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Complete Valve TrainInformation About Small Engine Porting, Valves, Springs, Lifters and Camshafts

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
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Information About the Valves in Four Stroke Engines -

FYI - I receive many phone calls and emails from people who tell A-1 Miller's that when they have a problem with how poorly their engine runs. They say they cleaned and rebuilt the carburetor, but the engine would not run well, or still run the same. So they remove the carburetor, cleaned it again, and the engine still acts the same. So they check the carburetor again! They say they checked it over and cleaned it multiple times. Then they move on to the ignition system, but it checks out okay, too. Anyway, I tell them if you checked and cleaned the carburetor that many times and everything looked okay with it, then the problem obviously ISN'T in the carburetor or with the ignition! There are other things that help make an engine run, such as the valves. I tell them to check the valve clearances, severely leaking valves, or a professional valve job may need to be performed. Performing a valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Also, check for a loose valve seat (Kohler 18hp OHV). The valves are the hardest working parts in any 4-cycle engine. They need attention, too. So many people are ignorant or know nothing about the valves, how they work or their purpose. So before disassembling, inspecting, cleaning and perhaps rebuilding the carburetor, you might want to check the valve clearances to see if they don't need to be reset to factory specs. Because I found that sometimes carburetor problems are valve-related.

If a 4-cycle engine cranks over too easy and is hard to start, and when it (or if) does start, it loses power and/or dies for no apparent reason after running for a while, then chances are the problem is in the valves. Valve faces and/or seats become worn (grooved) after many hours of use, and this lessons the clearance between the valve stems and lifters or rocker arms. Metal contracts (shrinks) when cold and expands (swells) when hot. Knowing this, when an engine reaches operating temperature, the valves get hot and swell, especially the exhaust valve, and this lessons the clearance between the stems and lifters or rocker arms. The hotter a valve gets, the less clearance it will have. When there's inadequate clearance, the valves will not be able to fully close or stay closed long enough to seal in sufficient amount of compression within the combustion chamber, the engine will lose compression, making the engine suddenly die, and hard to start and when it does start, it won't produce much power. Due to fuel vapors escaping the combustion chamber, sometimes gas will blow out the carburetor when the engine is accelerated, too. And when the engine dies for no apparent reason, it'll be almost impossible to restart when hot. To fix this, a professional valve job will need to be performed. What causes valve faces and/or seats to wear is lack of an air filter element (which will wear parts within the entire combustion chamber under dusty conditions), a dirty air filter, a defective air filter, or an air filter that has not been changed in a long time. Air filtration is very important with any engine. Especially under extreme dusty conditions. And just like fuel filters, air filters can only filter out dust particles so small. The smallest pieces of dust penetrates the microscopic holes in the filter material, and wears parts within the combustion chamber.

In most cases, the valve face will more than the seat because the moving part always wears more than the stationary part. And main thing that cause valve face wear on the exhaust valve is a worn valve guide, which cause the face to scrape against the seat upon closing, and/or carbon deposits being lodged between the valve face and seat. The intake valve face wears from guide wear also and/or either lack of an air filter or not frequently using a new air filter. Clogged filters can cause microscopic dust particles to penetrate the filter and enter the combustion chamber. Due to microscopic dust particles that pass through the air filter (which is unpreventable), this cause the valve face and seat to wear against each other, and as they wear, the gap closes up between the valve stem and lifter (tappet). This is why it's necessary to check and/or adjust the valves every 500 hours of engine run time. This is also why it's important to use a quality-made air filter, and change it regularly, especially under dusty conditions. Only the valves in engines with solid lifters (tappets) need periodic adjusting. The valves in engines with hydraulic lifters don't need adjusting because the oil in the lifters compensate for the valve face and seat wear. An intake valve with a worn (grooved) 45º face angle can be reground to a 30º angle, and of course the seat will also need to be reground to a 31º to match the valve face.

The valves, especially the exhaust valve, is/are the hardest working part(s) of the engine. The valve face(s) can wear more than the piston rings. This is one thing so many mechanics overlook, yet so simple to fix.


How to Test for Leaking or Burnt Valves - [Top of Page]

The appearance of used valves in an engine are like women, you can't always go by looks. In other words, the appearance of valves in an engine won't tell you if they're sealing in compression 100% or not. To test for leaking valves on virtually any 4-cycle flathead engine, first of all, both valve clearances should be checked and adjusted to specs, if needed, before performing this test. Now with the carburetor, muffler or exhaust pipe and [flathead] cylinder head removed, and with the piston positioned exactly at TDC on the compression stroke (this is when both valves are fully closed), apply Liquid Wrench (spray) or WD-40 around each valve and with a rag/shop towel wrapped around an air blow gun nozzle with the rag/shop towel snug against the port to seal in the air pressure so maximum pressure will be applied to the valves, apply 150± PSI compressed air through the exhaust and intake ports. To perform this same test on an over head valve (OHV) engine, the cylinder head will need to be removed and [lightly] clamped in a bench vise. Anyway, if multiple bubbles form (slight leakage) and/or if the liquid gets "blown out" around the valves (severe leakage) when applying the air pressure, this means the valves are leaking or burnt and a professional valve job is required. Performing a valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Do not use soapy water to perform this test because the water content will cause the cast iron to rust if not immediately cleaned off and thoroughly dried. The "bubbles" part of this test won't be accurate with freshly reground valves and seats (fresh valve job) because the valves haven't worn into the seats yet to form a perfect seal. This is known as valve wear-in or more commonly as engine break-in. Click the photo to the right -> è to watch how this test is performed on YouTube. By the way - The video shows both valves fully closed with the piston positioned at TDC on the compression stroke. And if you're wondering, the Automatic Compression Release (ACR) only works with the exhaust valve. It doesn't hold the exhaust valve open when the piston is at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. It only works when the piston is traveling about halfway up in the cylinder just before it reaches top dead center (BTDC) on the compression stroke.


Performing a Compression Leak Down Test with a Leak Down Tester -

With the piston is positioned exactly at Top Dead Center (TDC) on the compression stroke, the automatic compression release (ACR) mechanism allows the exhaust valve to fully close, then a leak down test can be performed. The ACR effects a compression test when performed with a compression tester, but not a leak down test (as long as the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke). 0º TDC is when the piston is at its very top in the cylinder with both valves fully closed. It is also when the T mark on the flywheel is aligned with the raised boss on the bearing plate, and The alignment can be seen with a flashlight through the sight hole in the bearing plate. But the best way to determine if an engine needs to be rebuilt is to remove the cylinder head & look at the edge of the piston. If the carbon is washed away, this means the rings & piston are worn and the engine needs rebuilding.

FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshape to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller


IMPORTANT! Along with a dirty air filter, or no air filter, a worn throttle shaft will also cause excessive wear to the valve faces and seats, especially the intake valve and seat. These are the #1 cause of most engines wearing out prematurely. The air filter situation is obvious, but if a carburetor has a worn throttle shaft, this will create a vacuum leak and the engine will idle poorly, if at all at times. Not to mention the engine will also draw in dirty air, causing wear on the valve faces/seats and piston rings, and engine will burn oil. More than .010" of play is considered too much for throttle shaft wear. Plus, at operating running speeds (3,600 RPM), the extra air will cause the engine to run lean on fuel, which will overheat the combustion chamber and cause the cylinder head to warp (blow a head gasket) and the piston and rings to wear prematurely, eventually resulting in severe engine wear and excessive oil burning. Along with regular maintenance, repair of a worn throttle shaft is required to help an engine last a long time. The most accurate way to check for amount of wear is with a dial indicator.


The Difference Between an Amature Valve Job and Performing a Professional Valve Job -

First of all, performing a professional valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Therefore, when some people rebuild an engine, they will not perform a professional valve job! Sometimes they pay no attention whatsoever to the valves. But when they do, they just clean the valves and lap them in with valve grinding compound (which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store). They think this is a how valves and seats are reground and how a valve job is performed. And many people won't even set the valve clearances afterwards! Valves and seats become warped (slightly bent or moved out of alignment) due to heating of cast iron (or aluminum) the first time the engine was ran. This is how all flathead engines and OHV cylinder heads "take shape" or bend and twist a few thousandths of an inch. The valve faces need to be reground in a valve grinding machine so they can be "trued-up" again, and the seats need to be recut or reground with specialized valve seat tooling so the seat will be in perfect alignment with the centerline of the valve guide again.

Just cleaning the valves, setting the clearances to specs and "lapping them in" is not performing a professional valve job. If the engine lacks power or dies frequently, then chances are, the valves (and seats) aren't burnt, they're just warped from normal engine heat. This happens on seasoned flathead engine blocks and OHV (Over Head Valve) cylinder heads for the first time. And chances are, the valve faces are worn too, due to normal wear against the seats. This is what causes insufficient or lesser valve clearance. BUT, just lapping the valves in with the seats without first regrinding either will show if the valve face is making contact with the seat 360º or not. If the valve head is warped, slightly bent or burnt, part of the valve lapping compound will NOT make 360º contact with the face, but will likely with the seat. Because seats rarely get severely "get out of alignment" with the valve.


How to Perform a Professional Valve Job -

Dotted lines or skip marks on valve faces after lapping-in means the stone in the valve grinding machine needs to be trued-up. The stone must be periodically trued-up, because due to a lot of use, it will wear unevenly, resulting in erratic or unsmooth valve face grinding.

