Kohler K361

[Eugen]

Thanks Jeff, I don't think I have the patience or skill to do it for others as a business. Gives me pleasure to save these old machines, good enough for me. If I can help some fellow tractorist while at it so much the better.

[Eugen]

I too have been messing around the shop these last few days, but not much, as I've had quite a lot on my plate. Wire brushed and cleaned all other parts that sit on the head; rockers, tubes and rods. Also points, valve cover assembly, cylinder cooling fins, stuff like that.

Unrelated to the engine, I played around with the lathe gears, got it configured for 24 tpi thread cutting and botched some rod trying to put a thread on it.

[JSinMO]

Sounds like you’re getting pretty close to final assembly and the first start up. Looking forward to that!

As for the lathe any practice is good practice. I wish I had access to one but I get by!

[myerslawnandgarden]

Do you have lapping compound ?
If not I have lots .

Yes sir, thank you, got a tube of permatex. Even though some people say you don't need to do that with seats cut and valves faces re-ground I still do.

I always do . If nothing more than to check the contact.

Standard practice nowadays with valves and seats is to machine with a 1 degree difference. Problem with lapping compound is that you destroy the interference angle. With regard to checking the contact and the location of the seat on the valve face, most of us use machinists blue dye and slap the valve against the seat a couple of times, then view the results.

Bob

[Eugen]

Standard practice nowadays with valves and seats is to machine with a 1 degree difference. Problem with lapping compound is that you destroy the interference angle. With regard to checking the contact and the location of the seat on the valve face, most of us use machinists blue dye and slap the valve against the seat a couple of times, then view the results.

Bob

I appreciate your input Bob. The seat cutter is 46 degrees and the valve face was ground to 45. I must say that the tiny bit of lapping I did with permatex lapping paste only matted a little bit of the mating surfaces. Didn't seem to me that the 1 degree was gone, just rotated the valve a few times. Will get some blue dye for next time to check the contact better. Should the fluid leak test always be done?

[myerslawnandgarden]

Eugen,

My post regarding this subject was not to be critical, just trying to add another dimension to the discussion. If both the valve and seat have been machined, I see no need for a fluid leak test. Any deviations from the norm should be corrected as the two surfaces mate during the first few minutes of operation. That's one of the reasons that you cut the seat to 46 and the valve face to 45, then there is only a small amount of contact area that needs to wear in.

Bob

[Eugen]

Remember this guy?


https://vimeo.com/804894901

[DavidBarkey]

It's ALIVE , ALIVE I tell you .
That needs to go into your new loader .

[Eugen]

It's alive indeed Dave! Took my time to put it back together. The valve guides will never become loose again me thinks. This engine can benefit from a temperature gauge so as to not overheat.

The valves and seats are nicely done now, clearance adjusted. New gaskets in a lot of places, got a full set from eBay the other day.

I'm kinda sorry to put it in the loader, seems like wasted power. Not sure at all what to do with it.

[Harry]

Eugen, wasted power. I would think no way. The 644 lbh has a K321 at 14 ponies. With the backhoe it doesnt even grunt, but if I’m moving dirt in the bucket and try to move to quickly it bogs down and I can hear the valves chatter. Moving firewood no problem, but a bucket full of dirt it seems like I could use a few extra ponies. Harry