squonk 41,118 #1 Posted March 29, 2021 About a year ago I started to hear a rattle in my K341 thumper at 980 hrs. I replaced it with a used engine from @richmondred01 and the engine has been flawless. Now waiting for the grass to grow I decided to tear into the old one to find out what was going on and evaluate it's condition. First the original story: Got a Harbor Fright engine stand and modified it a bit to hold the Kohler. Degreased it and took the trim off. Got the pan off and engine pieces were laying on the edge of the block! Ended up finding 3 pieces of the piston skirt and what looks to be a balance gear needle Picture of the piston minus part of the skirt Crank and rod bearing surface look good! Engine was really clean inside. Didn't clean anything! Balance gear closest to the pan was really loose. Looks like I dodged a bullet! 8 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,740 #2 Posted March 29, 2021 So, what boat are you going to use that on??? 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #3 Posted March 29, 2021 Just now, stevasaurus said: So, what boat are you going to use that on??? I am going to fix it and put it on your REO! 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,740 #4 Posted March 29, 2021 Don't you scare my Tecumseh !! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #5 Posted March 29, 2021 Those are the old style balance gears... Wonder if they changed design because of excessive failures the older ones. Are the grenade incidences relate mostly to old style...or evenly distributed??? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #6 Posted March 29, 2021 3 minutes ago, pfrederi said: Those are the old style balance gears... Wonder if they changed design because of excessive failures the older ones. Are the grenade incidences relate mostly to old style...or evenly distributed??? I don't know Paul but I'm sure glad I stopped using it when I did. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,882 #7 Posted March 29, 2021 I can see the. CL ad already for something like this! Used engine for sale. Only knocks when it runs. It’ll get ya home, most likely! Trade for 40 lbs of bacon. 2 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,740 #8 Posted March 29, 2021 Live bacon is an option. 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,237 #9 Posted March 29, 2021 How does the apron skirt of the cylinder look? Thats the big concern is that cylinder apron skirt that extends into the block. Check for any cracks or splits with that skirt. If none, go out and buy a lottery ticket. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #10 Posted March 29, 2021 4 minutes ago, richmondred01 said: How does the apron skirt of the cylinder look? Thats the big concern is that cylinder apron skirt that extends into the block. Check for any cracks or splits with that skirt. If none, go out and buy a lottery ticket. I don't have the best eyes but I didn't notice anything with the piston up or down 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #11 Posted March 29, 2021 Bet you, if there is something to see in there, someone here will surely point it out. 🤣 🙈 🤣 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #12 Posted March 29, 2021 Going to pull the piston tomorrow and take a good look. Use the Handyman's Secret Crack finder, Carb cleaner. Pics to follow! 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #13 Posted March 30, 2021 Click on the link. Loose Balance gear. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPxLtDwCuxwmWLzvpSRmsRXh1MRSWNpQsAoymZGU5oodXYjxVFCWCKri8Z9iFH-GA/photo/AF1QipNNz5ZvsvvxKLe-5Lxm6ywAeAtgIcLTOKiEOHf2?key=dFpqVE83d3NxOGVaX2NmYkdvNHpObmNQUEY1dFN3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #14 Posted March 30, 2021 You and @Greentored need to both buy a lotto K341 balance gears- back to back test - Engines - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldlineman 1,481 #15 Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) Just a question, did the M series engines have these gears? And if so have they had the same problem as the K series or was there an improvement in design. Bob Edited March 30, 2021 by oldlineman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #16 Posted March 30, 2021 M singles can have balance gears 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #17 Posted March 30, 2021 As Jim Lovell in Apollo13 said "There's one whole side of that spacecraft missin!" hard to believe this engine was still running fine! 2 1 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,232 #18 Posted March 30, 2021 2 minutes ago, squonk said: As Jim Lovell in Apollo13 said "There's one whole side of that spacecraft missin!" hard to believe this engine was still running fine! Only a matter of time 'till you had a complete ruin. Definitely dodged a bullet there! Sometimes that Kohler engineering just astounds, doesn't it? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,548 #19 Posted March 30, 2021 Had a K321 rev to the outer limits one time. Ran fine but decided to tear it down to see what was going on. Piston had shattered and pieces of it took out several teeth on the governor gear. Still ran fine but glad I took it down. Lucky me! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,237 #20 Posted March 30, 2021 A couple minutes more and you would be seeing this. 4 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #21 Posted March 30, 2021 I'll see your pan and raise ya a cam... 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #22 Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, WHX24 said: I'll see your pan and raise ya a cam... At least mine was still running! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #23 Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, squonk said: At least mine was still running! Bet yours had oil in it too. Dang kids... we all know what would have happened the rod went the other way! Happened at plow day... even got a video of it letting loose somewhere on here. Edited March 30, 2021 by WHX24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gregor 4,846 #24 Posted March 31, 2021 When you say rattle, you mean like a bowling ball in a clothes dryer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #25 Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) Almost like pinging Edited March 31, 2021 by squonk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