FYI - Valve seat inserts in Kohler flathead engines, with the exception of the K361 OHV engine, are made of extremely hardened steel and rarely wear, get damaged, crack or loosen. In fact, I have never replaced a valve seat in any of the 100's of Kohler flathead engines that I've professionally rebuilt over the years. All I do to valve seats is recut or regrind the 46º [intake or exhaust factory angle] or 31º angle [intake only; to increase airflow] to put them back in perfect alignment with the centerline of the valve guide to ensure proper 360º valve sealing. And regardless to what some amateur or inexperienced engine rebuilders believe, valve seats are always recut or reground while in the block (or OHV engine). They are never removed to be recut or reground.

Before regrinding the valve faces and seats, the valve guides should be measured for excessive wear and replaced or repaired with a thin-wall bronze sleeve/liner if necessary, then the valve seats can be recut or reground with valve cutting or grinding equipment to be perpendicular with the centerline of the valve guides. This is important because the cast iron or aluminum engine block (flathead) or OHV (Over Head Valve) cylinder head can "move" or "bend and twist" just a few thousandths of an inch when it got hot for the very first time under normal operating conditions. This is called metal taking shape. Anyway, this "bending and twisting" of the metal can unseat the valve(s), and cause the engine to loose power, not idle well, and make carburetor adjustments difficult, especially at idle. I've seen this happen many times when individuals would rebuild their own engines. Valve lapping only places a rough surface on the valve face(s) and seat(s) so they'll wear-in with each other to produce a perfect seal, but the seats and faces may not be perfectly in-line with the valve stem, which can cause leaking of compression, resulting in lose of engine power. If one don't have their own valve grinder, most automotive machine shops will regrind valve faces for a few bucks. They can also regrind or recut the seats in a flathead engine block or an OHV cylinder head.

FYI - The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners

The valve faces need to be lapped in enough to create a gray colored line that's the same width of the valve seat (1/16"-3/32" wide) midway in the valve face. Then thoroughly clean off the valve lapping compound from the valve and seat, and look to see if the valve lapping compound made contact 360º around the valve face and seat. Most valves will lap midway on the valve face. The outer and inner areas of the valve face should remain shiny from the regrinding process or from being new, and the whole area of the seat should look gray. If this is the case, then the valve should seal 100% when it wears into the seat.


Valve Head Margin -

Most used valves can be reground and reused in an engine and give good service for a long time if the face is not severely burnt, head has a wide margin, and the stem is not bent. The minimum margin width for Kohler valves is .030". If the margin is too thin, the head of the valve, especially the exhaust valve due to extreme heat, could become concaved or collapse in the seat. When this happens, the clearance between the lifter and valve stem is lessened and the valve will not fully close, and the angles of the seat valve face will not match, causing the valve to possibly leak and/or burn. FYI - Regardless of what you've heard, running an engine without a muffler or some kind of exhaust system will NOT cause the exhaust valve to burn. This is an old mechanic's myth that got started many years ago when poor quality metal was used in the manufacturing of exhaust valves. Technology in metallurgy and quality of exhaust valves have advanced a lot in recent years.

Regrinding the valve faces at a 30º or 45º angle places the valve head in perfect alignment (perpendicular) with the stem or "straightens them out" again so they'll be good as new. And regrinding or re-cutting the seats at a 31º or 46º angle ensures that the valve stems will be centered in the valve guides and the faces will seal 360º around. The reason for the 30º/31º or 45º/46º angles are so the valves and seats can wear into each other, producing a 30-½º or 45-½º angle for each, creating a perfect 100% seal. If each were reground at the same angle, carbon deposits would become lodged between them and eventually the valve face would burn. Anyway, after the valves and seats are reground, the valve clearances can be set at specs with the piston positioned exactly at top dead center on the compression stroke. Then lap them in so the faces will produce a wear pattern on the seats (the lapping process helps produce the perfect 30-½º or 45-½º angle for each). After the valves are matched perfectly with the seats after about 2 hours of normal engine operation, the engine should start quicker, produce more power and the valves should last the life of the engine.

If you want a factory stock lawn & garden or stock competition pulling engine with an intake valve that has a factory-ground 45º/46º intake valve and seat, for it to produce a few more ponies, regrind the intake valve face and seat at 30º and 31º, respectively. Doing this will allow slightly more air (and fuel) to enter the combustion chamber to create higher compression pressures. It will do absolutely no harm to the engine either. Briggs & Stratton have been doing this (plus other performance enhancements) to their flathead aluminum block engines since 1969, and it works great! Briggs even gave the cylinder head on their 3.5hp flathead lawn mower engines a specially designed combustion chamber that increases the air charge when the incoming air (and fuel) enters the combustion chamber, and scavenges the burnt gases more thoroughly when exiting the combustion chamber!

As a matter of fact, since 1969, ALL Briggs & Stratton flathead aluminum block engines are built-to-the-max at 3,600 RPM at the factory to produce as power as possible, but still last a long time. This does not lessen the longevity of the engine. All B&S aluminum block single cylinder engines and the B&S flathead opposed twin cylinder engines have a factory-installed performance-ground camshaft with increased duration/overlap. This is why the opposed twin cylinder engines produce a "lope, lope, lope" sound out the exhaust at slow idle. This can't be heard with the single cylinder engines. There are very few-to-no improvements or modifications that can be made to B&S engines so they will produce more horsepower and torque at 3,600 RPM, with the exception of the 5hp B&S flathead racing go-kart engines, which run at open RPM. Why Kohler didn't follow B&S's method of building to the max engines, I have no idea.

On twin cylinder engines, it's important that after the valve clearances are set on the cylinder with the piston positioned at TDC on the compression stroke, the crankshaft will need to be rotated 180º so the valves on the opposing cylinder can be set with the piston positioned at TDC on the compression stroke. Failure to rotate the crankshaft 180º will give the cylinder with the piston positioned at TDC on the exhaust stroke excessive clearance and the valves will make a very loud tapping sound when the engine is running.

Seat Width -

When regrinding or recutting valve sears, first cut or regrind the seat with a 46º [Neway] cutter or [Sioux] grinding stone until it makes contact 360º around the seat, then use a 31º cutter or grinding stone to narrow the seat width to factory specs if it's too wide.

Ever noticed that when looking up valve clearances for an engine, the manufacturer will always show two figures? Example: Intake valve clearance: .008" - .010"; Exhaust valve clearance: .014" - .016". The greater clearance is for a fresh valve job. Because as an engine runs, due to the 30º or 45º angle on the valve face(s) and the 31º or 46º angle on the seat(s), the valves and the seats wears together (break-in period), forming a 30-½º or 45-½º angle on each, which causes the clearances to become slightly lessened. (As the valves wears into the seats, forming a perfect seal, you may notice the engine produces slightly more power.) And for an engine (valves) that's been in use for some time, the valves should be set at the lesser clearance because the valve faces and seats are already worn into each other (broke-in).

It's also important that the end of the valve stem is perfectly flat. This will allow for correct valve adjustment and valve action, especially in an OHV (Over Head Valve) engine with rocker arms.

By the way - I get a lot of engines in my shop that need a valve job performed. Many other small engine repair shops will ignore the valves (or they're not trained to perform professional valve jobs) and assume the hard-starting problem is elsewhere with the engine.

If they're not burnt, then chances are, the valves and seats become warped from the block being heated under normal use after it was new and the metal "takes shape." Aluminum blocks (and heads) are worse than cast iron blocks (and heads). This happens with small engines as well as automotive engines. The block will actually deform a few thousands of an inch, moving the valves off the seats slightly, causing them to leak. Sometimes the cylinder wall(s) will deform a few thousands of an inch, too. Once the "seasoned" block or head takes shape, they won't warp any more. If the valves are leaking, then the valves and seats will need to be recut or reground so they're be in perfect alignment with each other and perpendicular with the valve guides.

Performing a Compression Test on a Stock or High Performance Small Engine with a Compression Tester -

An accurate compression reading can't be performed on an engine with an unaltered OEM camshaft due to the compression release mechanism on one of the cam lobes. Depending on the make and model of engine, the compression release is either a small hump (early B&S, certain Tecumseh's, etc.) or mechanical lever/pin (newer B&S, Kohler, some Tecumseh, etc.) on one of the camshaft lobes that holds either the intake or exhaust valve open about .050" while the piston is traveling halfway up in the cylinder on the compression stroke. On OEM camshafts with a working compression release mechanism and if the valve clearances are adjusted to specs, the compression release relieves about half the compression air from the combustion chamber at cranking speed. This is so the engines with fixed advanced ignition timing will start easier. When attempting to start an engine with fixed advanced ignition timing, if the compression release isn't working or if the valve (with the compression release) have too much stem-to-lifter clearance (out of adjustment), the engine will "kick back" every time. "Kick back" occurs when the crankshaft suddenly and violently rebounds or rotates in the opposite direction, which is could bend or break the starter armature shaft or the aluminum starter housing.

On certain B&S, Kohler models K90/K91, K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, some Tecumseh, etc. engines without adjustable lifters, but with an automatic (mechanical) compression release (ACR) on the camshaft, there is no way to perform an accurate compression test with a compression tester. All that can be done to test the compression is rotate the flywheel quickly by hand in the opposite direction of normal engine rotation. If it rebounds sharply, the engine has adequate compression. FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshape to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller

There are two ways to perform an accurate compression test with a compression tester on the Kohler K-series and Magnum engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361:

To obtain an accurate compression pressure reading, perform the test with a fully charged battery, a starter that's in good condition and the throttle in the wide open position. Or with pull rope engines, place the throttle in the wide open position. When performing a compression test with a gauge on an air-cooled engine, keep in mind that, depending on how the engine is built, the compression ratio or the compression pressure can vary from one engine to another. It depends on the size of the bore and stroke, the volume of the combustion chamber in the cylinder head, if the camshaft has a compression release or not and how much duration the cam lobes have. If a cam has a compression release mechanism, being approximately half the compression is released from the combustion chamber at cranking speed, the compression reading will be cut approximately in half.

