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
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Normal High Speed or Wide Open Throttle Engine Vibration in Competition Pulling Can Cause an Oil Pan to Loosen and Possibly Break!
On a Cub Cadet garden tractor, the only thing that fastens the engine block to the tractor frame is the oil pan. When choosing which oil pan material to use for competitive pulling, an OEM Kohler cast aluminum oil pan can be safely used on a stock pulling tractor that will not run over 4,000 RPM. It's best to install stainless steel Heli-Coil thread inserts in the mounting holes of an aluminum oil pan to prevent stripping the soft threads. And a cast iron, billet aluminum or machined steel oil pan should be used on an engine that will operate at very high RPM or at wide open throttle.
On a Kohler competition pulling engine that turns well above 4,000 RPM, at high RPM or at wide open throttle, the oil pan could loosen because the gasket acts like a cushion between the engine block and oil pan. At high RPM, normal engine vibration (caused by crankshaft side thrust, which is unavoidable in a single cylinder engine) can cause the engine block and oil pan to "shift" against each other a few thousands of an inch, allowing the gasket to flatten out overtime. When this happens, the bolts that fasten the pan to the block loosens. But the bolts don't actually rotate to loosen, they just lose their torque or tightness against the pan because of the flattened gasket. Which could crack or break the oil pan on one corner where the metal is thin and weakest. And applying liquid threadlocker on the oil pan retaining bolt threads will not help because if the gasket flattens out, although the bolts will not rotate to loosen, the oil pan will still loosen.
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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. |
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IMPORTANT - When sending your flywheel and/or rotating assembly to A-1 Miller's for balancing, package everything securely so the items won't get damaged in shipping and please include a note in the box with your name, mailing address, phone number (in case I have any questions) and a description of what you want done. When shipping heavy parts, it's best to put a slightly smaller box inside a larger box, to double the strength and integrity of the package. Because the clumsy "gorillas" or incompetent and uncaring workers that work for certain delivery services mishandle the heavy packages and don't care. And when the work is completed, I'll either call or email you an invoice with the total including shipping & handling. [Return to Previous Section, Paragraph or Website] |
FYI - If oil leaks from an engine, transmission/transaxle or steering box, causing an oily mess on a concrete floor, mineral spirits (paint thinner) can be used to dry out the oil. Just pour some thinner on the oil, use a broom to thoroughly mix the thinner with the oil, and eventually the oil will dry with no signs of it ever being on the floor. Because of its low volatile flammability, paint thinner also works great as a cleaning solvent, which is used to clean oily or greasy mechanical parts.
By the way - it's a good idea to use split lock washers on ALL fasteners, to prevent other parts on the tractor from becoming loose later. And if you're concerned about driveshaft misalignment or clutch pin binding when not using an oil pan gasket, install a 1/32" (.030") thickness steel shim at each mounting hole between the oil pan and tractor frame. This will maintain proper driveshaft alignment with the engine so the clutch parts will last longer. So if somebody recommends using an oil pan gasket on a competition pulling engine that's going to turn well above 4,000 RPM, don't do it! Don't take chances! You could be sorry. Because sometimes listening to the wrong person can be very costly.
The Cub Cadet "Quiet Line" rubber ISO-mounted engine garden tractor models 680, 800, 1000, 1200, 1250, 1450, 1650 are notorious for cracking the cast aluminum oil pan because the pan fastens to two rails, which are independently mounted on rubber and are isolated from the main tractor frame. If the oil pan bolts aren't securely tightened, and due to normal engine vibration, sometimes the pan will develop a hair-line crack or break off at the corner, where the metal is the weakest, especially with an oil pan gasket. I've also seen them crack and . The same can happen with a cast iron oil pan. What happens is when a gasket is used, and when the pan bolts are tightened, the person who assembled the engine tightened the bolt on the corner on the PTO end of the block, then tightened the opposing bolt at the flywheel end of the block, and then tightened the other two remaining bolts. The first bolt that was tightened crushed the gasket, which caused a small, hair-line crack in the corner of the pan. Some people torque them with a gasket the wrong way. The correct sequence for torquing oil pan bolts is to lightly tighten one bolt on the flywheel end, then lightly tighten the bolt at the opposite corner on the PTO end, then lightly tighten another bolt, then lightly tighten the last bolt. Finally, torque each bolt to 35 ft. lbs. This procedure distributes equal pressure of each bolt without bending, warping or cracking the pan. Or better yet, just use clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant with no gasket. With no gasket, the pan will make direct contact with the block and they're be no bending, warping, cracking or breaking of the pan when the bolts are securely tightened. By the way - I've always preferred to use clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant for three reasons: Due to metal warpage (which is unavoidable in most cases), gaskets don't always seal the irregularities and imperfections between mating surfaces, especially thin metal covers; being it's an adhesive, it bonds parts together, forming a leak-proof seal; and being it's clear, a thin bead of silicone makes for a clean and professional-looking repair job. When applied sparingly, it can't be easily seen or noticed between the parts.
