FYI - A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises is a legal, legitimate, tax paying and reputable business. And as of 2024, A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises is still in business and offering all parts and services listed in this website. Please click here to contact A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises to place an order, send your parts for repairing, if you need a part or parts, or service(s) performed that's not listed or mentioned in this website, and/or for FREE professional and honest technical customer service assistance and support and payment options.

Information about Cylinder Heads for Kohler and Various Small Engines

Inspiring Small Engine, Lawn & Garden, and Garden Pulling Tractor Enthusiasts Since 1996. Where Science and Common Sense Come Together for Safety and Improved Engine/Tractor Performance
A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises - Parts & Services Online Catalog
This page was updated 10/24/20. (Click Refresh to see changes or updates.) Optimized for 1024 x 768 screen resolution. To search for a word or phrase in any of my web sites, press CTRL and F to open the Find dialog box in your web browser. Although every effort has been taken to check the accuracy of information contained herein, I cannot assume responsibility for errors. Scroll down in this website or click the links below.

Reusing Metal-Shielded Head Gaskets

When to Use a Copper Head Gasket

How to Make a New Spark Plug Hole

A-1 Miller's Professional Valve Seat Repair Service for Kohler Engine Model K361 Cylinder Head

How to Repair a Stripped 14mm Spark Plug Threads

How to Permanently Fix an OHV Engine with a Warped Cylinder Head

How to Remove a Broken Off Head Bolt

NEW! A-1 Miller's Professional Automotive Engine Rebuilding and Modification Services. And Build You a Competitive Mini Pulling Truck and Big Wheel Mini Rod Pulling Tractor. Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler, Ford, Diesel engines, etc. More details and information coming later.


Identification of Kohler K-series and Magnum Single Cylinder Engine Cylinder Heads

Cylinder heads for the AIR-COOLED Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181 and M8 -

The cylinder head used on Kohler K-series engine models K141, K160/K161, KV161, K181 and Magnum M8. The first air-cooled head was introduced in 1952 on the K141. Being there are 14 different part numbers for these heads, they are virtually the same with very little difference. The OEM Kohler part numbers for these heads are: 230402-S, 230403-S, 230990-S, 231200-S, A-230770-S, 41 015 01-S, 41 015 02-S (most common), 41 015 04-S, 41 015 06-S, 41 015 07-S, 41 015 08-S and 41 015 09-S. These heads are discontinued from Kohler. These heads should not be milled to raise the compression in an attempt to increase engine power output because the valves are already very close to the head when they are at full lift. All that can be done to these heads is resurface it on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness to prevent a blown or leaking head gasket. Remember - always wear a face mask or air respirator mask to prevent from inhaling the sanding and aluminum material, and do the repair job right the first time and it won't have to be done again for a long time.

Cylinder heads for the vintage LIQUID-COOLED Kohler engine models L160/L161 and L181 -

The vintage Kohler engine models L160/L161 and L181 are a liquid-cooled version with the same combustion chamber as Kohler's air-cooled engine models K141, K160/K161 and K181. Just like with most automotive engines, these liquid-cooled engines require anti-freeze/water mix with a water pump and radiator to maintain the engine operating temperature. The L160/L161 and L181 engines were obviously used in extreme heat desert-like conditions for long periods of time to prevent overheating of the engine. The liquid-cooled Kohler engine model L160/L161 with specification numbers 4149F, 4150F, 4152E, 4166F, 4167F, 4168E, 4168G, 4168H, 4173E, 4192E, 4194F, 4195F, 4199G, 4199H, 41101F, 41109F, 4110F, 41117F, 41131F and 41137F are listed as generator (power plant) engines, and the liquid-cooled Kohler engine model L181 with specification numbers 42583H, 42594H, 42597H, 42626H, 42723H, 42745H, 42746H are also listed as generator (power plant) engines. These are very rare engines. Go here to see a complete Liquid-Cooled Kohler L160/L161 or L181 Engine. If anyone have information or additional photos regarding these engines that they would like to share in this website, please let me know and I will post it/them in this article with your name for full credit.


Kohler made five different cylinder heads for the K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14 K-series and Magnum engines through the years -

The First Generation Cylinder Head -

This cylinder head was manufactured by Kohler from the early 1960s until 1971 and was available only on engine model K241 before engine serial number 3184999. It has a heart-shape and wedge-contoured combustion chamber and is now known as the high compression, "LP head." The spark plug is centered in the combustion chamber. This particular head was originally made for and came on the very early K241 engines. It'll also work on the Magnum engine model M10, M12 engines and the early K321 engine with a 1-1/8" exhaust valve. But being the later K321 engines have a larger exhaust valve (1-3/8"), the exhaust area in the head would need to be machined out for use with the bigger exhaust valve. And because of its high compression ratios, if this head is used on a K301 or K321 engine, Premium, race gas, E-85 or methanol fuels must be used, or the engine will overheat and wear out prematurely. The compression ratio is 7:1 when used on a K241 and M10 and 8.6:1 when used on a K301 or M12. If this head was used on a K321 and M14, it would yield a 9:1 compression ratio. And LP heads did not come on nor will they fit the K341 engines. This head requires 2-1/4" length bolts with no mounting bracket(s) under the bolt, and 2-1/2" length bolts with [gas tank] mounting bracket or other bracket(s) under the bolt. And due to early technology and design of the combustion chamber, the majority of the expanding gases or combustion pressure is placed over the valves instead of the piston, resulting in lower engine performance. The number embossed on this head is 235461. Cub Cadet part # is IH-385303-R1. It is no longer available from Kohler or new from any other source.

This Kohler cylinder head with the numbers 235461 embossed in it is designed for the K241, K301 and early K321 engines with the small (1-1/8") exhaust valve. To use this head on a newer K321 engine with the larger (1-3/8") exhaust valve, the valve shrouding area in the head will need to be milled out for adequate clearance.

NOTE: This particular head was originally designed many years ago ONLY for the K241 engine because these engines have low compression due to their small bore and short stroke. The only reason anyone would put one of these heads on a bigger engine today is to attempt to get more power out of it. Also, people found that the LP head worked better than a newer low compression head on an engine burning liquefied petroleum (propane) gas. LP gas is a high octane fuel (about 110-115 octane). Therefore, it burns more thoroughly and produces more power in a high compression engine. That's why these heads are known today as the "LP head." Also, the LP head, when used on any size engine including the K241, have been known to cause detonation (pinging) nowadays even with 93 octane Premium gas. That's why Kohler stopped making them. They replaced them with the "dished" head. Ê However, high octane race gas, E-85 or methanol fuels can be safely used with the LP head.

If you want to use an LP head on your engine, the genuine OEM Kohler LP head is no longer available from Kohler or any other source. They haven't been made since the early 1960s. They were discontinued when the K301 engine came into production, because this engine requires a lower compression head. So if you need an LP head, remember, they came only on the very early K241 engines equipped with the starter/generator and no indention on the side of the block for the upper mount gear starter. But if you can't find an LP head at all or for a reasonable price, what you could do is cast an aluminum head just like the LP head. A Kohler-replicated LP head can be CNC-machined from billet aluminum, but if you prefer a head that's close to the genuine product, first, you'll need an OEM LP head in good condition to use as a mold or pattern. For more information on this subject and a how-to video, click here: Melting Cans With The Mini Metal Foundry - YouTube.


The Second Generation Cylinder Head -

The second type of head manufactured by Kohler has a heart-shape and a depression area in the combustion chamber. It has improved technology over the earlier LP head. Kohler engine engineers made the depression area for a special reason and it helps engines to produce more torque and horsepower than the LP head at any RPM. This head was installed on Kohler's K241 and K301 engines, before the K321 engine went into production. It's a good head. It flows good and with increased compression. The "hump" directs the incoming air/fuel toward the piston at higher RPM.

Unlike the sought-after, but misidentified LP head, the depression area places the majority of the expanding gases or combustion pressure over the piston instead over of the valves, which produces more engine power and torque. The spark plug is centered in the combustion chamber. It was lowered in compression and was made for both the K241 and K301 engines, but would not work on the K321 or M14 engine because of its' larger exhaust valve (it was manufactured before the K321 engine went into production) unless reduce the size of the exhaust valve on a K321 to a 1.125" (same as a K241 and K301) This can be accomplished by installing a valve seat insert in the block for the smaller valve. By the way - this type of head is not officially a "high compression head" because it has a depression in the combustion chamber. It is however, 'slightly higher' in compression than the newer style heads, but it's not a "high compression" or even an "LP head," but the next best to it. The compression ratio is 5.4:1 when used on a K241 and 6.6:1 when used on a K301. If this head was used on a K321 (the exhaust circumference area would need to be machined larger), it would yield a 7:1 compression ratio. By the way - Kohler no longer makes this type of head.