When performing a compression test on an engine under compression, the K241 and M10 Kohler can be from 98 to 150 psi. On a K301 and M12, it can be from 112 to 170 psi. On a K321 and M14, it can range from 120 to 190 psi. And on a K341 and M16, it can be from 127 up to 192 psi.

And cranking speeds, a long duration cam will relieve some of the combustion chamber pressure, resulting in a lower than normal reading. The more the duration, the lower the reading. Calculate the reading with the duration of the cam in the engine against the duration of a stock OEM cam. Example: If the compression pressure is 100 psi, multiple 100 by 285 (duration of cam that's in the engine) and then divide the answer by 223 degrees (duration of a stock OEM cam), which gives 128 psi.


And Remember...

Rather if it's for general lawn and garden use, competition racing or competition pulling, the parts inside any fresh-built engine needs to fully wear into each other. This is otherwise known as engine break-in. Rings don't "seat." They wear-into the cylinder wall, and wear-in rather quickly. But the valve faces on the other hand, takes longer to wear into the seats. The valve faces are ground at either 30º or 45º angle, and the seats are ground or cut at either 31º or 46º angle (to match the valve face). As they wear into each other, they form a 30½º or 45½º angle. The harder material valves are made of, the longer it takes for them to "seat." With rotators, it takes less time for the valves to "seat" or wear-in. Some pullers (customers) tell A-1 Miller's that engines I built for them run stronger every time they pull them without making any major adjustments or changes. This is because the valves are wearing into the seats to better seal in the compression. I remember a few years ago when I performed a valve job on my 1985 Chevy 350 truck engine. The engine ran good and strong afterwards, but I noticed after about 1,000 miles or so, it produced a little more power. This is because the valve faces wore into the seats, forming a perfect seal. So just to let you know, a rebuilt engine with a fresh valve job will not produce full power the first few times it's ran, even in a dyno test.

Just cleaning the valves and lapping them in (with a valve lapping tool and compound), then assume the engine will run fine for many years without problems is definitely not how a professional valve job is performed. Valve grinding compound, which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store, is not meant for "grinding valves". I realize it reads on the label: "Valve Grinding Compound," but this is wrong because it doesn't regrind valves (or seats) whatsoever. A valve seat cutter/grinder and valve refacer grinding machine is meant to do this. The valve grinding compound (which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store) is actually used to create a rough surface on the valve face and seat so they'll wear into each other as they break in, forming a perfect seal to keep the valves from leaking out compression.

Remember, when/if you have a repair shop perform a valve job, be sure to ask them how it's done. In other words, test their knowledge. If they say that the valves be removed, cleaned up, lapped in, then set the clearance, this is not the correct way to do it. Due to normal engine heat and "twisting" of the engine block (which is normal and happens to all flathead engines and OHV (Over Head Valve) cylinder heads), valve heads become warped. New engine blocks (or cylinder head on OHV engines) rather it be cast iron or aluminum, will sometimes become "distorted" (bend and twist) a few thousands of an inch when it gets hot from normal use. The valves will become warped to match the warped block (or head). Therefore, to prevent loss of valuable compression and engine power, the valve faces will need to be reground in a valve grinding machine and the seats recut or reground with a valve seat cutter or grinder to put everything back in correct alignment. The head will literally move a few thousands of an inch offcenter of the valve stem. Therefore, the valve faces must be reground in a valve grinding machine, or if a valve is severely burnt, it should be replaced. And again, due to normal engine heat, the valve seats will literally move a few thousands of an inch offcenter of the valve guide. Therefore, the seats must be reground with a seat grinder or cutter so the valve faces will seal 360º around the seats. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)

Valves can leak! For example, if fuel sprays out of the carburetor on a opposed twin cylinder engine when it's running at fast speed, then the following causes are.

  1. The hole in the main jet of the carburetor was mistakenly enlarged when cleaning because it was clogged with debris.
    • Solution: Install the correct size main jet or another known good carburetor.
  2. Inadequate valve to lifter clearance. The intake valves will not close in time to trap the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, blowing some of it back through the carburetor. This happens a lot on opposed twin cylinder engines as the valve faces wear into the seats.
    • Solution: A professional valve job needs to be performed. Then set the valves at .008" for the intake and .010" for the exhaust.
  3. But if a valve isn't opening or opening very little when the engine is cranked over, then chances are, the nose or toe on a lobe on the camshaft is wore down. This happens when water gets in the crankcase and over time, condensation attaches itself to the base of the lifter, rusting and pitting it. While the engine is running, the rusted and pitted lifter wears (or grinds) the lobe until it's wore down or "rounded." This sort of thing will also prevent a single cylinder engine from revving up.
    • Solution: Install a good, unworn camshaft and good, unworn lifters. FYI - If the cam with the worn lobe has a good points lobe, good gear teeth and isn't cracked, damaged or worn in any other way, welding can be built up on both lobes, then reground to make a high-performance cam.

About Lead Content in Gasoline -

Lead in gas was actually meant for older (pre-1970) automotive engines because they had soft cast iron valve seats. The cylinder heads were made of cast iron and the seats were cut or ground directly into the head with no hardened inserts. These seats was not heat-treated and would wear when no lead is present in gas. However, the later model automobile engine valve seats (1971-present) are heat-treated and last a lot longer. The seats were still cut or ground in the [cast iron] heads, but are heat-treated. The aluminum automotive heads have heat-treated steel inserts for valve seats. And virtually ALL small engine valve seats come from the factory heat-treated. They are steel inserts, and rarely wear when no lead is present in gas.


How to Perform a Professional Valve Job - [Top of Page]

First of all, performing a professional valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). So to gain more power and torque from virtually any flathead single or opposed twin cylinder engine, perform a professional valve job and the valve clearances will need to be increased. Resurface the cylinder heads on a flat sanding disc to ensure 100% head gasket sealing. Nothing else may be needed to be done to the engine, except for perhaps a professional tune up. Many opposed twin cylinder engines have inadequate valve clearances and this robs the engine of proper operation and valuable power. Perform a professional valve job, and set the clearances (between the valve stems and lifters) at .010" for the intake and .014" for the exhaust. After increasing the valve clearances, the engine will start quicker, idle better and produce more power at low and high RPM.

To do a poor quality valve job, some people will remove the valves, clean them thoroughly, then use valve grinding compound (which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store) to reseal them to the seats, then if they think of it, reset the valve clearances. Doing this might help an engine run better, but it's not how to perform a professional and/or performance valve job so the engine will start quicker, idle smoothly, accelerate without hesitation, and produce full power at higher RPM.

Information about Various Valve Spring Compressor Tools - (Updated and clarified 3/28/24) [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]
The scissors type (Briggs & Stratton part # 19063) or C-shaped (Lisle part # 23300) valve spring compressor tool can be used to remove and reinstall OEM valve springs in all flathead (valves in block) small engines.

However, the C-shaped type valve spring compressor tool can be used to remove and reinstall OEM valve springs in both all flathead and all OHV small engines.

But an extreme duty valve spring compressor tool (which is actually the GM door hinge spring compressor tool) is highly recommended to remove and reinstall high pressure aftermarket valve springs in virtually all competition pulling engines.

Valve clearances in the Kohler Engine Specifications and Tolerances charts are given with a lesser and greater clearance. Example: .008"-.010" intake, and .017"-.019" exhaust. The lesser clearance is for worn-in valve faces and seats, and the greater clearance is for freshly-ground valve faces and seats, or new valves with fresh-reground seats. Because as a freshly-ground valve face or new valve wear into the seat, the clearance between the valve stem and lifter is lessened.

To perform a professional valve job on a opposed twin cylinder flathead B&S or Kohler engine, the parts that will be needed are: two head gaskets, two crankcase breather gaskets, intake manifold mounting gaskets and valve stem seals (for intake valves only). New valve guides, especially for the exhaust valves, may also be needed. But that's to be determined once the valves are removed. The valve faces and valve seats angles are to be reground or recut at 45° (intake valve face for Kohler), 30° (intake valve face for B&S) and 46° (intake and exhaust seats for Kohler and exhaust seat only for B&S), 31° (intake seat for B&S), respectively. If you can't do this yourself, a local automotive machine shop can do it for you. You'll need to take the engine or tractor to the shop to have the valve seats reground or recut. Make sure they're reground or recut at the proper angle, too! And it'll be a good idea to have both cylinder heads resurfaced on a on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness, and to ensure 100% head gasket sealing. The head bolts can be reused. They rarely go bad.

