
Kohler K Series Id Question
Started by
1949f1
, Oct 22, 2012 06:25 PM
8 replies to this topic
#1
OFFLINE
Posted October 22, 2012 - 06:25 PM
I just got a Kohler K series off a buddy and would like to figure out what it is. It came off a cub cadet 124 but has obviously been changed. The block is black which I know does not matter but the flywheel shroud is blue and looks to be off a ford and I assume it was put on because the delco starter generator is gone and a starter in its place. It does have the alternator wiring sticking out from under the flywheel . According to the silver tag it is a K321 but is the block marked anywhere ?
#2
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Posted October 22, 2012 - 08:05 PM
The silver tag on the flywheel shroud is only indentification on the K series Kohlers.A 124 originally came with a K301 which was 12 horse. A K321 is a 14 horse.
#3
Guest_gravely-power_*
Posted October 22, 2012 - 08:29 PM
Imbossed on the pto side of the block on lots of k series, is the size. I have a total of nine Kohlers on various machines and all are marked.
- Texas Deere and Horse said thank you
#4
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Posted October 22, 2012 - 08:33 PM
Same block. You might have to pull off the head and measure. K321 14 hp has a 3.5" bore. 12 hp has 3.375"
#5
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Posted October 22, 2012 - 08:47 PM
Same block. You might have to pull off the head and measure. K321 14 hp has a 3.5" bore. 12 hp has 3.375"
As stated in "gravely-power" post all the block's have their model number cast into them on the PTO side of the block.


I couldn't come up any 301, 321 or 241 photos quickly, but they are marked.
#6
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Posted October 23, 2012 - 07:33 AM
This is from Brian Miller's Pulling web site;
NOTE: Some 10hp Kohler engine blocks have K301 embossed in the casting on the PTO end. These blocks have a thicker cylinder wall and can be safely bored for a 12hp piston (even up to .030" oversize), without making the cylinder wall too thin. They cannot be bored for a 14hp piston though.
The K301 blocks with a 10hp bore can be safely bored for use with a 12hp piston. The K301 blocks are actually a 12hp block with a 10hp bore. There's nothing special about this blocks, except for the thicker cylinder wall. They weren't used in any "heavy duty" specific purpose either. What happened is on the production line at Kohler, when they ran out of 10hp blocks, they grabbed a bunch of 12hp blocks and bored them for use with a 10hp piston to finish the production of a bunch of 10hp engines. And not all Kohler blocks that have the K301 characters are actually 10hp blocks. Some are bored for a 12hp piston assembly (3.375" STD bore) and therefore, are a 12hp block. The ones that are bored for a 10hp piston assembly (3.250" STD bore) have a thicker cylinder wall and therefore, are a 10hp block. To determine which block is which, the diameter of the cylinder bore needs to be accurately measured.
NOTE: Some 10hp Kohler engine blocks have K301 embossed in the casting on the PTO end. These blocks have a thicker cylinder wall and can be safely bored for a 12hp piston (even up to .030" oversize), without making the cylinder wall too thin. They cannot be bored for a 14hp piston though.
The K301 blocks with a 10hp bore can be safely bored for use with a 12hp piston. The K301 blocks are actually a 12hp block with a 10hp bore. There's nothing special about this blocks, except for the thicker cylinder wall. They weren't used in any "heavy duty" specific purpose either. What happened is on the production line at Kohler, when they ran out of 10hp blocks, they grabbed a bunch of 12hp blocks and bored them for use with a 10hp piston to finish the production of a bunch of 10hp engines. And not all Kohler blocks that have the K301 characters are actually 10hp blocks. Some are bored for a 12hp piston assembly (3.375" STD bore) and therefore, are a 12hp block. The ones that are bored for a 10hp piston assembly (3.250" STD bore) have a thicker cylinder wall and therefore, are a 10hp block. To determine which block is which, the diameter of the cylinder bore needs to be accurately measured.
#7
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#8
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Posted November 28, 2012 - 08:45 AM
Does anyone have any serial number info for the Kohler K series? I am looking to find out all I can. It is a K301 in my 129.
Geno
Geno
#9
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Posted November 29, 2012 - 07:56 AM
Page 5 of the service manual has the codes.Does anyone have any serial number info for the Kohler K series? I am looking to find out all I can. It is a K301 in my 129.
Geno
- bgkid2966 said thank you