NOTE: The older head like this has the tall bolt hole bosses. And the newer head with the same combustion chamber and spark plug location have the bolt hole bosses lowered in the head. The shorter bosses allows air from the flywheel pass through the fins on the head with less blockage/restrictions for better cooling with less head warpage. The early heads with the tall bolt holes with no mounting brackets or plates under the bolt heads require 2-1/4" length bolts, and engines with a [gas tank] mounting bracket or other brackets/plates require 2-1/2" length bolts. The head with the recessed bosses require 3/4" tall spacers on the head bolts (and longer bolts) when using a gas tank bracket or other kind of mounting bracket. The reason Kohler redesigned the head with low bosses is so more air can flow over the head bolts instead of around the bosses for better cooling of the head.


The Third Generation Cylinder Head -

The third head manufactured by Kohler has a low compression (depressed) D-shape combustion chamber. And unlike the sought-after, but misidentified LP head, the depression area places the majority of the expanding gases or combustion pressure over the piston instead over of the valves, which produces more engine power and torque. The spark plug is centered in the combustion chamber. It'll work on the K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14 engines because the exhaust valve area was made bigger. (It was manufactured when the K321 engine went into production.) The compression ratio is 5:1 when used on a K241 or M10, 6.1:1 when used on a K301 or M12, and 6.6:1 when used on a K321 or M14. This head requires 1-1/2" length bolts. The reason Kohler lowered the bolt hole bosses is to allow more air to flow over the fins for better cooling of the engine. By the way - Kohler no longer makes this type of head either. If you want to use one of these, look for a good used one. They came on the later model K241, K301 and K321 engines. OEM Kohler part # 237827-S.

NOTE: The older head like this has the tall bolt hole bosses. And the newer head with the same combustion chamber and spark plug location has the bolt hole bosses recessed in the head for better cooling. The early heads with the tall bolt holes with no mounting brackets or plates under the bolt heads require 2-1/4" length bolts, and engines with a [gas tank] mounting bracket or other brackets/plates require 2-1/2" length bolts. The head with the recessed bosses require 3/4" tall spacers on the head bolts (and longer bolts) when using a gas tank bracket or other kind of mounting bracket. The reason Kohler redesigned the head with low bosses is so more air can flow over the head bolts instead of around the bosses for better cooling of the head.


The Fourth Generation and Newest Style Cylinder Head -

The newest style head manufactured by Kohler is much like the previous one, but has the spark plug located directly over the exhaust valve. There are two reasons why Kohler did this:

Again, unlike the sought-after, but misidentified LP head, the depression area places the majority of the expanding gases or combustion pressure over the piston instead over of the valves, which produces more engine power and torque. The compression ratios and mounting bolt lengths are the same as the previous head. By the way - these type of heads are available from Kohler and are the newest ones made. They come on Magnum engines, too.

By the way - the Chevrolet V8 performance racing cylinder heads have the spark plug tip moved toward the exhaust valve for improved performance. It works. The plugs are angled so the tip is closer to the exhaust valve, and so the porcelain part will clear the exhaust header pipes. There's no reason to angle the spark plug in a Kohler head.

NOTE: The fourth generation head will interchange on the K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14 engines. It doesn't matter about the spark plug location, except for pulling purposes. For pulling, it's best to have the spark plug directly over the exhaust valve. The only exception is the very early K241 "LP" head. It has a smaller combustion chamber which will allow the engine to have a higher compression ratio, and shouldn't be used on the K301, M12, K321 and M14 engines for general yard work. It should be used for pulling purposes only using high octane gas, E-85 or methanol fuel. The reason for this is because the compression will be so high, the engine will run too hot for low octane gas, and severe damage to the engine may result.


The Kohler Engine Models K341 and M16 Cylinder Head -

The K341 cylinder head is separate from the heads above. This head has the depression and D-shape combustion chamber. It has the spark plug located directly over the exhaust valve. The compression ratio is 7.4:1. It requires 1-1/2" length bolts. And there are no "LP" type K341 cylinder heads. And ALL K341 and M16 cylinder heads have the spark plug located over the exhaust valve. No exceptions. OEM Kohler part # 45 015 03-S, 45 015 04-S, 45 015 06-S or 45 015 09-S. This head too, has the spark plug located directly over the exhaust valve. There are two reasons why Kohler did this - 1: It prevents cold-starting incoming raw fuel from fouling the spark plug; and 2: It helps to produce more engine power and torque when under a heavy load by retaining the majority of the combustion heat in one area.


The Kohler Engine Model K361 Cylinder Head - (Updated 10/5/22)

The K361 cylinder head is in a class all by itself. This particular valves-in-head is installed on the K361 Over Head Valve (OHV) engine, which was manufactured from 1969 to 1978. There are 12 different variations (specification numbers) of the K361, but are all basically the same. All K361 engines are of the AQS "Quiet Line" models, and have the wide base/flange block with a wide/rectangular-shape 2 quart capacity oil pan. This engine can be converted to a narrow base block for use with the narrow base oil pan (to use in an IH-built Cub Cadet garden tractor). This particular engine was ahead of its time. It's a well-built and very durable engine. The K361 was installed mainly in Power King garden tractors. (More information coming later.)


Kohler Cylinder Head Identification and Cub Cadet Applications:

Kohler K-series engine model K241. OEM Kohler part # 235461, Cub Cadet part # IH-385303-R1. LP head; Discontinued Originally came on the 1965 and earlier Cub Cadet model 100, and other makes and models of garden tractors and small engine equipment. Requires 2-1/4" length bolts (Kohler part # 271077 - Discontinued from Kohler) with no mounting bracket(s) under the bolt head, and 2-1/2" length bolts (Kohler part # 235175-S) with [gas tank] mounting bracket or other mounting brackets/plates under the bolt head.

Kohler K-series engine model K241. OEM Kohler part #'s 236546-S. Either head originally came on various Cub Cadet models 100, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 or 1000, and other makes and models of garden tractors and small engine equipment. This head is no longer available from Kohler. Requires 2-1/4" length bolts (Kohler part # 271077 - Discontinued from Kohler) with no mounting bracket(s) under the bolt head, and 2-1/2" length bolts (Kohler part # 235175-S) with [gas tank] mounting bracket or other mounting brackets/plates under the bolt head.

Kohler K-series engine models K301 and K321. OEM Kohler part #'s 237670-S (Discontinued from Kohler; or 237827-S. Either head originally came on various Cub Cadet models 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 147, 149, 680, 1200, 1250, 1282 or 1450, and other makes and models of garden tractors and small engine equipment. Both heads require 1-1/2" length bolts, w/centered spark plug).

Kohler K-series engine model K341 (including M16 Magnum engine). OEM Kohler part # 45 015 09-S. Originally came on Cub Cadet models 169 and 1650, and other makes and models of garden tractors and small engine equipment. Requires 1-1/2" length bolts (OEM Kohler part # 25 086 115-S), w/offset spark plug hole.

Kohler Magnum engine model M10. OEM Kohler part #'s 237670, 47 015 05-S. Originally came on Cub Cadet model 1050. Requires 1-1/2" length bolts (OEM Kohler part # 25 086 115-S), w/offset spark plug hole.

Kohler Magnum engine models M12 and M14. OEM Kohler part # 47 015 06-S. (Discontinued from Kohler; Requires 1-1/2" length bolts (OEM Kohler part # 25 086 115-S), w/offset spark plug hole.)


Compression Ratios for Factory Stock Kohler K-series and Magnum Engines with an OEM Kohler Cylinder Head are as follows:
K90/K91 (4hp) - 6.6:1 K141 (6¼hp) - 5.93:1 K160 (6.6hp), K161 (7hp) and L160/L161 (6.6 or 7hp) - 6.2:1 K181, L181 and M8 (8hp) - 6.8:1
K241 or M10 (10hp) - LP head - 5:1, 2nd generation head - 5.4:1, 3th and 4th generation heads - 7.1:1 K301 and M12 (12hp) - LP head - 6.1:1, 2nd generation head - 6.6:1, 3rd and 4th generation heads - 8.6:1 K321 and M14 (14hp) - LP head - 6.6:1, 2nd generation head - 7:1, 3rd and 4th generation heads - 9:1 K341 and M16 (16hp) - 7.4:1
K361 (18hp OHV) - 9.2:1 MV16 - 5.8:1 KT17, KT17 Series II, M18, MV18, MV20 (these engines share the same heads) - 6.0:1 KT19, KT19 Series II, M20 (these all share the same heads) - 6.6:1

Kohler K-Series and Magnum Engine Spark Plug and Head Bolt Torque Values and Sequences [Return To Previous Section or Website]

Model (Horsepower)

K90/K91

K141, K160/K161, K181 and M8

K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14

K341 and M16

K361

KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20

K482, K532 and K582

Spark Plug Torque Value

<- 180-240 in. lb. / 15-20 ft. lb.->

Cylinder Head Bolt Torque Values and Sequences

NOTE: Kohler do not use torque-to-yield head bolts. So torque head bolts only once to specs. No need to retorque.

15 ft. lb. / 200 in. lb.
15-20 ft. lb. / 180-240 in. lb.