The tools that's required to perform a professional valve job are as follows:

To perform a professional valve job correctly the first time so the engine will run better:

  1. Valve Spring Compressor ToolFirst rotate the crankshaft until the piston is at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. Or, rotate the camshaft (if the crank is out of the block) until both valves are fully closed. If it's a opposed twin cylinder engine, do this for each cylinder.
  2. After removing the crankcase breather, remove the valves using a valve spring compressor tool. Be sure not to lose the keepers/locks/collets! By the way - valve keepers usually don't wear or get damaged because they don't rotate on the valve stem. To check yours, with a valve out of the engine, install a valve retainer or rotator on the valve, then the keepers, and then pull back hard on the retainer or rotator. If the retainer or rotator holds or squeezes the keepers tight in the groove, then they can be reused. Anyway, store the valve components in a container so nothing will be misplaced! If you don't have a valve spring compressor tool, two medium size flat screwdrivers can be used to compress the spring, then have someone else remove and install the keepers/locks. I had to do this when I first started working on engines. Then I found that a valve spring compressor makes it a lot easier.
  3. Remove the valves, clean all the parts, and use a wire wheel to clean the carbon from the valves. They may need to be sandblasted if the carbon is really hard to remove.
  4. Inspect the valve face for wear, and measure the stem diameter for wear.
  5. Check the valve guides for wear. Most of the time, the exhaust guide will wear more than the intake due to carbon deposits. The maximum wear limit on the K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181 and M8 Kohler engines is .005" for the intake,.007" for the exhaust. And on the K241-K341 Kohler engines, it's .006" for the intake and .008" for the exhaust. If the guides are worn, install new guides or have a new thin-wall bronze sleeve/liner installed. An excessively worn intake and/or exhaust valve guide will cause an engine to make a popping sound out the intake or exhaust while it is running. FYI - The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners
  6. If they're not burnt, bent or badly warped, then used valves can be refaced on a valve grinding machine at an automotive engine machine shop. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!) But if they're damaged or excessively worn in any way, they must be replaced. If the valves are reusable, grind the intake and exhaust valve(s) and seat(s) at 45º/46º angles (Kohler engines), respectively. The reason there's a 1º difference is because as the valve and seat wear together, they'll form a perfect 31-½º angle (intake, for high-performance use) or 45-½º angle (intake and exhaust) leak-proof seal. As the valves/seats break-in, the engine will produce slightly more power because they'll be retaining full compression within the combustion chamber. In an average engine, it takes about 2 hours of operation for the valves to fully seat. When dyno-testing an engine, make sure it has at least 2 hours of break-in time on it.
    NOTE: All of Kohler's valves come from the factory with a face angle of 45º, and the seat angles are ground at 46º. And there's no need for the valve seat contact area to be midway of the face on the valve. (This is determined by lapping in the valves.) The engine will actually breath in more air at higher RPM if the inside diameter of the intake valve seat is made larger (ground out bigger) so the seat makes contact with the edge of the valve face. Doing this will be equivalent to having a slightly larger diameter valve.
    If a valve stem is bent, chances are, it can be straightened and the valve can be reused. I repair bent valves in my big metal lathe with success. Here's how to do it:
    1. First of all, if there's a crack in the valve stem, it must be replaced, especially when used in an OHV (Over Head Valve) engine. It's best to inspect the stem for a hairline crack with a strong magnifying glass or better yet, a powerful microscope. Do not attempt to weld up a cracked valve stem, especially an exhaust valve and after straightening it! It will break later!
    2. If the valve appears to be reusable, chuck the valve in a [big] metal lathe with the bent part of the stem flush with the end of the chuck jaws.
    3. Turn the lathe on slow and scribe a mark on the margin of the valve head to indicate the bent side.
    4. Rotate the lathe chuck by hand so the bent side of the valve head (scribe mark) is facing upward.
    5. If it's an intake valve, being most of them are made of ordinary long lasting steel, it can be straightened cold, with the exception of a Stellite valve. But if it's a heat-treated or Stellite exhaust valve, use an acetylene torch to lightly heat the valve stem. Don't attempt to straighten a Stellite or an exhaust valve cold. Due to the hardness and brittleness of the steel, the stem could break either when straightening it or later in the engine!
    6. lightly strike the valve head with a brass hammer to straighten the stem.
    7. Turn the lathe on slow again to check the straightness of the stem with the sensor button of a dial indicator against the margin of the valve head.
    8. If it's still slightly bent, lightly heat the stem (again) and use the hammer again.
    9. Repeat this process until the valve head has less than .003" of run-out.
    10. After the valve is straight, allow it to air-cool (don't dip it in water!), then reground the valve face on a valve grinding machine so it'll be perfectly perpendicular with the center line of the valve stem and so the valve face will seal 360º with the seat. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)
    11. If you have doubts that a valve stem will straighten properly, then perhaps it should be replaced. If a valve is obsolete, chances are, a valve from another make and model of engine can be machined to match the overall dimensions of the original/obsolete valve.
  7. After grinding the valves and seats, and with the governor assembly, lifters, camshaft, crankshaft, piston/rod and bearing plate all properly installed, and with the piston at TDC on the compression stroke (this when the base circle of the cam lobes are on top and both valves are fully closed), install the valves, springs, retainers and keepers/locks/collets, then check for correct valve lash (the clearance or gap between the valve stem and lifter). Set the valve clearances as follows for Kohler's K-series and Magnum single cylinder engines:
    • Always set the valve clearance when an engine is cold. Because metal expands when hot and shrinks when cold. On a fresh valve job, set the clearance on the maximum specs to allow for the valve face and seat to wear into each other. Then after approximately 25 hours of running time, recheck the clearances and set them at on the minimum. (If the gap haven't already minimized.)
    • Use steel feeler gauges to set the valve clearances. For the K241-K341 engines, for general lawn and garden use, the valve clearances are: .008"-.010" for the intake and .017"-.019" for the exhaust with the piston at TDC on the compression stroke. This is when both valves are fully closed. For competition pulling, set the valve clearances at .010" for the intake and .014" for the exhaust.
    • For the Kohler single cylinder engine models K90/K91, K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, and the Kohler KT-series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder engines, the valve clearances are: .006"-.008" for the intake and .017"- .019" for the exhaust. Correct valve clearances are made by lightly grinding the end of the valve stems with the piston positioned exactly at TDC on the compression stroke. This is the same way how Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh flathead engine valve clearances are set. IMPORTANT: Use a bench grinder to grind a small amount off the valve stem until the specified clearance is obtained. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!) It may take several grinding attempts, but it's best to grind it this way instead of grinding off a large amount and create too much clearance. When grinding the end of a stem, try to grind the metal flat so not to create a crooked end. If the end of the stem is not perfectly flat, this could cause the lifter to wear unevenly in its bore, and the valve guide may also wear. For accuracy, it's best to use the valve stem grinding stone on a valve refacer grinding machine (opposite the valve face grinding side). This method will remove very little metal at a time and make the end of the stem perfectly flat. NOTE: Be careful not to grind off too much metal! If the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a TIG welder, then it can be reground to the proper valve clearance.
  8. When checking the valve lash on any engine, the piston in the cylinder for the valves that you're checking (on multiple cylinder engines) must be at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. This places the lifters on the base circle of the cam lobes. The reason there's a valve lash is so the valves can fully close, sealing in the compressed air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Too little lash, and some of the compression will escape through one or both valves, and in over time, a valve may burn. Too much lash, and the valves won't open fully, preventing the engine from producing full power.
  9. To adjust the valves, remove the crankcase breather cover, then rotate the crankshaft by hand until both valves are fully closed with the piston at TDC on the compression stroke. If one valve opens slightly and the other closes slightly and vice-versa while rotating the crankshaft back and forth, then the piston is on the exhaust stroke and the crankshaft needs to be rotated one full turn (180º). This will guarantee that both valves are fully closed so accurate valve adjustments can be made.
  10. When checking valve clearances, always position the piston at TDC on the compression stroke. This is when both valves are fully closed. If one valve opens slightly, and vice-versa, then the piston is at TDC on the exhaust stroke, and the crankshaft needs to be rotated 180º. Also, make sure the head of the adjuster screws (that's in the lifters) and valve stems are ground square for proper adjustment.
  11. Valve adjustments are made with the engine cold or cooled down, with a flat feeler gauge, and on the K241-K341 engines, with the lifter held in place with a slender 1/2" open-end wrench and turn the adjuster screw in the lifter with a 7/16" open-end wrench. The adjuster screws are self-locking. There's no way to physically lock them into position. Just make the correct adjustment, and let it go. The adjuster screws should be tight-fitting in the lifters. There should be some resistance when rotating them. If an adjuster screw rotates too easy, the valve become out of adjustment, the screw will need to be replaced with a used tight-fitting screw or a new screw.
    FYI - The adjuster head is like a bolt with split threads, a small roll pin or something "springy" inside spreads the threads apart, which makes it a tight fit inside the lifter. It has right hand threads, too. The only way it can turn is with two wrenches.
  12. After making the proper lash adjustments, remove the valves, and apply a small quantity of valve grinding compound (which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store) on each valve face, then use a valve lapping tool to lap the valves in the seats (use this tool to rotate each valve back and forth with both hands) until the "grinding sound" goes away. This process is important. It seals the valves to the seats.
  13. IMPORTANT! After lapping in the valves, remove the valves and thoroughly clean the compound material from the valves and seats, then inspect the valve faces to see if the compound made full contact of 360º around each valve face and seat. If it didn't, then the valve is warped, or the face or seat wasn't ground correctly and will need to be re-done.
  14. Before installing the valves, apply clean motor oil, gear oil or lubricating grease on the valve stem. Then to install split lock keepers/locks/collets on the valves, after the valve spring is fully compressed, apply a small dab of grease on the end of a medium size flat blade screwdriver (use a Needle grease injector attaches to a grease gun chainsaw bar tip grease gun to make this much easier and less messy), stick one half of a keeper to it, apply another dab of grease inside the keeper, then carefully place the keeper on the valve stem (in the right direction). Do it this way with each keeper half. The grease securely holds the keepers/locks/collets to the valve stem until the retainer can be released over them.
  15. Rotate the crankshaft and observe the opening and closing of each valve. And take notice that the springs don't coil-bind. (Coil-bind is when the coils of the spring actually touch each other when the cam is at full lift. This may happen only with a high-lift cam.) If the springs do coil-bind, it may be necessary to remove the springs and grind some of the end off of each spring or acquire a different set of springs. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)
  16. Reinstall the crankcase breather using new gaskets, and that's it! [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]


What Are Valve Rotators and Why Are They Used?

