out you can go +.020 and already have the piston      and if the engine in Frank can't be bored to +.030 it could be sleeved and you are back to standard.

Kevin, the K-301 I am giving you burned so much oil I went to 50/50 Lucas and 30, It continued to smoke and I think it was probably just the oil burning,          the Lucas stayed in the crank case.       

 

It’s nice to have options, and fairly low priorities too!

[ZXT 2,401]

Heck, if it's worn enough, you might just get away with slapping a .030 piston in it! Lol. My neighbor did this a few weeks ago with a blown up K301 he had. Had a standard piston in it, and he had a good rod with a .010 piston on it. Light hone job and it went right in. Thing runs great, surprisingly.

 

A $15 set of rings off of eBay would help with the smoking and give it a longer life. That being said, nothing catastrophic is going to happen because of the bore being loose. 

[DBlackston 298]

Thats exactly what my piston is doing in my K181.

 

I wondered about breaking the glaze with a ball hone and putting new rings in it to atleast make the problem smaller for the time being. 

 

What could it hurt to try it right?

 

I might pick up some Lucas too. Never used it maybe it will help. 

[ZXT 2,401]

1 hour ago, DBlackston said:

Thats exactly what my piston is doing in my K181.

 

I wondered about breaking the glaze with a ball hone and putting new rings in it to atleast make the problem smaller for the time being. 

 

What could it hurt to try it right?

 

I might pick up some Lucas too. Never used it maybe it will help. 

I've never tried Lucas but I'd like to see someone document how much of a difference it makes. That's probably the cheapest and easiest route to go first.. If that doesn't do it for you, rings are the next cheapest choice. 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,517]

My 10 hp Kohler ran for years smoking like that. Burned oil and my brother just topped it off...When it came home to my son for his lawn business we ran Lucas as mentioned above and it helped a lot while hot but she still smoked like a sailor on start up...

 

Got tired of that and rebuilt but still run a bit of Lucas with oil change... Runs like a top now...

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by SylvanLakeWH

[ET160 29]

If you run Lucas, why can you just run thicker oil, like 15w-40 or 20w-50?

Edited June 6, 2019 by ET160

[VinsRJ 723]

Sorry if I miss this but... if you are going to run it hard then a complete rebuild looks to be in the future... if you are just going to use it sort of as a fun tractor or light duty then hone and re-ring it...

[Pullstart 63,487]

22 minutes ago, VinsRJ said:

Sorry if I miss this but... if you are going to run it hard then a complete rebuild looks to be in the future... if you are just going to use it sort of as a fun tractor or light duty then hone and re-ring it...

 

The tractor’s tough enough to work, but I think Mrs. Pullstart just wants to parade it.

 

 

[ebinmaine 69,613]

1 hour ago, pullstart said:

I think Mrs. Pullstart just wants to parade it.

You just be careful when you're thinking that.

Whatever you do, don't give her any implements to use.

 

I went and put the mid-mount grader blade under Trina's 867.

Can't get it back now.

 

[Pullstart 63,487]

46 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

You just be careful when you're thinking that.

Whatever you do, don't give her any implements to use.

 

I went and put the mid-mount grader blade under Trina's 867.

Can't get it back now.

 

 

I told her all my plans to work it... I was slightly corrected.  It’ll probably have the grader blade on it at the show, but most likely not for too long after unfortunately.

[ebinmaine 69,613]

5 minutes ago, pullstart said:

slightly corrected.