25-30 ft. lb. / 300-360 in. lb.

25-30 ft. lb. / 300-360 in. lb.
25-30 ft. lb. / 300-360 in. lb.

15-20 ft. lb. /
180-240 in. lb.

35 ft. lb.

ALWAYS lubricate threads with motor oil, and gently torque head bolts/nuts in a cross-pattern sequence so the head will not become warped or to prevent from cracking the head!

If the torque value(s) are shown only in inch pounds (in. lb.), and the only tool you have is a torque wrench that shows in foot pounds (ft. lb.), you can convert inch pounds into foot pounds by dividing the torque value by 12. Example: if the value is shown in 420 in. lb., then divide 420 by 12 = 35 ft. lb.

When replacing the head bolts, always use grade 8 bolts or heat-treated steel studs with grade 8 nuts and hardened flat washers to equally distribute the load. Because stainless steel bolts have the same strength as grade 5 bolts. Which means if stainless steel or grade 5 bolts are used, the threads may stretch over time, causing a compression leak and/or a warped head, which can cause a burned-out gasket and/or burned-out or warped head. [Return To Previous Section or Website]


A good head for a Stock pulling tractor with the engine running around 4,000 RPM would be the one with the spark plug located in the center of the combustion chamber. And the best head to use for a high RPM pulling tractor would be the one with the spark plug located over the exhaust valve.

Did you know that installing two spark plugs per cylinder doesn't help to increase the power output of an engine whatsoever? Simply because one plug will be running hot (exhaust side) and the other will be cool (intake side). Engine power is generated from the heat source, because heat is how an engine produces power. When the spark plug in the cylinder head is located over (flathead) or close to (OHV) the exhaust valve, this maintains the majority of the heat in the combustion chamber in one area. When heat is maintained in one particular area in any given combustion chamber, the increase in power will be much greater, especially at high RPM. Burning fuel within a combustion chamber will "find" or locate the main heat source. The fuel will burn more thoroughly, allowing the engine to produce more power at any RPM. If the plug is located in the center of the combustion chamber, the incoming fuel could splash against the plug's tip and cause the engine to misfire or run erratic at high speed, especially when burning methanol fuel. And the plug could easily become fouled when burning gas, especially when the engine is cold. So it's best to install just one spark plug positioned over the exhaust valve with the plug gap set at .060". Because a .060" gap will simulate having two spark plugs. Use of a high-performance coil will help produce a stronger spark, too. Indexing the spark plug will also help to increase power and torque. This is when the open gap faces the center of the piston. It helps in a more thorough combustion of the fuel so the engine will produce more power at high RPM. Indexing washers is used to index a spark plug. They're a copper washer of certain thicknesses that's placed on the threads of the plug. Indexing of the spark plug helps to increase the power on a high-performance engine that operates at high RPM. It doesn't help much on a stock engine or at low RPM.

Grind away any sharp edges (after milling head, milling out combustion chamber and/or factory casting flash) within the combustion chamber, and polish the entire combustion chamber, including around the valves and top of the piston, to a high luster (smooth as glass, if possible) to help increase power and torque, especially at higher RPM or at wide open throttle. Removing sharp edges prevents hot spots, which can cause detonation and/or pre-ignite the incoming fuel, and polishing reflects heat and prevents the majority of it from being absorbed into the metals. Go here for more information on this subject.

If you're pulling in class where the rules state that the engine must have a stock OEM cylinder head, stock valve lift and stock diameter valves, and you want to get a little more power out of your engine, what can be done is "shave" or mill the head. This is when approximately .050" of metal is removed from the raised gasket mating surface. The milling process of the head must be performed with a fly cutter with the head securely clamped in a milling machine vise fastened on the table of a vertical milling machine. To guarantee that the gasket mating surface is absolutely parallel to the height of the fins, before actually milling the head, the fins must first be milled [in the vise on the table of the milling machine] until they are all the same height. Then flip the head over and the milling process can be performed. Failure to do this could cause the gasket area be milled crooked and not parallel to the fins, resulting in a lop-sided head. Then if necessary, use a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to smooth the gasket surface. And do not use a sander/grinder to mill a head. Use it only to resurface a cylinder head to remove any warpage and restore flatness. If the material on the sander/grinder is worn uneven (from multiple sandings), the head will not resurface perfectly flat and/or may have skip marks. If you don't have your sander/grinder, most automotive machine shops and woodworkers have one. Remember - always wear a face mask or air respirator mask to prevent from inhaling the sanding and aluminum material, and do the repair job right the first time and it won't have to be done again later. Click or tap here to learn how to resurface a warped cylinder head at home with sandpaper.

Be sure to check the valve clearance before milling a head! If a lot of metal is removed from the head, then milling of the valve cavity to clear the head may also need to be done. In most cases with a stock-lift cam, there should be adequate clearance once a stock OEM head is milled. Always check the clearance with the valves at full lift before milling a head! To learn how to do this, scroll down or Click or tap here.

Milling of the head will increase the compression ratio about 3/4 of a point. And depending on engine size, this will definitely, without a doubt, add about 1-3 more horsepower and more torque. The engine will have a "snappier" response when the throttle is opened suddenly, and if the engine is in good running condition, it will literally "pull you back in the seat" of a garden tractor when the engine is quickly accelerated. To learn what else can be done to a stock engine to increase it's power output, Click or tap here.


Reusing Metal-Shielded Head Gaskets - [Top of Page]

A used metal-shielded head gasket can be reused if it is in good condition and not bent, distorted or burned-out. To reuse it, clean it thoroughly with a spinning wire wheel, then coat it evenly with ordinary aluminum or silver color spray paint (available at Walmart or virtually any hardware store), reinstall the gasket, and tighten the head bolts or nuts (with studs) to the correct torque specs. Normal operating engine combustion heat will melt the aluminum/silver paint, creating an absolutely perfect seal. And if a new, metal-shielded head gasket has light surface rust from sitting in storage, the rust can be removed with a spinning wire wheel, and then the gasket can be coated with the same aluminum or silver color spray paint. It'll still be a usable gasket, only with a much better appearance (and sealing quality). This will not work with heavily-rusted head gaskets. And did you know that aluminum paint was first applied on used head gaskets to reassemble engines that was in the American World War 2 fighter planes? Aluminum paint was used because at the time there was a shortage of new head gaskets. This is part of the reason why most Americans don't speak German or Japanese today. (Hitler said he was going to dance on the White House steps.)

If an engine has a leaking head gasket, then this means either the head bolts are loose or the cylinder head is warped and needs to be resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. If you don't have your own sander/grinder, most automotive machine shops and woodworkers have one. Remember - always wear a face mask or air respirator mask to prevent from inhaling the sanding and aluminum material, and do the repair job right the first time and it won't have to be done again later. And if the head is perfectly flat and if the head bolts or studs w/nuts are torqued to specs, most head gaskets alone will seal with no problems. But if you want a guarantee that the gasket will seal well to prevent a blown or leaking head gasket, clean out the head bolt hole threads with a tap, and apply a thin layer of Copper RTV Silicone Sealant (VersaChem - Mega Copper Silicone, Permatex® Ultra Copper® Maximum Temperature RTV Silicone Gasket Maker or Copper SPRAY-A-GASKET Hi Temp Adhesive Sealant) on each side of the head gasket or cylinder head and engine block, then torque the bolts or studs w/nuts to factory specs. Because engine heat has very little effect on silicone rubber. It's made of fine-ground up heat-transferring compressible copper mixed with silicone. Walmart and most auto parts stores sell copper RTV silicone sealant. It doesn't matter which brand to use, they work the same.

When to Use a Copper Head Gasket - [Top of Page]

Regardless of the thickness of a copper head gasket, these should only be used with a machined billet cylinder head and for competition pulling. If a copper head gasket is used with an OEM Kohler cylinder head, it would most likely leak compression between the head bolts, even when copper silicone is used. This is because all OEM heads are much thinner than the thicker billet heads, and when the head bolts (or nuts w/studs) are torqued to specs, the OEM head will flex and press down a few thousandths of an inch where the head bolts are, and with a copper head gasket, it will not "clamp down" entirely against the gasket between the head bolts. The head doesn't necessarily become warped, it just flexes or bends. Therefore, it's best to use the "cushiony" OEM Kohler type of head gasket with an OEM head to compensate for the flexing or bending to help it seal better, even for competition pulling.

If the deck (top) of the engine block and cylinder head gasket surface are perfectly flat, and if the valves have adequate head clearance at full lift, and if the piston doesn't come flush with the top of the block, or if the head is milled for a pop-out piston, then a head gasket isn't really necessary. Just use the copper silicone as described above È. When using copper/silicone only as a head to block sealant, it'll be like using a dried "liquid" copper head gasket. The absence of a head gasket will prevent the head from warping when the head bolts or nuts with studs are torqued to specs. The head and block will have positive metal to metal contact with the silicone filling in any imperfections between the two metals. The copper particles will transfer the heat. But if the piston pops out of the cylinder, the clearance between the piston and head will need to have a safety margin of minimum .030" due to rod stretch and crankshaft flex at very high RPM. And yes, when precision-balanced, even a cast iron crankshaft will flex a few thousands of an inch at high RPM without breaking. The clearances over each valve when at full lift will need to be checked, too.

