877 Kohler 8hp rebuild recommendations?

[csvt99 173]

I have an 877 that been in the shed since I picked up a 314-8 for daily use. I would like to use it now for my sons to learn on since it is a hydro and easy for them to operate. It runs fine but it does smoke a decent amount, and I would like to fix that. What would you recommend? I checked with my local dealer/ wheel horse expert and he told me it would cost $900-1000 to do it right, but I could probably get by with a less extensive rebuild for $300. My dad thought I should just be able to replace the ring. What are your thoughts? Is this something I could do myself over the winter? My dad is pretty good with this old stuff and could likely help me if I need it, and it could possibly be a nice project to do together since its not major or time pressing. Thanks in advance for your help! 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,999]

To get any kind of idea about the amount of work to be done, the head will need to come off, so you can directly inspect the condition of the cylinder walls and check for roundness.

 

Most pistols are marked in some way if they are oversized.  If you have one of these, the cylinder has probably been bored once.

 

Good luck.

 

I'm sure others will come along who have more experience with engine rebuilds than I do.

[csvt99 173]

Do you recommend doing the work with the motor still on the tractor or is it easy enough to pull the motor and put in on a bench? I like the idea of pulling the head off. My dad should have a pretty good idea of what we are dealing with. Thanks for your help. 

[953 nut 55,218]

You will probably be best off removing the engine. Here are a couple of threads to read over for a little base-line information.  I can see an interesting three generation project brewing here.       

 

[prondzy 3,881]

BUILD IT YOURSELF! IT WILL BE FUN! 

[roadapples 6,983]

Take plenty of pictures before you start and during disassembly...

[ebinmaine 67,471]

4 hours ago, roadapples said:

Take plenty of pictures before you start and during disassembly...

I'll second that. 

 

If at any point you folks get stuck please do ask for a helping hand. There are plenty of people willing to answer whatever questions you'll have. 

 

Take a bunch of pics. 

 

Pop it off the tractor. 

 

Clean it up some. 

 

Do some measuring. 

 

Report your findings.....

 

Good luck!

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

SAVE the Kohlers!

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

11 hours ago, csvt99 said:

I have an 877 that been in the shed since I picked up a 314-8 for daily use. I would like to use it now for my sons to learn on since it is a hydro and easy for them to operate. It runs fine but it does smoke a decent amount, and I would like to fix that. What would you recommend? I checked with my local dealer/ wheel horse expert and he told me it would cost $900-1000 to do it right, but I could probably get by with a less extensive rebuild for $300. My dad thought I should just be able to replace the ring. What are your thoughts? Is this something I could do myself over the winter? My dad is pretty good with this old stuff and could likely help me if I need it, and it could possibly be a nice project to do together since its not major or time pressing. Thanks in advance for your help! 

 

 

I have a kohler, with new rings, still smokes like a steam train. Defenitly check if you need a hone, and then new rings and maybe a bigger piston.

[Gregor 4,846]

You can buy a complete rebuld kit from isavetractors, poke here

for less than $250. Assuming your motor does not need any machining, you can install this kit and have a decent motor, and it's fun. ( most of the time ) If you buy a kit, I would not install the carburetor. Rebuild the one you have, and reuse it. That being said, yes you could rebuild it for less than $300.    But........... To do it right, you will need some tools, most guys don't always have on hand. A torque wrench, (possibly more than 1), A ring compressor. A valve spring compressor, Feeler gauges. Cylinder hone.  A bearing puller and press, if you want to replace the bearings. ( I didn't ) Rebuilding is a lot of fun, but you just can't do it with a pair of pliers, and a screwdriver. 

 

This is a good video I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M13vyu9bDQQ

Edited December 30, 2020 by Gregor

[adsm08 2,050]

5 hours ago, Gregor said:

 Assuming your motor does not need any machining

 

Is a great way to do it wrong.

 

 

 

I recently opened up one of these engines too. After pricing the machine work it was going to need, and the parts it was going to need I was into the range of about $600 to rebuild it, doing most of the work myself, and using the same kit from isavetractors.

[Gregor 4,846]

I expect him to take the block to a machine shop to have is checked. I would not rebuild a block without knowing this first.

 

"I was into the range of about $600 to rebuild it, doing most of the work myself"

 

To me it is a hobby. Hobbies are sometimes expensive.

Edited December 30, 2020 by Gregor

[ebinmaine 67,471]

Just has the point of information on the rebuild kits here folks... Norman from Isave tractors is a super cool guy and I believe he's trying to do the right thing by everybody but his prices are just not competitive.

 

I've spoken to him on the phone a few times. He's very courteous and very helpful and in fact only lives about 30 minutes away from me but it's unlikely I'll buy anything from him...

 

Shop around a few minutes and you may be able to cut the parts price substantially without sacrificing quality

[tom2p 2,394]

rebuild can be expensive - but both Kohler engines and Wheel Horse tractors are worth the expense 

 

for a rebuild or rebuilt Kohler I would consider 

 

@richmondred01

 

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by tom2p

[Gregor 4,846]

Does richmondred1 sell kits or parts, or does he simply rebuild the motors?