Identification of Kohler Engine Blocks -
Garden tractors that originally
came from the factory with a straight or narrow base Kohler engine block
are: IH-built and MTD-built Cub Cadet garden tractors, J.I. Case, John Deere
(models 112, 110 and early model 210 with the Kohler K241 engine. Model 112
serial number 100,001 250,000, model 110 serial number 250,001 and
up with the Kohler K241 engine, and 210 up to serial number 95,261), some
Ford, some Jacobsen and Springfield. (The oil pan used on the John Deere
and Springfield Kohler-equipped garden tractors are made of cast iron, identical
to the early Cub Cadet/K241 flat bottom oil pan.)
And garden tractors that originally came from the factory with a flanged or wide base Kohler engine block are: Ariens, Wheel Horse, some Ford, some Jacobsen, Gravely, New Holland, Sears Suburban, Engineering Products Co. (Economy models) and Allis Chalmers. No Cub Cadet garden tractor originally came with a wide base Kohler engine block.
A flanged or wide base single cylinder Kohler engine block is made for the wide or large [2 quart] rectangular oil pan. These blocks can be converted for use with a narrow Cub Cadet garden tractor (or certain models of John Deere) oil pan, so the engine can fit inside the frame rails of a Cub Cadet garden tractor. Below is how to do the conversion.
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.
Install an oil pan that's made for a narrow base engine block, such as a Cub Cadet garden tractor or certain models of John Deere garden tractors. (See below Ê)
For pulling applications, apply a thin bead of clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant when fastening the pan to the block. Otherwise, for general lawn and garden use, use a gasket and the silicone to lessen the chance of any oil leaks. By the way - I've always preferred to use clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant for three reasons: Due to metal warpage (which is unavoidable in most cases), gaskets don't always seal the irregularities and imperfections between mating surfaces, especially thin metal covers; being it's an adhesive, it bonds parts together, forming a leak-proof seal; and being it's clear, a thin bead of silicone makes for a clean and professional-looking repair job. When applied sparingly, it can't be easily seen or noticed between the parts.
How to Weld Steel to Cast Iron...
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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. |
Convert Kohler engine model K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 or K361 wide base/flanged block to narrow base for use in a garden tractor requiring a narrow base engine block and oil pan. (Cub Cadet, Ford, John Deere, Wheel Horse, etc.) Cut off flanges even with sides of block, weld-in steel stock to fill-in oil fill/level check openings (notches), and cut new threads for narrow base oil pan mounting holes. $100.00 labor, plus return shipping with FedEx Ground. |
To identify a Cub Cadet garden tractor oil pan, first of all, they're exactly 1-1/16" tall. The pan to tractor frame holes measures exactly 4-15/16" x 7-5/8". From the base of the Cub Cadet pan to the centerline of the crankshaft for the K241-K361 Kohler engines, the measurement (height) is exactly 4.750" (4-3/4"). And with a wide base oil pan, it measures 6.125" (6-1/8"). These measurements are with the compressed (.030" thickness) oil pan gasket installed.
Cub Cadet garden tractor oil pans have either a flat bottom or deep sump. The flat bottom pans are originally made for the K241 engine, but will work with no problem on the K301, K321, K341 and K361 engines, but half of the oil dipper on the connecting rod must be cut off. The deep sump ones are suitable for stroker engines. The flat bottom pan holds 1 quart of oil, and the deep sump one holds 1-1/2 quarts. If a deep sump oil pan is used on an engine that originally came with a flat bottom oil pan, the oil dipper on the connecting rod will be too short and won't be able to splash as much oil to thoroughly lubricate the parts.
The length of the dipper on the connecting rod when shortened must be no shorter than 1-5/8" in length, when measured from the bottom of the rod cap to the end of the dipper. And a short dipper will help to increase the engine power. If a K241 Kohler engine has a small, flat bottom Cub Cadet oil pan, the connecting rod has short dipper. But if it has a large, wide base pan, the rod has a long dipper. The K301-K361 engines all come with a deep sump oil pan, as well as a large, wide base oil pan. Therefore, their connecting rods have a long dipper.
If it's an oil pan that's designed for a Cub Cadet garden tractor, then the shallow and deep oil pans are the same (except for the oil quantity) and will fit virtually all models of Cub Cadet garden tractors. A longer dipper on the connecting rod is not really necessary, but it will provide better lubrication if the oil level were to get low. And the oil level full mark on the oil dipstick will register the same regardless of the type of oil pan is used.
If an oil pan has the drain plug in the wrong location, another drain plug can be installed by finding an area on the pan where the metal is thicker than the surrounding area. These places are specially made by the factory to drill and cut threads for the oil drain plug.
Oil Refill Quantities for Older Kohler Engines - IMPORTANT: Make sure the correct oil dipstick is used and it's calibrated correctly! *NOTE: Add 1/8 quart for a competition pulling tractor with a lowered front-end that have a single cylinder longitudinal engine.