For dirty or rusted engine blocks, to prevent a blown or leaking head gasket, besides resurfacing the head(s) and cleaning the deck of the block, due to dirt/debris that gets accumulated in the threads for the head bolts, the threads may need to be cleaned out with the appropriate size tap (5/16-18 UNC (coarse thread) for Kohler engine models K141, K161/K160, K181, L160/L161, L181 and M8 engines; and 3/8-16 UNC (coarse thread) for Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361 engines) to get the head to fully compress the gasket when the bolts are torqued to specs. It's best to use a TAPER hand tap. A TAPER tap cleans threads more thoroughly [than a PLUG tap] and is less likely to break off in the block when in use. Then a PLUG tap can be used to clean the bolt holes deeper. Be sure the threads on the bolts are clean, too. And to obtain the proper torque, apply clean motor oil on the threads before installing and torquing the bolts to specs. This should be done with any engine, lawn & garden, farm, heavy equipment or automotive.

Removing a Broken-Off Tap - A threading tap that has broken off in an engine block or metal casting can be very difficult to remove. About all I can tell you is to either take your block to a reputable machine shop to have the tap removed, or go here and try to do it yourself: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=removing+broken+tap+from+hole. Actually, it's best to use a TAPER hand tap to cut new threads and clean out existing threads. If used correctly, a TAPER tap is less likely to break off. Click or tap here to learn how to cut new threads, the professional way.

And OEM Kohler head bolts don't need to be retorqued again after the engine gets hot. Also, as long as there's plenty of metal on the hex head (due to being rusted away), they can be reused many times. The OEM Kohler head bolts are actually harder than hardware store grade 8 bolts and the threads don't stretch on them whatsoever. Personally, I always try to reuse Kohler head bolts on my engine builds whenever possible.

To repair broken-off head bolt(s)...

  1. Try applying GUNK Liquid Wrench to the broken stud(s), allow the Liquid Wrench to soak in after a few minutes, then use Vise-Grips locking pliers to very gently twist the stud back and forth.
  2. If the first step doesn't work, heat the area around the stud with an oxy-acetylene welding torch and twist the stud with the Vise-Grips again.
  3. If the above still don't work, as the last result, the broken stud(s) will need to be ground flush with the surface on the block, carefully drilled out perpendicular with the block, and the threads retapped. (The studs are obviously made of mild steel. That's why it/they broke off in the first place.)
  4. Resurface the cylinder head on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness, and install new grade 8 bolts with anti-seize compound on the threads. If you don't have your own belt/disc sander/grinder, most automotive machine shops and woodworkers have one. Remember - always wear a face mask or air respirator mask to prevent from inhaling the sanding and aluminum material, and do the repair job right the first time and it won't have to be done again later.


If a small engine cylinder head is burned out (usually close to the exhaust valve), if it's burned out where the gasket seals, as long as there's no cracks in the head, it can be successfully welded up, machined flat, the bolt hole redrilled and be put back into service. The following items are what causes cylinder head burn-out...

  • Loose head bolts or nuts (with studs). Always torque head bolts or nuts in the correct sequence and to the proper torque value. Apply high temperature/high strength liquid threadlocker on threads of studs to prevent them from loosening in the engine block. FYI - When storing an opened container of liquid threadlocker or Super Glue, store it upright and not laying flat. The [capped] tip will not dry out and clog when stored upright.
  • Head warpage caused by clogged cooling fins (grass, debris, etc.), or head milled too thin, which will create an air gap between the head bolts or nuts/studs.
  • Too lean of carburetor high speed air/fuel mixture at full governed speed.
  • Severely worn throttle shaft in carburetor. This will lean out the high speed air/fuel mixture at full governed speed. (A new bushing will need to be installed, and a new throttle shaft may need to be installed as well.)
  • High speed air/fuel mixture set too lean on a Carter, Kohler or fully adjustable Walbro carburetor.
  • If engine has a Walbro carburetor with a fixed/non-adjustable high speed main jet and was running above 3,200 RPM, this will severely lean out the high speed air/fuel mixture. (This is a common thing with the fixed high speed main jet Walbro carburetors).
  • Vacuum leak at the carburetor mounting gasket, resulting in a lean air/fuel mixture.


Advertisement: (Prices are subject to change without notice.)
Click here to contact A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises to place an order, send your parts for repairing, and/or for FREE professional and honest technical customer service assistance and support and payment options. Please contact A-1 Miller's if you need a part or parts, or service(s) performed that's not listed or mentioned in this website.
A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Resurface air-cooled small engine flathead or OHV cylinder head on wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness for better sealing of head gasket and prevent possibility of burning-out of [high dollar] head due to severe warpage. (Sanders are not just for woodworking.) Includes deburring of sharp edge around combustion chamber to prevent detonation or pre-ignition. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. $10.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.

NOTE - If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Mill approximately .050" from Kohler K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 or M16 cylinder head to raise compression ratio approximately .75:1 to increase horsepower and torque. Includes remove prominent/raised gasket mating surface from head and deburr sharp edge around combustion chamber to prevent detonation or pre-ignition. Torque head bolts to 25-30 ft. lb. / 300-360 in. lb. in sequence. $25.00 labor each, plus return shipping & handling.

NOTE: To lessen the chance of a blown or leaking head gasket, clean out the head bolt hole threads with a tap, and seal the head gasket with Copper RTV Silicone Sealant (VersaChem - Mega Copper Silicone, Permatex® Ultra Copper® Maximum Temperature RTV Silicone Gasket Maker or Copper SPRAY-A-GASKET Hi Temp Adhesive Sealant) on each side of the head gasket or cylinder head and engine block to prevent a blown or leaking head gasket. Because engine heat has very little effect on silicone rubber. It's made of fine-ground up heat-transferring compressible copper mixed with silicone. Walmart and most auto parts stores sell copper RTV silicone sealant. It doesn't matter which brand to use, they work the same.

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Professionally weld up burned-out gasket surface in small engine cylinder head, resurface on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness, and redrill bolt hole, if needed. The welding process involves grinding away the impurities in the aluminum, and the aluminum welding becomes integrated with or part of the aluminum in the head, resulting in superior bonding with no separation whatsoever. NOTE - As long as there's no cracks in the head, it can be successfully welded up, resurfaced, and the bolt hole redrilled. IMPORTANT - The main causes of a burn-out are: 1) Throttle shaft in the carburetor is severely worn, allowing extra air in the combustion chamber, which will lean out the air/fuel mixture at high RPM; 2) The adjustable high speed main air/fuel mixture screw is set too lean; 3) The engine is ran above 3,200 RPM with a [Walbro] carburetor having a fixed/non-adjustable high speed main jet. To prevent the burn-out from happening again, either of these things should be fixed correctly before the cylinder head (engine) is put back into service. $75.00 for welding and machining, plus return shipping & handling. If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.


A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Drill out rusted-in/broken off [1/4"] bolt in cylinder head and retap threads for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) and/or brackets. No need to purchase another hard-to-find cylinder head that's in good condition. Also includes resurface head on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. NOTE: Always apply anti-seize compound on threads of bolt before installing. $10.00 each labor, plus return shipping & handling. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Install Heli-Coil thread repair insert in stripped-out 14mm spark plug hole if not larger than 5/8" in diameter. No need to purchase another hard-to-find high dollar cylinder head that's in good condition. 304 stainless steel w/200,000 psi tensile strength. Includes resurfacing of head on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $20.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handling. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Weld up excessively enlarged spark plug threaded hole, machine [lump of] welding even with head, and professionally drill and tap new 14mm spark plug threads perpendicular with the head. The welding process involves grinding away the impurities in the aluminum, and the aluminum welding becomes integrated with or part of the aluminum in the head, resulting in superior bonding with no separation whatsoever. No need to purchase another hard-to-find high dollar cylinder head that's in good condition. Includes resurfacing of head on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $120.00 each for welding and machining, plus return shipping & handling. IMPORTANT: To prevent stripping the threads, do not overtighten spark plug! Torque spark plug to 180-240 in. lb. or 15-20 ft. lb. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.

Mill out exhaust valve cavity in LP and 2nd generation cylinder head to clear the larger 1-3/8" exhaust valve. $25.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.

Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler flathead engine models K90/K91. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set. Discontinued Kohler part # 220124-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $7.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum flathead engine models K141, K160, K161, K181 and M8. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set.
  • Aftermarket. $7.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 41 041 10-S. $10.76 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum flathead engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set.
  • Aftermarket. $6.25 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 47 041 15-S. $22.75 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum flathead engine models K341 and M16. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set.
  • Aftermarket. $11.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 45 041 17-S. $17.52 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler engine model K361. Approximately .050" compressed thickness with steel fire ring. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Discontinued Kohler part # 45 052 02-S, Cub Cadet/MTD part # KH-45-052-02-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $28.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler opposed twin cylinder engine models K482, K532 and K582. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set.
  • OEM Kohler part # 48 041 13-S. 11.30 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler KT-series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder engine models MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Included in complete engine rebuild gasket set.
  • Aftermarket. $21.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 52 041 20-S. $25.60 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder Head Gasket. Fits Kohler engine models K660 and K661. Approximately .050" compressed thickness. Torque head bolts to 15-20 ft. lb. / 180-240 in. lb. Doesn't need to be retorqued again once hot.
  • New Old Stock. Discontinued Kohler part # 275156-S. $35.00± each (depending on source), plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Repair stripped spark plug threads with a Heli-Coil insert in YOUR cylinder head and/or drill out broken bolt and retap threads for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal). Includes resurfacing of head to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $25.00 - $45.00 parts and labor, depending on extent of repair.

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Weld up excessively enlarged spark plug threads, machine (mill) welding flat, and drill and tap new 14mm spark plug threads. No need to purchase another hard-to-find cylinder head that's in good condition. Labor includes resurfacing of air-cooled small engine cylinder head on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $120.00 each for welding and machining, plus return shipping & handling.

Cylinder Head. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160, K161, K181 and M8. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 41 015 02-S (most common part). $125.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


1st Generation High Compression "LP" Cylinder Head. Fits Kohler K-series engine models K241, K301 and K321 with the small (1-1/8") exhaust valve. Also fits certain Kohler Magnum engine models M10 and M12. Spark plug located in middle of combustion chamber. Due to the location of the spark plug, this head is not designed for use on a K-series AQS "Quiet Line" engine. Rare, hard to find part nowadays. The number embossed on this head is 235461. Requires 2" length head bolts. It has a heart-shape combustion chamber with no depression over the piston. Spark plug located in middle of combustion chamber. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 236546, and discontinued Cub Cadet part # IH-385303-R1. $200.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


2nd Generation Cylinder Head. Fits Kohler K-series engine models K241, K301 and K321 with the small (1-1/8") exhaust valve. Also fits certain Kohler Magnum engine models M10 and M12. Spark plug located in middle of combustion chamber. Due to the location of the spark plug, this head is not designed for use on a K-series AQS "Quiet Line" engine. It has a heart-shape combustion chamber with a depression over the piston. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Head with short bolt hole bosses; requires 1-1/2" length head bolts. Discontinued Kohler part # 236675. $85.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Used and in excellent condition. Head with tall bolt hole bosses; requires 2" length head bolts. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 236546 and 235475. $75.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


3rd Generation Cylinder Head. Fits Fits Kohler K-series engine models K241, K301 and K321. Also fits certain Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12 and M14. Spark plug located in middle of combustion chamber. Due to the location of the spark plug, this head is not designed for use on a K-series AQS "Quiet Line" engine. It has a D-shape combustion chamber with a depression over the piston. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. Requires 1-1/2" length head bolts. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 237829. $75.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New high quality aftermarket OEM Kohler-replicated K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 or M14 cylinder head. $175.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


4th Generation Cylinder Head. Fits Kohler K-series AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301 and K321. Also fits certain Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12 and M14. Spark plug located over exhaust valve. Has a D-shape combustion chamber with a depression over the piston. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. Each listed below requires 1-1/2" length head bolts. IMPORTANT: Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt and spark plug torque specs. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 237670. $150.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. OEM Kohler part # 237830-S.$310.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


Kohler engine model K341 16hp Cylinder Head. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt holes for fastening of baffle shields (sheet metal) all in good condition. Requires 1-1/2" length head bolts. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 45 015 03-S, 45 015 04-S, 45 015 06-S or 45 015 09-S. $200.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


A-1 Miller's Professional Valve Seat Repair Service for Kohler Engine Model K361 Cylinder Head. [Top of Page] This service is for an engine that does not blow blue smoke out the exhaust and burn oil. Performing a professional valve job restores full compression, which allows the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly without stalling, and (if the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too), it will produce full power at top governed speed. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. And if you've ever wondered how the K361 rocker arms receive plenty of oil to keep them lubricated, when the engine is running at full governed speed, internal air pressure from the downward stroke of the piston forces crankcase oil through the pushrod tubes onto the rocker arms. A proven, ingenious and innovative concept by Brian Miller. Please do not accept advertised copycat products of this kind. (But I do appreciate them acknowledging my ingenuity and intelligence.)

  • Repair loose valve seat with a new BRONZE valve seat. FYI - A replacement pressed-in steel valve seat will loosen, without a doubt, after a short time in an aluminum cylinder head, even if it's professionally installed. But a replacement pressed-in bronze seat will NOT loosen when professionally installed because the "roughness" of bronze surface grips or adheres to aluminum much better than the "slick" surface of a steel seat. Plus, being bronze is actually harder than cast iron, it will wear very little and hold up to extreme heat, even for the exhaust side. $75.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Repair worn inside of valve guide with a thin-wall bronze sleeve insert. $20.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Replace loose guide valve with an oversize O.D. guide. $40.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Resurface head gasket mating surface to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $20.00 labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Perform valve job (regrind both valve faces and seats) to OEM angles, lap-in valves, install new valve stem seal, reinstall valves, springs, rotators and keepers/locks/collets. $45.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.
  • If necessary after performing valve job, replace both original OEM 1-9/16" length valve springs with OEM Kohler 1-3/4" length springs so engine will produce more power at full governed speed without erratic valve behavior or misfire. $20.00 extra for both springs.
  • Gaskets to Reinstall Rebuilt K361 Cylinder Head on Engine. (Each part listed below included in the full engine gasket set.)
    • Head gasket. High quality aftermarket. Discontinued Kohler part # 45 052 02-S. $24.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Rocker arm housing gasket. High quality aftermarket. Discontinued Kohler part # 45 041 14-S. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Rocker arm cover gasket. OEM Kohler part # 45 041 09-S. $8.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Two pushrod tube neoprene rubber O-rings. (Kohler part # 45 153 01-S. $2.00/two, plus shipping & handling.
    • Intake tube mounting gasket. Kohler part # 271030-S. $1.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

FYI - I have found that the Kohler K361 18hp OHV cylinder head use the longer 1-3/4" valve spring (uncompressed length; discontinued Kohler part # 235010-S) with rotators for both valves, the same spring that certain early K241, K301 and K321 engines use with the stamped retainer. And of course, certain later K241, K301, K321, and all K341 engines have the shorter 1-9/16" spring (uncompressed length; discontinued Kohler part # 235168-S) with the rotator. Anyway, the official Kohler parts manual says that the K361 use the shorter 1-9/16" springs (with rotators) for both valves, but apparently, it's wrong! It obviously requires the longer 1-3/4" springs (with rotators). And of all the K361 engines that I've rebuilt through the years, with the 1-3/4" springs and rotators installed, there is no coil bind. Coil bind is when the coils of the spring make contact with each other at maximum valve lift. I've had a customer send his K361 head to me for repairs, and when I spoke to him on the phone about his engine, he mentioned that the engine had always made a chattering/rattling sound at full governed speed and lacked sufficient power. So I checked the valve springs, and sure enough, it had the shorter 1-9/16" springs (with rotators). My customer was lucky it didn't drop a valve. That would've been a nightmare! So I installed a set of the longer 1-3/4" springs (with rotators). The valves felt stiffer when I pushed down on them with my hand, too. - Brian Miller


Kohler engine model K361 (OHV 18hp) Cylinder Head Assembly. Professionally rebuilt and fully assembled. Includes valves, springs, rotators, stabilizers and keepers. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt hole threads are in good condition. Valve seats and/or valve guides reground or replaced, if necessary. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for. Each head listed below is used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 45 318 04 -S and 45 755 10-S.