For a non-pulling engine, valve rotators help prevent valves from burning by rotating the valve slightly as it opens to scrape away any carbon deposits from the valve face and seat. If an engine didn't come with valve rotators (most early Kohler engines didn't), they can be installed instead of the stamped steel non-rotator retainers. Many automotive engines use valve rotators, too. A rotator should be used with the exhaust valve because that's the one where the carbon exits the combustion chamber, and is optional for use with the intake valve. Rotators can be used in any K141-K341 Kohler engine. It's important that a rotator be used with the 1-9/16" uncompressed height OEM valve spring to prevent coil bind at full valve lift, which may result in cam breakage. Stamped or machined steel retainers require a 1-3/4" uncompressed height OEM spring. If the shorter 1-9/16" spring is used with a non-rotator retainer, the valve(s) may float, and/or the keepers/locks/collets may become dislodged from the valve stem at higher RPM. Although valve rotators are extremely strong, competition pulling engines don't require them because they don't run long enough for carbon to build up in the combustion chamber. By the way - valve keepers usually don't wear or get damaged because they don't rotate on the valve stem. To check yours, with a valve out of the engine, install a valve retainer or rotator on the valve, then the keepers, and then pull back hard on the retainer or rotator. If the retainer or rotator holds or squeezes the keepers tight in the groove, then they can be reused.

Most Kohler engines have the short valve spring (1-9/16") with the rotator on the exhaust valve, and the long spring (1-3/4") with the stamped retainer on the intake valve.

How to Perform a Professional Valve Job on a B&S or Kohler Opposed Twin Cylinder Engine -
To gain more power and torque from virtually any flathead two or opposed twin cylinder engine, perform a professional valve job and the valve clearances will need to be increased. Resurface the cylinder heads on a flat sanding disc to ensure proper head gasket sealing. Nothing else may be needed to be done to the engine, except for perhaps a professional tune up. Many opposed twin cylinder engines have inadequate valve clearances and this robs the engine of proper operation and valuable power. Perform a professional valve job, and set the clearances (between the valve stems and lifters) at .010" for the intake and .014" for the exhaust. After increasing the valve clearances, the engine will start quicker, idle better and produce more power at low and high RPM.

To perform a professional valve job on a opposed twin cylinder flathead B&S or Kohler engine, the parts that will be needed are: two head gaskets, two crankcase breather gaskets, intake manifold mounting gaskets and valve stem seals (for intake valves only). New valve guides, especially for the exhaust valves, may also be needed. But that's to be determined once the valves are removed. A quality-made valve spring compressor tool is required to remove and reinstall the valves. The valve faces and valve seat angles are to be recut or reground at 45º (intake valve face for Kohler), 30º (intake valve face for B&S) and 46º (intake and exhaust seats for Kohler and exhaust seat only for B&S), 31º (intake seat for B&S), respectively. If you can't do this yourself, a local automotive machine shop can do it for you. You'll need to take the engine or tractor to the shop to have the valve seats recut or reground. Make sure they're recut or reground at the proper angle, too! And it'll be a good idea to have both cylinder heads resurfaced on a flat sanding disc to ensure 100% head gasket sealing. The head bolts can be reused. They rarely go bad.

Advertisement: (Prices are subject to change without notice.) FYI - Due to new EPA rules and regulations, Kohler (and many other small engine manufacturers) are phasing out many parts for their flathead and cast iron block engines. But the parts in question may be available in aftermarket.
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.
Basic Small Engine Valve Seat Cutter Tool Kit.

This basic small engine valve seat cutting kit by Neway Manufacturing will make it so you can perform professional valve jobs. Performing a valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Easy to use with accurate results. This kit contains everything to recondition vintage small engine's 31º and 46º angle valve seats. The cutter angles are 31º and 46º, which allows an interference angle that provides a better seal for 30º and 45º angle valve faces. Adjustable carbide steel cutters for small and large diameter valve seats. Contact A-1 Miller's if you have any questions about using this tool. Part # LG 1000. $250.00 each, plus shipping & handling. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]

This Kit Includes:

  • CU102 : Small Series Valve Seat Cutter 33.3mm 31x46 degrees.
  • PF100-1_4 : 1/4" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-1_4+1 : 1/4" + .001" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-9_32 : 9/32" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-5_16 : 5/16" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-5_16+1 : 5/16" + .001" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PM100-8.0mm : 8mm Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • TW513 : 3/8" Hex Nylon Fiber T-Wrench
  • CB267 : Cleaning Brush
  • HK240 : 5/64" Hex Key
  • HK332 : 3/32" Hex Key
  • PPP245 : Pilot Puller Pin
  • CA303 : 3 Cutter Tool Case
Deluxe Small Engine Valve Seat Cutter Tool Kit.

This deluxe small engine valve seat cutting kit by Neway Manufacturing will make it so you can perform professional valve jobs. Performing a valve job will restore full compression, which will allow the engine to start quicker, idle smoothly, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Easy to use with accurate results. This kit contains everything to recondition vintage small engine's 31º and 46º angle valve seats. The additional angle cutters will help restore very worn valve seats to proper condition. The cutter angles are 31º and 46º, which allows an interference angle that provides a better seal for 30º and 45º angle valve faces. The additional 15º and 60º cutters will allow to adjust the contact area between a worn valve seat with the valve face. Adjustable carbide steel cutters for small and large diameter valve seats. Contact A-1 Miller's if you have any questions about using this tool. Part # LG 2010. $350.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

This Kit Contains:

  • CU102 : Small Series Valve Seat Cutter 33.3mm 31x46 degrees.
  • CU124 : Small Series Valve Seat Cutter 33.3mm 15x60 degrees.
  • PF100-1_4 : 1/4" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-1_4+1 : 1/4" + .001" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-9_32 : 9/32" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-5_16 : 5/16" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PF100-5_16+1 : 5/16" + .001" Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • PM100-8.0mm : 8mm Small Series Solid Valve Guide Pilot
  • TW513 : 3/8" Hex Nylon Fiber T-Wrench
  • CB267 : Cleaning Brush
  • HK240 : 5/64" Hex Key
  • HK332 : 3/32" Hex Key
  • PPP245 : Pilot Puller Pin
  • CA303 : 3 Cutter Tool Case
Intake Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT90/KT91. Head diameter: 15/16". New Old Stock. Discontinued Kohler part # 220008-S. $32.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)

Exhaust Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT90/KT91. OEM Kohler part # 220009-S. $60.55 each, plus shipping & handling.

NOTE: Before lapping in valves, it's best to have the valve seats recut or reground so they'll be in correct alignment with the centerline of the valve guides. Otherwise, the valves may not make a full 360º contact with the seats, resulting in leakage and the engine will lose compression, be hard to start, lose power and possibly make a popping sound through the carburetor or out the exhaust at idle speed. And be sure to set the clearances correctly, too. And if the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a MIG or TIG welder, then ground to the correct valve clearance.


Exhaust Valves. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161 K181, L161, L181, M8. Dimensions: head diameter: 1-1/8"; overall length: 4.056"; stem diameter: .309"; 45º face angle.

  • High quality aftermarket ordinary long lasting exhaust valve. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler ordinary long lasting exhaust valve, part # 230710-S. $41.56 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 230027-S. $87.36 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Reground Exhaust Valve, used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


Intake Valves. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161 K181, L161, L181, M8. Dimensions: head diameter: 1-3/8"; overall length: 4.065"; stem diameter: .309"; 45º face angle.

  • Reground ordinary long lasting intake valve. In excellent reusable condition. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 230008-S. $25.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • OEM Kohler Stellite intake valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 230582-S. $86.23 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Reground Intake Valve, used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Grind 30º angle on intake valve face to improve engine performance or for high performance use. (Seat must be recut or reground at a 31º angle to match angle on valve face.) $5.00 extra.


5/16" (.3125") Chucking Reamer. Use to clean carbon deposits from used valve guides or enlarge new guides after installing for a 5/16" valve stem in flathead 7hp+ B&S, Kohler, 8hp+ Tecumseh, etc. engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

NOTE: Before lapping in valves, it's best to have the valve seats recut or reground so they'll be in correct alignment with the centerline of the valve guides. Otherwise, the valves may not make a full 360º contact with the seats, resulting in leakage and the engine will lose compression, be hard to start, lose power and possibly make a popping sound through the carburetor or out the exhaust at idle speed. And be sure to set the clearances correctly, too. And if the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a MIG or TIG welder, then ground to the correct valve clearance.


1-1/8" Diameter Exhaust Valves. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, early K321's, K482, K532 and K582. Dimensions - Head diameter: 1-1/8"; Length: 4.656"; Stem diameter: .309"; Face angle: 45º.

  • High quality aftermarket ordinary long lasting exhaust valve. Replaces Kohler part # 235826-S. $16.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler ordinary long lasting exhaust valve, part # 235826-S. $41.56 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • High quality aftermarket Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; less prone to wear, burning, and maintains valve to stem clearance longer). Replaces Kohler part # 235838-S. $26.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; less prone to wear, burning, and maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 235838-S. $67.09 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; less prone to wear, burning, and maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 48 016 01-S. $79.12 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Reground Exhaust Valve, used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


1-3/8" Diameter Intake Valves. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K482, K532 and K582. Dimensions - Head diameter: 1-3/8"; Length: 4.640"; Stem diameter: .3095"; Face angle: 45º.

