John Deere 314 motor advice

[A.D Services]

Ok I hAVE a John Deere 314 that has the old 14 horse kohler.A couple of weeks ago I was mowing withit and I heard a grinding noise then I noticed motor oil was dripping from somewhere? so i add some more oil and i go to start it but all it does is spin really fast my dad says it probably seized and then broke the connecting rod. so I guess my question is should i overhaul it or buy the conversion 23hp briggs.

[Restrorob]

The first thing you should do is remove the engine, Tear it down and see what failed and inspect the damage. It may or may not be rebuild-able then go from there as to deciding on a repair.

[pugs]

If the block is toast then no. If not, then it may be worth it...but even then its tough to say. Depends on the labor costs in your area. Around here it usually is not worth it...

I am not familiar with any conversion setups for those. Do you have any links on that setup?

I have a guy with a JD 420 that may be in need of a rebuild or engine...

[khouse]

the old k series engine can be rebuilt just about forever. Short of major cylinder or block damage it would be best to rebuild it.

[A.D Services]

Yea they make the conversion at smallenginewarehouse.com I think it is in Indiana somewhere.

[khouse]

Like Restrorob said "tear it down first". Post back your findings. It has to be real bad not to be able to rebuild it. You can bore it out up to .030 over and grind the crank .010 under.

[Restrorob]

And Adding to khouse's post ^^^^^^^^^^^ Your old K series rebuilt if possible WILL if done right out last any new off the shelf engine on the market.

[khouse]

Kohler not manufacturing the K series is like GM not making the 350 engine. Not the best idea to me.

[khouse]

I just found a k341 block on ebay. Also there is a crankshaft there too.
Item # 300025200276

[Restrorob]

I just found a k341 block on ebay. Also there is a crankshaft there too.
Item # 300025200276


Here's a link for convenience; http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300025200276&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D300025200276%26f vi%3D1

[A.D Services]

does anyone have an idea where the oil was coming from? it loked like it was coming out of the ptoclutch area. So is it easy to rebuild? I might take it apart this winter and see what is wrong with it. Power wise what would be bettter the 14hp or the 20hp? my friend said that the single cylinder engine has alot of power

[Restrorob]

does anyone have an idea where the oil was coming from? it loked like it was coming out of the ptoclutch area. So is it easy to rebuild? I might take it apart this winter and see what is wrong with it.

Only you will know where the oil came from when you tear it down, Go to post 11 in this thread to down-load a Service Manual, It has step by step instructions for rebuilding your engine if it's not totaled.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=158542&page=2

[khouse]

why are you thinking about repowering without seeing what's wrong with the engine? You will be money ahead by rebuilding. That K series is not a throw away engine.

[A.D Services]

Ok then I think I am going to tear it apart and rebuild it then. thank you for all your imput and advice. Ill post if i have any questions

[thecrankshaft]

Kohler not manufacturing the K series is like GM not making the 350 engine. Not the best idea to me.

It has something to do with L-Head engine configurations not passing the EPA's stringent emissions requirements. Maybe you could build an L-Head with low HC emissions?

[khouse]

maybe you could crank? you could make millions? maybe kohler could of adapted ohv to the k series? i just think the k series was a tough engine. what do you think?

[pugs]

Kohler not manufacturing the K series is like GM not making the 350 engine. Not the best idea to me.

Oh, they still make them. I put a brand new on in an old Cub Cadet last year. It was the guy's dad's tractor...so it had sentimental value. Better have for what that engine cost.

[pugs]

It has something to do with L-Head engine configurations not passing the EPA's stringent emissions requirements. Maybe you could build an L-Head with low HC emissions?

That is why it is not made for new applications anymore. However if the engine that came off a machine was a non-emissions engine it can be replaced with a non emissions engine. Kohler is still crankin a few out :)

[khouse]

that's news to me. where did you buy the engine? i would like to see if there are any more?

[Jay Ray]

While we are on the Kohler 14 would like to ask about oil changes.

Recently bought an old 1988 Wheel Horse with a Kohler 14 (Magnum M14S). I think it is a K series but do not know the designation.

Oil was slightly dirty when I got it and changed it first thing. The recommended oil change by the Wheel Horse owner manual is 25 hours.

Now have 25 hours, and hot or cold, the oil still looks perfectly clear.

Should I change it?

btw, this is one fine engine.

[khouse]

I just copied and pasted this info from a lawnmower pulling web site. I says it better than I could.
The Magnum engines replaced the K-series in later years. The Magnum engines are basically the same engine as the K-series. The main differences are, besides the sheet metal that covers the block, the Magnum has solid state electronic ignition, a fixed main jet (Walbro) carburetor and the starter fastens to the bearing plate instead of the engine block. And there are no provisions for using ignition points. Most of the external and all the internal parts are interchangeable, and most aftermarket (high-performance) parts are interchangeable with either engine.

[Jay Ray]

Thanks khouse

[pugs]

that's news to me. where did you buy the engine? i would like to see if there are any more?

From CPD...Our Kohler/Tecumseh distributor.

[pugs]

As for oil changes you should be able to grab the Magnum single cylinder owners manual from either Kohlers normal engine website or www.kohlerplus.com . I would go by that for oil changes. Shouldnt have to change it that often I wouldnt think unless you have alot of dust or are in hot conditions under full load alot. They K/Magnum's hold a heck of alot more oil than modern engines.

Yah, the Magnum was basically a modernized K. No more points :clapping:

Although technically the K series was available with a breakerless ignition system.

[khouse]

I'll call Medart and see if they have any.

[Jay Ray]

Thanks for the Kohler site Pugs

[Jay Ray]

for the M14S change at 5 hours then every 25 hours. Two (2) quarts of 30 weight above freezing (32 degrees).

[khouse]

I stand corrected. Pugs was right. I just got a email from Medart and they said that the K-series were being made outside the US for export. Did everyone know this?

[pugs]

I stand corrected. Pugs was right. I just got a email from Medart and they said that the K-series were being made outside the US for export. Did everyone know this?

I forget if it was at an update or at their 4 day school that I found out about it.

I am not sure why Briggs and Tecumseh are not taking advantage of it as much. They could be selling tons of flat heads as replacment engines for tractors and other stuff that originally came with a flat head if they still made them.

[khouse]

I guess i wouldn't be surprised if i found out that the Chevy 350 was being made in China for export also.......

[thecrankshaft]

I really like the K-Series engines as well. They are becoming famous. I have one in an old Jacobsen tractor (K321).

Kohler does still sell some service engines to service engines in the field. They also sell some short blocks, mini blocks, etc. Either way, they still sell a lot of the parts for the K-Series engines.

The reason that the oil change interval is so frequent, is that these engines do not have an oil filter to filter out the particles in the oil.