  • With rebuildable core trade-in/exchange. $250.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Outright with no core trade-in/exchange. $400.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Gasket kit to reinstall rebuilt K361 cylinder head on engine. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • New head bolts. Fits Kohler engine model K361. 3/8" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. OEM Kohler part #'s 270721-S (bolt; discontinued from Kohler), 270889-S (washer).
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts only. $6.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts and 6 washers. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
"L-Shape" Baffle Shield (Sheet Metal) and Ignition Coil Mounting Bracket. Fits cylinder head on Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301 and K321. Due to the larger cylinder head, the K341 do not require this part. This is NOT a lifting strap. Used on Cub Cadet garden tractor models 680, 1000, 1200, 1250, 1282, 1450, and various other makes and models of garden tractors. Replace a broken bracket (due to a loose mounting bolt without a lock washer). This part mounts on the farthest cylinder head bolt located on the starter side of the engine for fastening top and side baffle shields (sheet metal) and ignition coil. FYI: If your part is broken, it can be welded back together to give many more years of quality service.
  • A-1 Miller's fabricated part. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 47 126 04-S, and discontinued Cub Cadet part #'s IH-117231-C1, KH-47-126-04-S. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
Baffle Shields. Fits beside cylinder on Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301 and K321, including various Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16. Used on Cub Cadet garden tractor models 680, 1000, 1200, 1250, 1282, 1450, 1650, and various other makes and models of garden tractors. Replace a cracked or broken baffle shield (due to loose mounting bolts without lock washers). This part mounts on the right side/starter side of engine (when facing the flywheel) to deflect cooling air around cylinder and for fasten of ignition coil bracket.
  • New. Made of sheet metal (same quality as OEM part). OEM Kohler part # 47 063 05-S. $55.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Heavy Duty Aftermarket. Made of 1/8" mild steel for durability. A-1 Miller's fabricated part. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
High Quality Cylinder Head Bolts and Flat Washers. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181 and M8. Reusable - these will not stretch overtime and are not "torque to yield" bolts. OEM Kohler head bolts can be reused multiple times. But replace bolts with eroded, rusted heads to prevent socket from slipping so bolt can be torqued correctly to prevent a blown head gasket and/or warped head. 5/16" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. NOTES: Clean the bolt holes with a 5/16-18 UNC plug hand tap, then apply motor oil on the threads so the bolts will torque correctly. Torque each bolt to 240 in. lbs. or 20 ft. lbs. Liquid threadlocker is not necessary. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]
  • High quality aftermarket. Set of 7 bolts only. $7.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • High quality aftermarket. Set of 7 bolts and 7 washers. $10.50 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part #'s 41 086 02-S (bolt), 220534-S (washer). $49.35 per set, plus shipping & handling.


High Quality Cylinder Head Bolts and Flat Washers. Fits Kohler engine models MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Reusable - these will not stretch overtime and are not "torque to yield" bolts. OEM Kohler head bolts can be reused multiple times. But replace bolts with eroded, rusted heads to prevent socket from slipping so bolt can be torqued correctly to prevent a blown head gasket and/or warped head. 5/16" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. NOTES: Clean the bolt holes with a 5/16-18 UNC plug hand tap, then apply motor oil on the threads so the bolts will torque correctly. Torque each bolt to 240 in. lbs. or 20 ft. lbs. Liquid threadlocker is not necessary. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]

  • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts only. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts and 9 washers. $13.50 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part #'s 41 086 02-S (bolt), 220534-S (washer). $63.45 per set, plus shipping & handling.


High Quality Cylinder Head Bolts and Flat Washers. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361 listed below. Reusable - these will not stretch overtime and are not "torque to yield" bolts. OEM Kohler head bolts can be reused multiple times. But replace bolts with eroded, rusted heads to prevent socket from slipping so bolt can be torqued correctly to prevent a blown head gasket and/or warped head. NOTES: Clean the bolt holes with a 3/8-16 UNC plug hand tap, then apply motor oil on the threads so the bolts will torque correctly. Torque each bolt to 360 in. lbs. or 30 ft. lbs. Liquid threadlocker is not necessary. And the length of any bolt (or screw) do not include the head itself. They are measured from under the head to end of the threads. Bolt lengths below determined by type of cylinder head used. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]

  • Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. 3/8" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. These are for OEM heads with recessed bolt holes that's lower than the height of the cooling fins.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts only. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts and 9 washers. $13.50 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • OEM Kohler part #'s 25 086 115-S (bolt), 270889-S (washer). $64.75 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. 3/8" diameter x 2-1/4" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. These are for OEM heads with bolt holes that's the same height as the cooling fins, and with no mounting bracket/plate under the bolt head. Kohler part #'s 271077 (bolt; discontinued from Kohler), 270889-S (washer).
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts only. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts and 9 washers. $13.50 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. 3/8" diameter x 2-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. These are for OEM heads with bolt holes that's the same height as the cooling fins, and with a gas tank mounting bracket or other type of mounting bracket/plate fastened under the bolt heads.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts only. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 9 bolts and 9 washers. $13.50 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • OEM Kohler part #'s 235175-S (bolt), 270889-S (washer). $98.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models K341 and M16. 3/8" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 10 bolts only. $10.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 10 bolts and 10 washers. $15.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • OEM Kohler part #'s 25 086 115-S (bolt), 270889-S (washer). $69.70 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine model K361. 3/8" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. OEM Kohler part #'s 270721-S (bolt; discontinued from Kohler), 270889-S (washer).
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts only. $6.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts and 6 washers. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.


High Quality Aftermarket Single Cylinder Head Stud Kits. These studs can be reused multiple times. These will not stretch overtime and are not "torque to yield" studs. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361 with an OEM or Billet Head. Each kit includes 3/8" diameter x 2" or 2-3/4" length high quality heat-treated studs, grade 8 nuts and hardened flat washers. I can also make the head studs any length you want. The ones that's listed here are the most common lengths. When installed correctly and torqued to specs, head studs provide even torque pressure for better head gasket sealing. Plus, with a thinner cylinder wall with a huge, oversized piston, they help maintain cylinder wall stability and straightness for better ring seal to lessen the loss of compression. Thoroughly tested for several years of continuous use under pulling conditions, for Kohler engine models, hardened and heat-treated coarse thread studs, along with grade 8 nuts and washers, works just fine, with no problems. The nuts maintain their torque as long as they're tightened to the correct torque specs. And make sure at least 3/4" of threads are in the block so the cylinder wall will not distort and threads in block will not strip out when the nuts are torqued to specs. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. Also, stud length is determined by type of cylinder head. The OEM head with short bolt holes require 2" length studs, the head with tall bolt holes require 2-3/4" length studs. Please indicate length of studs when placing order. IMPORTANT: As with any threaded stud, apply medium strength liquid threadlocker (Blue Loctite, Permatex or equivalent) on threads that goes in the block and tighten with pliers to prevent stud from loosening. Use a hardened steel flat washer under nut to distribute load evenly on head and apply motor oil on exposed threads so nut will torque correctly. Torque each nut to 360 in. lbs. or 30 ft. lbs. in correct sequence. FYI - When storing an opened container of liquid threadlocker or Super Glue, store it upright and not laying flat. The [capped] tip will not dry out and clog when stored upright. An ingenious and innovative concept by Brian Miller. Please do not accept advertised copycat parts of this kind. (But I do appreciate them acknowledging my ingenuity and intelligence.) [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]

  • Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. Available in 2", 2-3/4" or 3-1/4" (OEM) lengths (please specify length). Set of 9 studs, nuts and washers. $20.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models K341 and M16. 2" length. Set of 10 studs, nuts and washers. $22.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine model K361. 2" length. Set of 6 studs, nuts and washers. $13.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.


OEM Kohler Cylinder Head Studs. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 and M16. Dimensions of each stud: 3/8-16 UNC (coarse thread) threads; 3-1/4" overall length; short threaded length: 5/8"; long threaded length: 1-7/8". NOTE: OEM Kohler head studs can be reused multiple times. These will not stretch overtime and are not "torque to yield" studs. " IMPORTANT: As with any threaded stud, apply medium strength liquid threadlocker (Blue Loctite, Permatex or equivalent) on threads that goes in the block and tighten with pliers to prevent stud from loosening. Use a hardened steel flat washer under nut to distribute load evenly on head and apply motor oil on exposed threads so nut will torque correctly. Torque each nut to 360 in. lbs. or 30 ft. lbs. in correct sequence. FYI - When storing an opened container of liquid threadlocker or Super Glue, store it upright and not laying flat. The [capped] tip will not dry out and clog when stored upright.

  • Used and in excellent condition. OEM Kohler part #'s 237277-S (discontinued) or 237522-S. $5.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. OEM Kohler part # 237522-S. $11.50 each, plus shipping & handling.


Steel Spacers for 2-1/2" Length Head Bolts or Studs (listed above). Most commonly used when replacing an OEM Kohler K241, K301 or K321 cylinder head with bolt hole bosses that's the same height as the cooling fins with a cylinder head with recessed bolt hole bosses when using a gas tank mounting bracket or other kind of flat bracket. IMPORTANT: Place spacer above thick flat washer on cylinder head. Dimensions: 13/32" I.D. x 5/8" O.D. x 5/8" height.

  • A-1 Miller's high quality machined aftermarket part. Replaces Kohler part # X-400-91-S. $8.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # X-400-91-S. $10.60 each, plus shipping & handling.

How to Remove Carbon Deposits from the Combustion Chamber in a Cylinder Head -

Use a narrow, steel blade putty knife (with a stiff blade) or paint scraper to remove the carbon deposits from the combustion chamber (and from around the valves and from the top of the piston). Be sure the putty knife or scraper has a sharp edge, too. Don't worry about scratching the surface of the combustion chamber either. The tiny scratches will cause no problems. If the putty knife or scraper can't easily remove the carbon, soak the head in plain water at room temperature for a few days. This will soften the carbon and then it should be a lot easier to remove.