  • High quality aftermarket ordinary long lasting intake valve. Replaces Kohler part # 235008-S. $26.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • High quality aftermarket Stellite intake valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; maintains valve to stem clearance longer). Replaces Kohler part # 235582-S. $26.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler ordinary long lasting intake valve, part # 235008-S. $47.48 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Stellite intake valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 235582-S. $95.63 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Reground Intake Valve, used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Grind 30º angle on intake valve face to improve engine performance or for high performance use. (Seat must be recut or reground at a 31º angle to match angle on valve face.) $5.00 extra.


1-3/8" Diameter Exhaust Valves for later model K321's, M14 (suffix "D" and later), K341, M16, K532 and K582 (for K582 after serial # 9165450). Dimensions - Head diameter: 1.373; Length: 4.639; Stem diameter: .3075; Face Angle: 45º.

  • High quality aftermarket Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; less prone to wear, burning, and maintains valve to stem clearance longer). Replaces Kohler part # 237672-S. $26.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Stellite exhaust valve (extremely hard and long lasting material; less prone to wear, burning, and maintains valve to stem clearance longer), part # 237672-S. $67.09 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Reground Exhaust Valve, used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)

NOTE: Before lapping in valves, it's best to have the valve seats recut or reground so they'll be in correct alignment with the centerline of the valve guides. Otherwise, the valves may not make a full 360º contact with the seats, resulting in leakage and the engine will lose compression, be hard to start, lose power and possibly make a popping sound through the carburetor or out the exhaust at idle speed. And be sure to set the clearances correctly, too. And if the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a MIG or TIG welder, then ground to the correct valve clearance.


5/16" (.3125") Chucking Reamer. Use to clean carbon deposits from used valve guides or enlarge new guides after installing for a 5/16" valve stem in flathead 7hp+ B&S, Kohler, 8hp+ Tecumseh, etc. engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

8mm (.315") Chucking Reamer. Use to enlarge valve guides for installation of oversize or aftermarket valves with an 8mm valve stem in Kohler engine models K361, KT19, KT19 Series II, M20 and MV20, or 1.720" oversize valve in 10-16hp Kohler engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


High Quality Aftermarket K361 Intake and Exhaust Valve. Made of extremely hardened, heat-treated, long-lasting material. Can be used as intake or exhaust valve. Dimensions: head diameter: 1.437"; overall length: 4.165"±; face angle: 45º. Has 8mm chrome-plated stem. Requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. OEM Kohler valve keepers/locks/collets and retainer or rotator and springs can be used with this valve. OEM valve Replaces discontinued Kohler part #'s 45 016 02-S (intake) and 45 017 01-S (exhaust).

  • Machined by A-1 Miller's. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


8mm Chucking Reamer. Use to enlarge valve guides for installation of aftermarket valves with an 8mm valve stem in Kohler engine models K361, KT19 first design, KT19 Series II, KT21, M20 and MV20, or 1.720" oversize valve in 10-16hp Kohler engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

NOTE: Before lapping in valves, it's best to have the valve seats recut or reground so they'll be in correct alignment with the centerline of the valve guides. Otherwise, the valves may not make a full 360º contact with the seats, resulting in leakage and the engine will lose compression, be hard to start, lose power and possibly make a popping sound through the carburetor or out the exhaust at idle speed. And be sure to set the clearances correctly, too. And if the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a MIG or TIG welder, then ground to the correct valve clearance.


Intake Valves. Each valve listed below fits Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, MV16, M18 and MV18. Replaces discontinued Kohler part #'s 52 016 05-S (listed for M18, MV18), 52 017 01-S (listed for KT17), 52 017 02-S (listed for KT17), 52 017 03-S (listed for KT17), 52 017 05-S (listed for KT17), 52 017 07-S (listed for MV16, M18) and 52 017-08-S (listed for MV16, M18). Overall length: 3.641".

  • A-1 Miller's High Quality Aftermarket Intake Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, MV16, M18 and MV18. 45º face angle, 8mm diameter stem; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. OEM Kohler valve keepers/locks/collets and retainers can be used with this valve. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • High Quality "Made in China" Kohler-Replicated Intake Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, MV16, M18 and MV18. 45º face angle for engines with serial number 1816500646 and earlier. 5/16" diameter stem. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

Exhaust Valves. Each valve listed below fits Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, MV16, M18 and MV18. Dimensions: head diameter: 1.373"; overall length: 3.641"; stem diameter: .3075".

  • High Quality Kohler-Replicated "Made in China" Exhaust Valve. Has a 45º face angle, but can be reground to 30º to match the 31º seat angle. 5/16" diameter stem. Replaces Kohler part # 52 016 05-S. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler Exhaust Valve for Kohler engine models M18 and MV18. Has a 30º face angle for engines after serial number 1917809286. OEM Kohler part # 52 016 05-S. $63.40 each, plus shipping & handling.


Intake Valves. Fits Kohler engine models KT19 first design, KT19 Series II, KT21, M20 and MV20. Replaces discontinued Kohler part #'s 52 016 02-S, 52 017 03 (listed for KT19), 52 017 07-S, 52 017 08-S. Overall length: 3.926".

  • A-1 Miller's High Quality Aftermarket Intake Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT19 first design, KT19 Series II, and early M20 and MV20. 45º face angle. This valve can be used for the intake or exhaust to match a 46º seat, if desired. Has an 8mm diameter stem; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. OEM Kohler valve keepers/locks/collets and retainers can be used with this valve. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • High Quality Kohler-Replicated "Made in China" Intake Valve. Fits Kohler engine models M20 and MV20. 30º valve face; 5/16" diameter stem. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

Exhaust Valves. Fits Kohler engine models KT19 first design, KT19 Series II, KT21, M20 and MV20. Replaces discontinued Kohler part #'s 52 016 02-S, 52 017 03, 52 017 07-S, 52 017 08-S. Overall length: 3.926".

  • A-1 Miller's High Quality Aftermarket Exhaust Valve. Fits Kohler engine models KT19 first design, KT19 series II, and early M20 and MV20. 45º face angle; 8mm diameter stem; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • High Quality Kohler-Replicated "Made in China" Exhaust Valve. Fits Kohler engine models M20 and MV20 with serial number 1917809296 and above. 30º face angle; 5/16" diameter stem. Replaces Kohler part # 52 017 07-S. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


8mm Chucking Reamer. Use to enlarge valve guides for installation of aftermarket valves with an 8mm valve stem in Kohler engine models K361, KT19 first design, KT19 Series II, KT21, M20 and MV20, or 1.720" oversize valve in 10-16hp Kohler engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

NOTE: Before lapping in valves, it's best to have the valve seats recut or reground so they'll be in correct alignment with the centerline of the valve guides. Otherwise, the valves may not make a full 360º contact with the seats, resulting in leakage and the engine will lose compression, be hard to start, lose power and possibly make a popping sound through the carburetor or out the exhaust at idle speed. And be sure to set the clearances correctly, too. And if the end of the valve stem is accidentally ground too short, it can be made long again by building up welding with a MIG or TIG welder, then ground to the correct valve clearance.


Oversize Valves for High RPM Kohler Pulling Engines. Each can be used as intake valve for Kohler 10-16hp pulling engines, or as exhaust valve (with a 20%± bigger intake valve). Each have a 45º face angle for a 46º seat, but can be reground to 30º to match a 31º seat. OEM Kohler valve keepers/locks/collets and retainers can be used with these valves.

  • 1.500" High Alloy Steel Valve. .3115" stem diameter; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. NOTE: If engine block has an OEM valve seat insert, remove the insert, and cut or regrind the [31º or 46º] seat angle for this valve to sit directly into the cast iron block without enlarging the counterbore. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.600" High Alloy Lightweight Steel Valve. .311" (5/16") stem diameter. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.625" High Alloy Lightweight Steel Valve. .311" (5/16") stem diameter. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.720" High Alloy Lightweight Steel Valve. 8mm stem diameter; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.910" High Alloy Lightweight Steel Valve. Can be used with .085" offset bronze valve guide. .312" stem diameter; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.920" High Alloy Lightweight Steel Valve. Can be used with .085" offset bronze valve guide. .312" stem diameter; requires 8mm reamer to enlarge guide. $50.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1.940" Titanium Valve. Can be used with .085" offset bronze valve guide. .311" (5/16") stem diameter. $85.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


Antique Engine Valve. Fabricate a new replacement valve for your antique engine. NOTE: You will need to send the original valve to A-1 Miller's so it can replicated from new material(s).
  • $50.00 - 100.00 each, depending on valve size, plus shipping & handling of new and original valve.


High Quality Valve Lapping Tools with Wooden Contoured Grip and Rubber Suction Cups. After the valve faces and seats have been professionally recut or reground in a valve refacer machine and valve seats recut or reground with a valve seat grinder/grinding stone, and valve clearances have been set to specifications, apply valve grinding/lapping compound (which can be purchased online and at virtually any auto parts store) on the valve faces and according to valve size, use these tools to rotate the valve in its seat back and forth by hand (lap-in the valves) to create a rough surface on the valve face and seat so the valves will eventually wear into seats to form a perfect seal so the engine will have more compression to produce more power. IMPORTANT - Always thoroughly clean the valve grinding/lapping compound from the valves and seats, and inspect the valve face and seat for 360º contact before installing the valves!

