Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Troubleshooting, rebuilding, repairing Kohler engines.
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Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by puttputt »

I have a question regarding governor thrust washers on Kohler K series. Were they used on all Kohler K series engines? I ask because I am rebuilding a K341. There was no thrust washer on the governor stub shaft. I figured there should be as I know various service manuals remark about installing the thrust washer. But I have come across the parts schematic where it shows the governor components and there is no thrust washer shown. I don't believe this engine has been apart before. Now that I think about, the K241 that I originally took out of the tractor didn't have the thrust washer either. So I'm wondering if maybe earlier engines didn't have a washer? If I install one, anybody know about what thickness? I'm guessing about .005" thickness?
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by DavidBarkey »

Michael at Enginebore.com should know .
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by Eugen »

My thinking on this is that this washer doesn't seem to have a distancing role, rather a protection role so that the plastic gears don't get chaffed too easily. The guy over at isavetractors seems to sell the washer together with the governor gear. If I were you I'd try to find a suitable very thin washer and use it, such that the gears rotate easily. Have you checked the wall of the block carefully, maybe the washer is slightly stuck to it. Either way, I'd inspect the wall of the block where the gears would normally touch, to make sure it's smooth, in case you cannot find a thrust washer. When I rebuilt my k321 I think there was a thrust washer. Just my 2c
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by puttputt »

Yeah, Mike from enginebore just got back to me. He said there should be a thrust washer. He is going to measure the thickness of one tonight. I agree, it is not for a spacing role but rather a protection role where the gear would contact the block. I don't think the washer is stuck to the block but I will look again. I am going to use a steel governor gear that I took out of the K241. However, I will look for some type of washer or make one if need be.
Thanks guys.
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by Eugen »

Maybe he can send you one in an envelope, they're tiny. that way you don't have to second guess it later on. He's not active, by he is a member here @SylvesterCalzone . I'm so itchy to rebuild another engine and get Mike to do some work on it; he's done the cylinder bore and valves for my k321 rebuild.
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by puttputt »

Yeah, he said he has no washers for sale as Kohler no longer sells them so any he has he keeps for rebuilding.
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by Eugen »

puttputt wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:24 pm Yeah, he said he has no washers for sale as Kohler no longer sells them so any he has he keeps for rebuilding.
Please post measurements for the rest of us when you get them, it'll come in handy when the rest of us start looking for that washer. :bee:
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by Eugen »

Oh, just noticed something interesting in a parts diagram online. The Kohler part number for the washer used with nylon gear is 237022S. But it says there "Use X-25-6-S7-S w/steel gear." Can find nothing about this Kohler part number X-25-6-S7-S.

But, the steel gear seems to always come with a pin kit, not with a washer, looks like this:
Screen Shot 2022-09-19 at 13.19.16.png
The kit is part number "25 310 09-S"
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by puttputt »

Sure that isn't a black plastic gear set up for newer engines? The steel gear I have that came off the K241 did not have those pins and looks just like the plastic gear in the K341 and just slides on the stub shaft like the plastic gear. I just watched a video of that Taryl fixes all installing the style of gear with the pin. It is a whole different set up. The broken gear in his video looked like a black plastic gear. He was working on a later Courage engine.
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Re: Kohler K341 governor thrust washer

Post by puttputt »

Here is a pic of the back side of the gear that uses the pin. Looks like black plastic and a different set up.
kohlerope_2531008S.jpg
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