How to Make a New Spark Plug Hole - [Top of Page]

Spark Plug Thread Hole Chaser and Spark Plug Hole TapWhen making a new hole and cutting threads for the spark plug, use a 1/2" drill bit (for 14mm threads) to bore the hole, then use a 14mm x 1.25 pitch spark plug tap to cut the threads. Be sure to drill the hole and cut the threads perpendicular to the head! If the hole is drilled crooked or the threads are cut crooked, the spark plug won't seat (seal) a full 360º and loss of compression will result. A spark plug tap can be acquired on eBay, at a local hardware store or machine shop/steel supply company. Don't use a spark plug thread hole chaser to cut new threads. They're made to remove carbon deposits and/or renew damaged threads.

How to Repair a Stripped 14mm Spark Plug Hole - [Top of Page]

If 14mm spark plug threads are stripped-out in a cylinder head, a stainless steel Heli-Coil thread repair insert or a special-made mild steel solid thread repair insert can be installed. For cleanliness and to prevent metal cuttings from entering the combustion chamber, which will cause severe engine damage and wear, the cylinder head must be removed before installing the insert! By the way - a mild steel or stainless steel thread insert is absolutely, without a doubt, much stronger than any aluminum threads. To install the solid thread insert...

  1. Cut oversize threads in the head with the supplied tap that came in the solid insert 14mm spark plug thread repair kit. Make sure the threads are cut perpendicular with the head to prevent a cocked or crooked installed spark plug.
  2. Apply high temperature/high strength liquid threadlocker on the threads of the insert and on the threads in the head. FYI - When storing an opened container of liquid threadlocker or Super Glue, store it upright and not laying flat. The [capped] tip will not dry out and clog when stored upright.
  3. Install the insert on the spark plug threads with the flared end toward the spark plug body, and install them together in the head, and tighten securely. Allow the threadlocker to cure for about 30 minutes. It usually fully cures in 24 hours at room temperature.
  4. Remove the spark plug, and use a 5/8" tapered punch and medium size hammer to expand the insert from inside of the combustion chamber to lessen the chance of it coming out when removing the spark plug.
  5. If necessary, use a 14mm x 1.25 pitch spark plug tap to repair the threads on the end of the insert after using the punch.
  6. IMPORTANT: Torque spark plug to 180-240 in. lb. or 15-20 ft. lb.

The Heli-Coil insert doesn't require threadlocker because its "spring-like" expands outward against the threads in the hole, keeping it intact in the head.

Or contact a-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises if you are not able to repair stripped spark plug threads.

As the last resort, if the stripped spark plug threads hole in an aluminum head are too large for a Heli-Coil thread insert, the hole can be successfully welded-up with aluminum welding, machined (milled) flush with the surface of the head, then drilled perpendicular with the head, and new spark plug threads tapped for installation of the spark plug.


How to locate where to machine the cylinder head for the valves...

  1. Strip the engine down to the bare block.
  2. Fasten the billet cylinder head and head gasket on the block with a couple of bolts.
  3. Run a 5/16" diameter steel rod that has a sharp point on one end into each valve guide from inside the block with the pointed end toward the head.
  4. Using a small hammer, lightly tap on the end of the rod so a small impression (punch mark) will be created on the head. These punch marks are the location for the center of the valve heads.
  5. Using a machinists' inside divider caliper, scribe a circle (radius) around each punch mark the same diameter as the valve heads, plus approximately .100" for side clearance.
  6. Now the cylinder head can be machined for the valve cavities and combustion chamber.

How to check for proper valve clearance between the valves and cylinder head...

  1. For the K241-K341 engines, set the valves at their respective clearances. (See above È.) Adjustment is made with a flat feeler gauge and with the lifter held in place with a slender 1/2" open-end wrench and turning the adjuster screw in the lifter with a 7/16" open-end wrench. Make sure the lifters are on the base circle of the cam lobes, too.
  2. Use modeling clay (such as Play-Doh) to measure the clearances between the valves and the head. Apply motor oil on each valve and in the head (valve cavities) to prevent the clay from sticking to either surface. Fasten the head with the head gasket to the block, then crank the engine over slowly by hand one full revolution so the valves can compress the clay. Remove the head and use the depth gauge on a dial or digital vernier caliper to carefully measure the thickness of the clay. There needs to be a minimum of .100" clearance between the valves and the head.
  3. Place the head and gasket on the engine and tighten down a couple of head bolts.
  4. Rotate the crankshaft slowly by hand 360º. If it stops rotating, do not force it, because damage may occur to the camshaft. Remove the head and see if one of the valves made contact with the head.
  5. If the crankshaft rotates freely after 360º, remove the head and use the depth gauge on a dial or digital vernier caliper to determine the thickness of the clay. The clay should have a minimum thickness of about .070".
  6. Remove metal from inside head (valve cavities) as necessary to gain proper clearance.
  7. Clearance around the valves should be the same as above the valves (valve shrouding).
  8. Repeat steps 2 through 6 to gain proper valve to head clearance. [Return To Previous Section or Website] È

How to make modeling clay (Play-Doh):

  • 2-1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar or Alum
  • 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
  • 2 Cups Water

Directions: Thoroughly mix flour, salt and cream of tartar or alum. Boil liquids together. Pour in dry ingredients and stir together. Knead and add flour as needed. [Return To Previous Paragraph] È


When machining the valve cavities in an OEM stock head or in a billet head when installing a cam with more valve lift, use the following clearances:

  • The intake valve should have .100" - .200" clearance between the valve head & cylinder head when the valve is at full lift.
  • The exhaust valve should have .075" - .150" clearance between the valve head & cylinder head when the valve is at full lift.
  • Clearance around the valves should be the same as above the valves.
  • NOTE: As a rule of thumb, cams with more lift (.500" or more lift) can run the lesser clearance over valves.

FYI - I've milled several stock heads as much as 1/8" and they did well at the pulls. However, using methanol on a cool day could blow the combustion chamber out on a stock head that's been excessively milled for valve clearance. I've had this happen on my 12hp Super-Stock pulling tractor once. I was going down the track, engine running excellent, then all of a sudden "PUFF!" went the head.


Advertisement: (Prices are subject to change without notice.)
Click here to contact A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises to place an order, send your parts for repairing, and/or for FREE professional and honest technical customer service assistance and support and payment options. Please contact A-1 Miller's if you need a part or parts, or service(s) performed that's not listed or mentioned in this website.
A-1 Miller's Professional Valve Repair Service for Kohler Engine Model K361 Cylinder Head. This service is for an engine that does not blow blue smoke out the exhaust and burn oil. Performing a professional valve job restores full compression, which allows the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly without stalling, and (if the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too), it will produce full power at top governed speed. Click or tap here for cylinder head bolt torque specs. And if you've ever wondered how the K361 rocker arms receive plenty of oil to keep them lubricated, when the engine is running at full governed speed, internal air pressure from the downward stroke of the piston forces crankcase oil through the pushrod tubes onto the rocker arms.
  • Repair loose valve seat with a new BRONZE valve seat. FYI - A replacement pressed-in steel valve seat will loosen, without a doubt, after a short time in an aluminum cylinder head, even if it's professionally installed. But a replacement pressed-in bronze seat will NOT loosen when professionally installed because the "roughness" of bronze surface grips or adheres to aluminum much better than the "slick" surface of a steel seat. Plus, being bronze is actually harder than cast iron, it will wear very little and hold up to extreme heat, even for the exhaust side. $75.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Repair worn inside of valve guide with a thin-wall bronze sleeve insert. $20.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Replace loose guide valve with an oversize O.D. guide. $40.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Resurface head gasket mating surface to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $20.00 labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Perform valve job (regrind both valve faces and seats) to OEM angles, lap-in valves, install new valve stem seal, reinstall valves, springs, rotators and keepers/locks/collets. $45.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.
  • If necessary after performing valve job, replace both original OEM 1-9/16" length valve springs with OEM Kohler 1-3/4" length springs so engine will produce more power at full governed speed without erratic valve behavior or misfire. $20.00 extra for both springs.
  • Gaskets to Reinstall Rebuilt K361 Cylinder Head on Engine. (Each part listed below included in the full engine gasket set.)
    • Head gasket. High quality aftermarket. Discontinued Kohler part # 45 052 02-S. $24.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Rocker arm housing gasket. High quality aftermarket. Discontinued Kohler part # 45 041 14-S. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Rocker arm cover gasket. OEM Kohler part # 45 041 09-S. $8.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
    • Two pushrod tube neoprene rubber O-rings. (Kohler part # 45 153 01-S. $2.00/two, plus shipping & handling.
    • Intake tube mounting gasket. Kohler part # 271030-S. $1.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