  • Small Valve Lapping Tool for Smaller Valves. Has 19/32" and 25/32" diameter rubber suction cups. $6.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Large Valve Lapping Tool for Larger Valves. Has 1-1/8" and 1-3/8" diameter rubber suction cups. $8.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


è New valves for other makes and models of small engines are also available.

Valve Guides - FYI - Valve guides are made of either cast iron or bronze, and not steel. Cast iron and bronze are very hard and porous metals. They absorb oil and lubricate the valve stems for longer wear. NOTE: The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]


Stock (centered) Cast Iron Valve Guides. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, KV161, L160/L161, L181, K181 and M8. Dimensions: .310" I.D. x .5645" O.D. x 1.686" overall length. NOTE: Use my valve guide removal and installation tool to remove and install valve guides. After installation and for correct valve stem clearance, guide may need to be enlarged with a 5/16" reamer Ê. And before installing valve, apply clean motor oil on valve stem to provide lubrication of the guide and stem. See NOTE above.

  • High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 230007-S. $17.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 230007-S. $22.65 each, plus shipping & handling.


Stock (centered) Cast Iron Valve Guides. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K482, K532 and K582. Dimensions: .310" I.D. x .629" O.D. x 2.135" overall length. NOTE: Use my valve guide removal and installation tool to remove and install valve guides. After installation and for correct valve stem clearance, guide may need to be enlarged with a 5/16" reamer Ê. And before installing valve, apply clean motor oil on valve stem to provide lubrication of the guide and stem. See NOTE above.

  • High quality aftermarket. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 235007-S. $18.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


Cast Iron Valve Guides. Fits Kohler engine model K361 cylinder head. See NOTE above.

  • Intake Valve Guide. High quality aftermarket. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 45 316 02-S. $40.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Exhaust Valve Guide and Seal Kit. OEM Kohler part # 45 755 11-S. $89.55 per kit, plus shipping & handling.


Stock (centered) Cast Iron Valve Guides. Fits Kohler engine models MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. NOTE: Use my valve guide removal and installation tool to remove and install valve guides. After installation and for correct valve stem clearance, guide may need to be enlarged with a 5/16" reamer Ê. And before installing valve(s), apply oil or grease on valve stem to provide lubrication of the guide and stem. To replace the valve guides in Kohler engine models MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 or MV20 with the engine fully assembled and cylinders fastened to the crankcase, first remove the springs, retainers and valves, and break off the protruding end of the guide in the valve spring compartment with a cold chisel and hammer, then drive out the remaining portion of the guide into the spring compartment. But with the cylinders off the crankcase, just drive the guides out without breaking them off first. Install new guides by driving them in until flush with the surface of the port. Then ream the guides so the valve stems will have proper clearance. See NOTE above.

  • Exhaust Valve Guide. Outside diameter same entire length of guide. Dimensions: .310" I.D. x .5645" O.D. x 1.378" overall length. High quality aftermarket. Machined by A-1 Miller's. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 52 316 08-S. $25.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Intake Valve Guide. Has partially reduced O.D. machined step for installation of valve stem seal (listed below). Valve stem seal required to prevent crankcase oil from being suctioned into combustion chamber. Dimensions: .310" I.D. x .5645" O.D. x .500" reduced O.D. (for seal) x 1.378" overall length. High quality aftermarket. Machined by A-1 Miller's. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 52 316 08-S. $30.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
A-1 Miller's Valve Guide Removal and Installation Tool for use with all Kohler K-series and Magnum engines. IMPORTANT: The engine block could crack if guides are removed or installed with a hydraulic press! Therefore, it's best to use a big, heavy hammer (with this tool) to drive out the old guide into the valve spring compartment and use the same hammer (with this tool) to install the new guide externally from inside the valve pocket. When installing the new guide, be sure to hammer straight down in alignment with the guide bore hole and not at an angle. Hitting the guide at an angle could cause it to break. Install new guides until flush with the valve pocket. This tool can be used with either OEM Kohler and aftermarket offset valve guides. Machined at a 90º angle where the pilot meets the shank. Dimensions: .300" pilot x 1/2" diameter shank x 5" overall length. 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.) A-1 Miller part. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]
High Quality, High Speed Steel Chucking Reamers. Precision ground to provide correct stem-to-guide clearance. Will not allow valve stem to be too loose or too tight in guide. When reaming guide, use an electric hand drill with plenty of oil in guide. Before installing valve, apply motor oil on stem for lubrication to reduce wear to guide and prevent valve from sticking. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]
  • 5/16" (.3125") Chucking Reamer. Use to clean carbon deposits from used valve guides or enlarge new guides after installing for a 5/16" valve stem in flathead 7hp+ B&S, Kohler, 8hp+ Tecumseh, etc. engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 8mm Chucking Reamer. Use to enlarge valve guides for installation of aftermarket valves with an 8mm valve stem in Kohler engine models K361, KT19, KT19 series 2, M20 and MV20, or 1.720" oversize valve in K241-K341 Kohler engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 11/32" (.3438") Chucking Reamer. Use to enlarge guides for installation of small block Chevy V8 valves in Kohler pulling engines. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
Valve Stem Seals. Required to prevent crankcase oil from draining down into (OHV) or being suctioned into (flatheads) the combustion chamber through the guide. Silicone rubber w/metal clamp. NOTE: Apply clean motor oil, gear oil or lubricating grease on valve stem before inserting valve through seal to provide lubrication of the stem, guide and seal. Dimensions: 5/16" I.D. (stem) x .500" I.D. (guide) x .600" O.D. NOTE: Some early production KT17 models do not use valve stem seals.
  • High quality aftermarket. Fits Kohler engine models K361, MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Replaces Kohler part # 52 032 13-S. $4.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models K361, MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. OEM Kohler part # 52 032 13-S. $21.31 each, plus shipping & handling. [Return to Previous Section, Paragraph or Website]
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.

How to Repair a Loose Valve Seat in an Aluminum Block Flathead Engine and OHV Aluminum Cylinder Head - [Top of Page]

A loose [exhaust] valve seat is a common problem with the Briggs & Stratton opposed twin cylinder flathead engines, and certain newer OHV small engines. What cause the valve seat to loosen in these engines is the main jet in the carburetor gets partially clogged with built-up debris (tiny particles that passed through the fuel filter) in the float bowl, which lean out the air/fuel mixture and the engine had to be ran on half-choke. This overheats the combustion chambers, which caused the seat to loosen. On the B&S opposed engines, it always happens to the #2 cylinder, the one furthest away from the flywheel. To fix this, first, the main jet will need to be cleared out with 150± PSI compressed air. And then the valve seat can be peened in back in its counterbore with a flat punch and medium size hammer. But if the seat fits loose in the counterbore, after it's been peened in, the centerline of the seat will be offset with the centerline of the valve guide and the valve will not fully close and seal around the seat. If this is the case, then the engine block will need to be precision-machined with specialized equipment for installation of an oversize O.D. hardened valve seat, and the same [size] valve can be reused.

FYI - The correct method (and really the only true way) to install a larger O.D. valve seat is the counterbore will need to be machined-bored .005" smaller than the O.D. of the replacement seat with a special carbide cutter that's positioned in a hardened steel pilot shaft that's chucked in a special valve seat counterbore cutting machine. This guarantees the new installed seat will be in perfect alignment with the valve guide and perpendicular with the surface of the block or head. Many automotive engine machine shops should be able to perform this task. They can also get oversize bronze valve seats because certain newer cars with an aluminum cylinder head use them. If they say they can't do any of this, then they are not trying hard enough, or there's not enough money in it for them just to install one seat. Please let me know if you're interested in this service.

The below is how to peen in the valve seat in the engine block or [OHV] cylinder head.

  1. The valve will need to be removed from the block or head.
  2. The loose seat will need to be peened in back in place with a 1/4" diameter blunt punch and medium size hammer or the ball end of a medium size ball-peen hammer. "Peening" is when the aluminum is "pounded" 360º around the seat so it will remain tight. Be sure to stagger the punches to begin with so the seat will be centered and won't sit crooked in the block or head.
  3. Perform a professional valve job by using a valve seat cutter and valve refacer grinding machine to true up both the valve face and seat. Recut both seats and regrind both valve faces, set the valve clearances to specs (to make sure the other valve seals good, too), then lap the valves in so they'll seal perfectly upon break-in. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)

The reason a valve seat loosens in a flathead aluminum engine block or OHV cylinder head is because either the factory didn't press the metal tight enough around the seat or the aluminum expanded just enough with engine heat causing the seat to loosen. After the seat is securely tightened back in place, it shouldn't give any more trouble.

NOTE: Sometimes the seat can loosen so much, the counterbore where the seat rests will become enlarged. In fact, it can be too large to peen the seat back in place. When this happens, the counterbore will need to be bored for an oversized outside diameter seat. It takes a reputable machine shop/business to perform this type of repair.