Engine Model(s) |
Engine Model(s) |
Engine Model(s)* |
Engine Model(s)* |
Engine Model(s) |
Engine Model(s) |
Engine Model(s) |
K90/K91 | K141, K160/K161, K181, L160/L161, L181 and M8 | K241A, M10, K301A, M12, K321A, M14, K341A, M16 | K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361 | KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, M18, M20 | MV16, MV18, MV20 |
K482, K532, K582, K660/K662 |
3/4 Quart | 1-1/4 Quarts (Full mark is 3/8" above oil pan gasket.) | 1 Quart for engines with a flat bottom narrow base oil pan. 1-1/2 Quarts for engines with a deep sump narrow base oil pan. (Full mark is 3/8" above oil pan gasket.) | 2 Quarts for engines with a wide base oil pan. (Full mark 3/8" above oil pan gasket.) | 1 Quart without oil filter | 1-1/2 Quarts with oil filter. | 1-1/4 Quarts without oil filter | 1-3/4 Quarts with oil filter. |
3 Quarts | Add 1/2 quart for K482, K4532, K582 when replacing filter. Add 1 quart for K660/K662 when replacing filter. |
The best way I found to clean old gasket material from the oil pan and other flat surface engine parts is with a large flat coarse file with the pan (or part) gently clamped in a large bench vise. Be careful not to file off the metal!
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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. | |
Oil Level Check and Drain Plugs with Tapered Threads and Square
Head listed below. A-1 Miller's oil drain plugs have a super strong rare
earth/neodymium magnet. Five times stronger than competitor's ceramic (ferrite)
magnet and resists demagnetization. Plugs listed below can be used on various
other makes and models of transmissions, transaxles, gearboxes and small
engine crankcases. Tapered threads requires no sealing gasket or sealant,
and threads will not strip out when tightened. To avoid cracking oil pan,
do not over-tighten! When in doubt, use
plumber's thread sealing tape to insure proper sealing
of threads to prevent a possible oil leak. Universal application. Magnet
attracts and removes
ferrous
metallic wear fragments from the motor oil or transmission/gearbox to reduce
engine or gear/bearing wear. Sometimes some of the ferrous wear fragments
settle to the bottom of the oil pan and do not drain out with the oil when
performing an oil change, even when the oil is hot. Magnetic drain plugs
are suitable for engines with splash oil lubrication (no oil pump/filter).
The engine, transmission, transaxle or gearbox will last much longer with
uncontaminated and cleaner oil. Remember - metal flake looks good in paint,
not in oil. ![]() FYI - If you don't know or can't find any information on the maximum oil quantity for any specific gear drive transmission, transaxle, right angle gearbox, or garden tiller sealed chaincase or gearbox, well, the unit in question is full when oil runs out of the oil level check/fill plug hole that's located halfway [of the drive axles or lower output shaft(s)] on the side(s), front or rear of the unit. All of these fill this way. When the unit is in motion, the lower gears in a transmission or transaxle picks up the oil and slings it on the upper gears, shafts and bearings to lubricate them. And in automotive rear ends, the ring gear picks up the oil and slings it on the pinion gear, spider gears, shafts and bearings to lubricate them. Due to high friction between the gear teeth in transmissions, transaxles, right angle gearboxes and garden tiller gearboxes, or an "open" (non-locking, free-spinning) rear end or in an automotive rear end with a Detroit Locker, SAE 90 weight gear oil must be used. But in an automotive Posi-Trac limited-slip differential, SAE 90W140 weight gear oil must be used to prevent chattering of the locking clutches going around turns. And due to much less friction of roller chain(s) on sprocket teeth in a sealed chaincase, 10W30, 10W40 or SAE 30 weight heavy duty motor oil can be safely used. In front-wheel-drive vehicles, the differential is typically built into the transmission or transaxle, and shares the same transmission fluid, rather it be SAE 90 weight gear oil for a manual shift transmission or ATF for an automatic transmission. ![]() ![]() ![]()
1/2" NPT Magnetic Oil Drain Plug. (0.840" O.D. tapered threads.) Fits side of oil pan on Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181 and M8 engines, and oil drain on Cub Cadet garden tractor transaxles, various automotive manual shift transmissions, and various other makes and models of small engines. A-1 Miller's part. Not available from Kohler. $5.00 each, plus shipping & handling. 3/4" NPT Magnetic Oil Drain Plug. (1.050" O.D. tapered threads.) Fits various Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Tecumseh, and various other makes and models of small engines. A-1 Miller's part. Not available from Kohler. $5.00 each, plus shipping & handling. ![]() ![]() |
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Oil Pan Gaskets.
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Repair Service: Repair stripped aluminum oil pan mounting bolt hole threads. No need to purchase another oil pan! $5.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handling. | |
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A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises Professional Automotive Services Available in Central Missouri!
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 Route 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.
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. "The road to a [trusted] friend's house (or
shop) is never long." Don't sacrifice quality workmanship for distance.
Photos
of our new building/shop are posted here!
12091 N Route B, Hallsville, MO - Google Maps.
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or Website]
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.
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