14 horsepower Kohler question

[Donsyl]

I have a cub 149. It sounds ok when running, but it smokes terribly. I want to change out the rings in it. My question is: when i pull the head off, can i rotate the engine enough so that the rings are able to come out? I am not sure if i have to tear down the whole engine. I wanna try to replace the rings and see if the smoking stops, and the oil consumption minimizes.......thankyou in advance....Don

 

[oldnslo]

I have a cub 149. It sounds ok when running, but it smokes terribly. I want to change out the rings in it. My question is: when i pull the head off, can i rotate the engine enough so that the rings are able to come out? I am not sure if i have to tear down the whole engine. I wanna try to replace the rings and see if the smoking stops, and the oil consumption minimizes.......thankyou in advance....Don

To replace the rings you must pull the oil pan and disconnect the connecting rod from the crank shaft.

When you remove the head it will give you an indication of what the cylinder wall looks like. If it is scored you may have to have the block rebored which requires a complete tear down.

Roy

 

[Donsyl]

Thanks Roy....i appreciate the advise.....Don

 

[Hawghauler]

If the cylinder is in good shape I would get one of those dingleball hones that go in a drill and break the glaze before I put new rings in. Also check the bearings with plasti-guage for clearance. If I tore one down I'd gor right through it while ot was appart. Rings, lap the valves, bearings, gaskets.

 

[JTKub]

Don, if you're not 100% up to the task, call around to some local outdoor power equipment shops or machine shops that do rebuilds. Pull the engine, drop it off and have them make it like new.

Joel

 

[Donsyl]

Thanks Hawg, im gonna get started on taking it out today....and JT thanks. I wanna do this with my son....i traded for it last year and it is for my son....he is 15 and is really into this stuff and thought it would be good to do together......ill let you guys know what i find.....thanks guys

 

[Travelover]

Don, check your local library or the internet for a small engines rebuilding manual. The principles are pretty much the same for any brand.

I think it is great that you plan to do it with your son. I rebuilt a car engine with my older brother when I was a preteen and what I learned has stuck with me for a lifetime.

 

[OldMachinist]

I uploaded the Kohler service manual for your engine here Kohler_K_8-16hp_service.pdf

And you can download the Cub 149 service manual here http://www.ihregistry.com/books/GSS-1464.pdf

 

[1950T]

while i have no kids i am the oldest of 8. 5 of those are brothers. ive spent countless hours in the shop with them tearing down the engines in the 3 pullers and i cant tell you how great of a bonding experience it is. hopefully some of what i have taught them will take.

 

[Donsyl]

I have removed the engine. I have the piston out. There is a difference in diameter at the very top of the cylinder and 2/3 of the way down too. The rings seem to be very sloppy, so i am assuming that they r very worn out. I guess my best plan would be to have this cylinder honed by someone who knows what they r doing. Then to get a rebuild kit......i have not attepted to take out the valves yet, but i would assume they need to be replaced also.....Thanks for the help guys....i love the info keep it coming.....And it is nice to do this stuff with my son......i am learning a little also as we go.....I bought him a 1998 ford 150 for $650...with 152,000 miles and all it needed was a fuel pump.......we got the bed off and replaced the pump assembly in just under 2 hours......the truck runs great.........the body is really good to for the price i couldnt go wrong.......some people cant be bothered to fix things........I HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT GOES AS WELL AS THE TRUCK.......thanks Don

 

[Hawghauler]

Sometimes the cylinder walls wear before the rings, might need a slight bore and an oversized piston. If that is the case you can have cylinder bored using the oversized piston as a reference guide. You may be able to get away with lapping the valves with valve grind compound and one of those suction cup sticks you twiddle between your hands. I always liked the crankshafts on a Kohler, they are overbuilt to such a degree they look like a bigblock Chevy. It will be a fun bonding session. Make sure you give us updates. Very rewarding breathing new life into an old friend.

 

[Donsyl]

I am gonna bring the motor down to a guy 2 miles away to see if he can bore the cylinder. If not ill have to ask around. i dont understand the lapping the vavles, but ill have to read up on it.......thanks

 

[Hawghauler]

I am gonna bring the motor down to a guy 2 miles away to see if he can bore the cylinder. If not ill have to ask around. i dont understand the lapping the vavles, but ill have to read up on it.......thanks

The valve lapper looks like a stick with a suction cup on it. (cost just a few bucks)You put valve grind compound on the valve seat, stick the valve back in with the suction cup stuck to the valve face. Rolling the stick between your hands you will get the back and forth motion on the valve (like trying to start a fire with a stick) that grinds the valve seat against the valve and polishes the two touching surfaces to achieve a clean fit.

 

[Donsyl]

Okay i understand that now, but how do i know if they need to be replaced or lapped.....what is the difference between lapping and replacement?

 

[Donsyl]

Dont know if i put my last post right.....what makes a valve a lapping candidate as opposed to being a candidate for replacement....thanks

 

[Travelover]

Dont know if i put my last post right.....what makes a valve a lapping candidate as opposed to being a candidate for replacement....thanks

Look at the face (angled part) of the valve. If it is burned or has a deep ring it needs to be ground or replaced. Similarly, if the valve seat in the block is burned it needs to be recut with a special tool. You will need to set the clearance between the valve stem and the cam follower when you are done. A manual will have this clearance listed as part of the specifications.