FYI - I found that the Kohler K361 18hp OHV cylinder head use the longer 1-3/4" (uncompressed length) valve springs with rotators, the same spring that certain K241, K301 and K321 use with a stamped retainer. And of course, certain K241, K301, K321, and all K341 use the shorter 1-9/16" spring with a rotator. The official Kohler parts manual says the K361 use the shorter 1-9/16" springs (with rotators), but apparently, it's wrong. It uses the longer 1-3/4" springs (with rotators). On all of the K361 engines that I've rebuilt, with the 1-3/4" springs and rotators installed, there is no coil bind. This is when the coils of the spring make contact with each other at full valve lift. I've had a customer send his K361 head to me for repairs, and when I spoke to him on the phone about his engine, he mentioned that the engine had always made a chattering/rattling sound at higher RPM and lacked sufficient power. He said he purchased the tractor used (with the same engine). So I checked the valve springs, and sure enough, it had the shorter ones (with rotators). Apparently, somebody (maybe the previous owner) worked on the cylinder head before, and for some reason, he installed the shorter valve springs. My customer was lucky it didn't drop a valve. That would've been a nightmare! But anyway, I installed a set of the longer 1-3/4" valve springs (with rotators). The valves felt stiffer when I pushed down on them with my hand, too. - Brian Miller


Kohler engine model K361 (OHV 18hp) Cylinder Head Assembly. Professionally rebuilt and fully assembled. Includes valves, springs, rotators, stabilizers and keepers. Cleaned and resurfaced on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness. No cracks. Cooling fins, spark plug threads and bolt hole threads are in good condition. Valve seats and/or valve guides reground or replaced, if necessary. NOTE: If it's repairable and reusable, do not discard your cylinder head or other Kohler parts. Most discontinued OEM Kohler parts in good, reusable condition are hard to find nowadays, and nothing works better than the original part(s) the engine is designed for. Each head listed below is used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 45 318 04 -S and 45 755 10-S.

  • With rebuildable core trade-in/exchange. $250.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Outright with no core trade-in/exchange. $400.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Gasket kit to reinstall rebuilt K361 cylinder head on engine. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • New head bolts. Fits Kohler engine model K361. 3/8" diameter x 1-1/2" thread length grade 8 bolts and hardened washers. OEM Kohler part #'s 270721-S (bolt; discontinued from Kohler), 270889-S (washer).
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts only. $6.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.
    • High quality aftermarket. Set of 6 bolts and 6 washers. $9.00 per set, plus shipping & handling.

About Installing Bigger Valves in the K361 Engine Cylinder Head -

On the K361's cylinder head, the stock valve head diameters are: intake - 1.438"; exhaust - 1.400". The exhaust valve is already plenty big enough, even for high RPM. But there's not that much room in the combustion chamber to install a bigger intake valve because a bigger seat would need to be installed first. The outside diameter of the seat is always larger than the diameter of the valve head. The biggest intake valve that can be installed would be about 1.5", which really wouldn't give the engine that much more performance. For more noticeable performance, the intake valve needs to be about 20% bigger than the exhaust valve, which would make it 1.68". And this is way too big for the K361 head.


How to Permanently Fix an OHV Engine with a Warped Cylinder Head - [Top of Page]

If an OHV aluminum block engine blows blue/gray smoke out the exhaust upon start up then quits smoking after a while, and/or if crankcase oil is forced out the oil fill tube or crankcase breather assembly, this is likely the sign of a warped cylinder head, which results in a blown or "not sealing" head gasket. This is caused by the aluminum warping a few thousands of an inch from normal operating heat when the engine is ran for the first time. In other words, the metal "takes shape." This is normal for ALL internal combustion engines, but happens most with aluminum block engines due to thin metal in certain areas. What causes the oil burning or oil loss is upon the downward stroke of the piston, vacuum within the combustion chamber draws or sucks crankcase oil in the gap between the head and gasket, and then upon the upward stroke of the piston, compression within the combustion chamber forces part of the compressed air into the crankcase, which builds up inside the crankcase, and the air pressure eventually forces oil out the oil filler tube or crankcase breather assembly. To fix permanently this, remove the head, resurface it on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove the warpage and restore flatness, install a new head gasket, torque the head bolts to specifications in the correct sequence, and readjust the valve clearances to manufacturer's specifications. Once this is fixed, the head(s) should not warp again. If you don't have your own sander/grinder, most automotive machine shops and woodworkers have one. Remember - always wear a face mask and/or air respirator mask to prevent from inhaling the sanding and aluminum material, and do the repair job right the first time and it won't have to be done again later.


How to Remove a Broken Off Head Bolt - [Top of Page]

Use a "centering drill," which is a stubby drill bit that creates a hole exactly in the center of a stud. Then use a 5/16" carbide-tip drill bit to drill the broken stud out, and then use a 3/8-16 UNC (coarse thread) tap to clean the bolt holes. If you feel this is too much for you, you can take your engine to a reputable machine shop and have them do this for you.


Click Here for Detailed Illustrated Plans on How to Construct a Professional Pull-Back and Self-Propelled Garden Tractor Pulling Sled (Available Soon) FYI - The self-propelled garden tractor pulling sled that I built is such an excellent design, I realized later that I made something very special when other people copied after it. - Brian Miller


To place an order, send your item(s) for repairing, and/or for customer service assistance, and FREE honest and accurate technical support, please contact: A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises, 12091 N Rte B, Hallsville, MO (Missouri) 65255-9604 USA. Please call in your order or send an email with a list parts you need and your contact information. Phone: 1-573-881-7229 (cell; call, text or leave voicemail) or use Whatsapp. Please call Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm, Central time zone, except holidays. If no answer, please try again later. (When speaking with Brian on the phone, please be patient and understanding because I stutter.) E-mail: pullingtractor@aol.com. Payment Options. A-1 Miller's shop is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm, Central time zone, with an appointment on weekends, except holidays. If you're the kind of person who don't trust delivery/shipping companies (mis)handling your high-dollar and fragile merchandise, you can make the long drive to A-1 Miller's new shop (click image to the right) to personally purchase parts, or drop off and/or pick up your carburetor, clutch assembly, engine and/or parts, etc., for repairing and/or rebuilding. Or visit the address of our (old) shop mentioned above to drop off your engine, transmission, transaxle, garden tractor, small motorized vehicle, etc. We also custom build pulling tractors and other small vehicles. Please contact me before coming so I'll be at my shop waiting for your arrival. When you visit our shop, you will be dealing directly with the owner for the best customer service. 12091 N Rte B, Hallsville, MO - Google Maps "The road to a [trusted] friend's house (or shop) is never long." Don't sacrifice quality workmanship for distance. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]

By the way - As business is booming, we relocated our business at 12091 N. Route B, Hallsville, MO 65255 with a new, bigger, better, fully insulated, heated and air-conditioned building/shop (shouse) so we can provide many more professional services and high quality parts, and hire more reliable and knowledgeable help to have our customer's parts orders fulfilled sooner, parts repaired sooner and engine rebuilds performed promptly without a long delay. We will also offer custom welding fabrication jobs and other custom services. And we also provide pick up and delivery service and perform professional repairs for various small engines and lawn & garden equipment! Photos of our new building/shop are posted here! 12091 N Rte B, Hallsville, MO - Google Maps

Payment Options, and We Ship to Canada and Worldwide
Item(s) in a package or cushioned envelope weighing less than 1 lb. is sent by US Postal Service Airmail Letter Post for a 4-7 days delivery. Packaged item(s) weighing over 1 lb. and up to 66 lb. is sent by US Postal Service Airmail Parcel Post for a 4-10 days delivery. I cannot use the US Postal Services' Flat Rate Priority Mail envelopes and boxes to ship outside U.S. territories. Item(s) weighing over 67 lbs. or more is sent by FedEx Ground or equivalent services. We try to keep our shipping cost to customers within reason. Therefore, we don't ship our products in a fancy-looking package with our company name and/or logo on it because most customers will just toss it in the trash after they remove the contents. And being there is no USPS tracking number outside the US, all I can do is make sure I write your address correctly on the customs form and on your package.

My websites are not set up to process orders and accept payments. Therefore, to place an order with me, please call either number above or send an email with a list of parts you need, with your name, complete and correct postal mailing address and phone number. For payment options, I accept cash (in person), USPS Postal Money Orders, cashier's checks, business checks, MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express (please add 2.5% to the total amount for the credit/debit card processor's surcharge). If paying with a credit/debit card, please call me at either number above. Or to make a payment to me through PayPal, please click this link: https://www.paypal.com. Or use Cash App (username: pullingtractor) or Venmo (username: Pullingtractor) to make a payment to me. And be sure to mention a description of what the payment is for with your full name, postal address, phone number and email address. I also accept payments through Western Union Money Transfer or MoneyGram Money Transfers. If sending a money order or cashier's check, please include a note in the envelope with your name, complete mailing address, phone number, email address and a description of what the payment is for. I'll make a note of your order when I have all your information, and I may have to order some of the parts on your list, which should take a few days to come in, but I will send everything to you as soon as I have the parts in stock after I receive your payment.



à Return to Main Pulling Tips Page | Return To Previous Website | Various Vendors Related to Tractor Pulling | Top of Page

Copyright © 1996-Present. This website created, designed and maintained by Brian Miller.