 

Here is one of the reasons I got into this hobby. I like garden tractors, but sometimes the motors are pretty well shot. I had one rebuilt. This was about 3 years ago. I told him I wanted nothing left to chance. DO IT RIGHT!

 

There is a machine shop bill of about $300 on top of this.

[adsm08 2,050]

51 minutes ago, Gregor said:

I expect him to take the block to a machine shop to have is checked. I would not rebuild a block without knowing this first.

 

"I was into the range of about $600 to rebuild it, doing most of the work myself"

 

To me it is a hobby. Hobbies are sometimes expensive.

 

Same. I still intend to rebuild that engine, eventually. But I need the tractor up and running before eventually, and in the mean time Brian from K&B is supposed to be hooking me up with a K181S out of a 70-something. He is just waiting on a final bench test of the engine to give the go-head. If all goes well I'm supposed to go pick it up Saturday. That means I should have the tractor running Sunday, I go back to work Monday, then I can start saving to rebuild it.

 

 

Also, I wasn't saying you were doing it wrong, your wording just left the perfect jump off to point out that machine work is always necessary to at least some degree.

Edited December 30, 2020 by adsm08

[rjg854 11,361]

4 hours ago, Gregor said:

Does richmondred1 sell kits or parts, or does he simply rebuild the motors?

 

I bought a rebuilt 16hp Kohler from @richmondred01 for less than that   I wanna say he could do an 8hp for even less than that. Of course you'd have to work that out with him.

[csvt99 173]

Thanks for all of your help! As soon as the weather improves and this creeps to the top of my list, I will pull it from the tractor and start taking it apart. I will be sure to share photos.

[richmondred01 2,237]

That’s a steep price for sure. 
I’ve got a complete rebuilt k321 and a rebuilt K321 long block.

I also have a M14 in the shed that has yet to be rebuilt that I can have done in about 10 days.

 

One thing to be careful of is who you buy your parts from. Not all suppliers are sell the same parts. Just because they have a fancy website and make YouTube videos doesn’t mean they sell quality parts.  

 

[richmondred01 2,237]

On 12/30/2020 at 6:24 PM, rjg854 said:

I bought a rebuilt 16hp Kohler from @richmondred01 for less than that   I wanna say he could do an 8hp for even less than that. Of course you'd have to work that out with him.

A complete k181 would be more then half his quoted price for me to do.

However, I have no overhead and I have no employees. He has to jack up his prices to stay afloat especially in PA who taxes you to breath anymore. 

[Gregor 4,846]

"One thing to be careful of is who you buy your parts from."

 

That is very true of course. I like to use the best parts I can find, but buying an OEM piston on ebay from one guy, and buying OEM valves from another guy on ebay, then buying OEM ignition set from yet another, gets confusing to me. Just because an ebay seller tells you it's OEM, doesn't really mean anything. Does anyone have a source for good parts, from a seller you trust? Talking about Kohler right now.

[csvt99 173]

Step one was getting it started and into my basement garage, which happened today. I just love how this little thing drives. Steers great, maybe because of the smaller tires. Drives so much nicer than the 14-8. Kind of sad to see the demise of gas engines, since that is what we know, but there are a lot of benefits to electric. Who knows, maybe my son will convert it to electric some day. As stated earlier I just want to get this things running decent with less smoke so I can teach my kids how to back up a trailer. Here are a few pics to get things started. 

[richmondred01 2,237]

A great experience for the kids to show them not everything is disposable. 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

34 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

Step one was getting it started and into my basement garage, which happened today. I just love how this little thing drives. Steers great, maybe because of the smaller tires. Drives so much nicer than the 14-8. Kind of sad to see the demise of gas engines, since that is what we know, but there are a lot of benefits to electric. Who knows, maybe my son will convert it to electric some day. As stated earlier I just want to get this things running decent with less smoke so I can teach my kids how to back up a trailer. Here are a few pics to get things started. 

that 877 looks like a keeper - repair / maintain it properly and it will be around for generations 

 

the kids ...  hmmm ... maybe keep them also ... ? ... 

[tom2p 2,394]

46 minutes ago, csvt99 said:

 I just love how this little thing drives. Steers great, maybe because of the smaller tires. Drives so much nicer than the 14-8. 

 

 

Quote

 

 

yes - those early smaller tractors do ride and zip around much easier 

 

smaller - less weight - thinner tires 

 

and there can also a downside to that - cut grass for 3 hours on the 14-8 and then the 877 and then  report back 

 

the later / larger / heavier 300-500 series tractors with larger / softer tires and better seats / springs are more comfortable for lengthy periods of mowing 

 

another downside and something to be aware of with kids - the earlier tractors can also be a little more 'tippy' ... gotta watch it if they start flying around tight spaces in high gears especially on a slope / off camber 

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by tom2p