On the Briggs & Stratton OHV engines, if one of the pushrods for the valves become bent, it can be successfully straightened (gently, by hand), and reused. This is a common thing with these engines. Anyway, to check the straightness of the pushrod, place it on a perfectly flat, smooth surface and rotate it across the surface by hand. Continue to straighten it (again, gently by hand) until it rotates across the flat surface freely. What causes the pushrod to bend is due to insufficient clearance between the valve stem and guide. When the engine reaches operating temperature, due to normal heat and friction, the stem will swell up a few thousandths of an inch, and seize or "bind up" in the guide. Sometimes when this happens, due to the OEM low pressure valve spring, the valve will remain in the open position. To prevent this from ever happening again, remove both valves from the head, and chuck each valve in a metal lathe or drill press, and then use fine emery cloth to "wear down" the stems a few thousandths (.001"-.0015") of an inch. Use a micrometer or dial or digital caliper to accurately measure the diameter of each stem before and after the machining. And while valves are out of the head, it'll be a good idea to peen in the valve seats (with a flat punch and medium size hammer) to prevent them from possibly loosening and falling out in the future. (This is another common problem with these engines.) "Peening" is when the aluminum is "pounded" 360º around the seat so it will remain tight. Be sure to stagger the punches to begin with so the seat will be centered and won't sit crooked in the head. [Top of Page]

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/consume 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. Prices may change without notice. [Top of Page] Prices are subject to change without notice.

  • Replace loose OEM valve seat with a new high quality aftermarket hardened steel seat insert. FYI - As with virtually any replacement valve seat, when applied with high strength thread locking compound and installed with a .005" interference press fit into the precision-machined counterbore with 1/16" of the seat below the surface of the combustion chamber, then securely peened-in 360º, a replacement steel valve seat will likely not loosen. $200.00 (or less) each for labor and new seat, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Repair loose valve guide (in head). $80.00 each for parts and labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Regrind both valve faces and seat angles (perform valve job) to OEM specs, lap-in valves, install new valve stem seal, reinstall valves, springs, rotators and keepers/locks/collets. $60.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.
  • Resurface head gasket mating surface on a wide, flat sanding belt to remove any warpage and restore flatness. $40.00 labor, plus return shipping & handing.
  • Prices are subject to change without notice.

  • Complete Gasket Kit to Reinstall K361 Cylinder Head on Engine. $40.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (Each part included in the full gasket set.)

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

Perform Factory Valve Job with Stock Size Valves in Single Cylinder OEM [Kohler] Engine Block - Regrind both valve faces and seats to factory specs, lap in valves, reset valve clearances, and reinstall valves on a single cylinder Kohler engine. $50.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.

Perform High Performance Valve Job with Stock Size Valves in Single Cylinder OEM [Kohler] Engine Block - Grind intake valve face and seat to 30º/31º and regrind exhaust valve face and seat to 45º/46º, undercut both valve heads for maximum airflow, lap in valves, reset valve clearances, and reinstall valves on a single cylinder Kohler engine. $75.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.

Install Oversize Intake and Exhaust Valves in Single Cylinder OEM [Kohler] Engine Block: $250.00 - $300.00 (depending on size of valves and if offset guide is required for intake valve) labor, plus return shipping. Oversize valves extra charge.

Enlarge and Polish Intake and Exhaust Port Runners in Single Cylinder OEM [Kohler] Engine Block -

  • Single cylinder OEM Kohler or aftermarket [Kohler] block with large ports: $75.00 labor, plus return shipping.
  • Single cylinder aftermarket [Kohler] block with small ports: $200.00 labor, plus return shipping .

A-1 Miller's Professional Repair Service - Perform Valve Job Only on opposed twin cylinder Kohler KT-series and Magnum engine models KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. 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, rev up with no hesitation, produce lots of power, and run for a long time without stalling or dying (when the ignition timing and carburetor adjustments are set correctly, too). Labor includes: regrind four valve faces and seats, lap in valves with valve lapping compound, reset valve clearances to factory specifications (on short block only), resurface both cylinder heads on a wide, flat belt- or disc-sander/grinder to remove any warpage and restore flatness, reinstall intake manifold and governor linkage. And being some valve guides wear beyond specifications, there will be an extra charge for installing and reaming new guides, if needed. The baffle shields (sheet metal), muffler, intake manifold and governor linkage will need to be removed before bringing or shipping engine/short block to A-1 Miller's shop. To save on shipping cost, only the cylinders (removed from the crankcase) and valves can be shipped in two 12-1/4" x 12-1/4" x 6" USPS Large Flat Rate Boxes. Place one box inside the other to double the strength, and use rigid packing material under, over and around/between the parts to prevent any of the fins from breaking off during shipment. But the short block must be shipped in a sturdy wooden crate. Prices listed below with your cylinder heads/jugs or engine on my work table. Please contact A-1 Miller's if you're interested in having a professional valve job performed on your KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20 cylinder heads/jugs or engine.
  • Perform Professional Valve Job on 2 Cylinders Only. (Customer resets valve clearances.) $70.00 labor, plus return shipping & handling.
  • Perform Professional Valve Job and Reset Valve Clearances on Short Block (baffle shields (sheet metal), intake manifold and governor linkage removed). $200.00 labor, plus return shipping.
  • If needed, install thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners in worn OEM valve guides. $20.00 each, plus return shipping. FYI: The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners [Return to Previous Section, Paragraph or Website]
Gaskets for Crankcase Breather Assembly/Cover. Fits Kohler engine models K90/K91.
  • High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 220370-S. $1.60 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 220370-S. $4.85 each, plus shipping & handling.


Gaskets for Crankcase Breather Assembly and Cover.

  • Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, KV161, L160/L161, L181, K181 and M8. OEM Kohler part # 230048-S. $5.85 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Fits Kohler engine models MV16, KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. OEM Kohler part # 52 055 01-S. $6.30 each, plus shipping & handling.


Inner Gaskets for Crankcase Breather Reed Plate. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K330/K331, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361.

  • High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 235048-S. $1.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part #'s 235048-S. $4.80 per two gaskets, plus shipping & handling.

Outer Gaskets for Crankcase Breather Cover. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K330/K331, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361.

  • High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 275144-S. $2.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part #'s 275144-S. $5.40 each, plus shipping & handling.
Crankcase Breather and Air Cleaner Neoprene Rubber Seal. Fits Kohler engine models K90/K91, K241, K301, K321, K341, K361, K582, M10, M12, M14, M16, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, MV20, CH640, CH730, CH740, CV670, CV680, CV730 and CV740. Dimensions: 1/4" I.D. x 1/2" O.D. x 9/16" length. FYI - A reinforced rubber fuel hose of the same size can be substituted for this part. OEM Kohler part #'s 220369-S and 231032-S. $5.65 each, plus shipping & handling. Crankcase Breather and Air Cleaner Neoprene Rubber Seal. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, KV161, L160/L161, L181, M8, MV18 MV20, CH18, CH20, CH22, CH25, CH730 and CV15. Dimensions: 1/4" I.D. x 1/2" O.D. x 7/8" length. FYI - A reinforced rubber fuel hose of the same size can be substituted for this part. OEM Kohler part #'s 230046-S. $4.90 each, plus shipping & handling.
Small Size Crankcase Breather Fibrous Filter (Oil Trap). Fits Kohler engine models K91, K141, K160/K161, KV161, L160/L161, L181, K181, M8, and opposed (flathead) twin cylinder engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, M18 and M20. (Kohler engine models MV16, MV18 and MV20 requires no part of this kind.) Replace deteriorated and crumbly filter to prevent loss of oil. NOTE: This "filter" is actually an oil trap. It traps and suspends oil droplets and prevents oil vapors from exiting the crankcase at higher RPM, then allows the oil to drain back down into the crankcase when the engine is at idle or turned off. (It's too coarse to be a filter of any kind, but Kohler calls it a filter.) Dimensions: Approximately (±) 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" square. OEM Kohler part only; not included in aftermarket engine gasket set.
  • OEM Kohler part # 231419-S. $7.45 each, plus shipping & handling.


Medium Size Crankcase Breather Fibrous Filter (Oil Trap). Fits Kohler engine models K241, K301, K330/K331, K321, K341 with the round shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly, and various Kohler Magnum models M12, M14 and M16. Replace deteriorated and crumbly filter to prevent loss of oil. NOTE: This "filter" is actually an oil trap. It traps and suspends oil droplets and prevents oil vapors from exiting the crankcase at higher RPM, then allows the oil to drain back down into the crankcase when the engine is at idle or turned off. (It's too coarse to be a filter of any kind, but Kohler calls it a filter.) Fills about 1/3 center area of breather plate. To be used with crankcase breather cover with open atmospheric vent and external oil control baffle shield part # 235117-S (listed below). Dimensions: Approximately (±) 1-1/2" wide x 2" tall. OEM Kohler part only; not included in aftermarket engine gasket set.
  • OEM Kohler part # 235118-S. $15.95 each, plus shipping & handling.


Large Size Crankcase Breather Fibrous Filter (Oil Trap). Fits Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301, K321, K341, K361 with the oblong shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly, and various Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16. Replace deteriorated and crumbly filter to prevent loss of oil. NOTE: This "filter" is actually an oil trap. It traps and suspends oil droplets and prevents oil vapors from exiting the crankcase at higher RPM, then allows the oil to drain back down into the crankcase when the engine is at idle or turned off. (It's too coarse to be a filter of any kind, but Kohler calls it a filter.) Fills entire area of breather plate. To be used with crankcase breather cover with PCV breather vent hose/tube and external oil control baffle shield and reed stop part # 270146-S (listed below). Dimensions: Approximately (±) 3" wide x 2" tall. OEM Kohler part only; not included in aftermarket engine gasket set.
Crankcase Breather Reed Valve. Fits Kohler engine model K91. Replace damaged or rusted reed valve to prevent loss of oil through breather vent hole, prevent outside dust and dirt from being drawn into crankcase and maintain crankcase vacuum and proper ventilation so engine will produce more power and last longer.
  • OEM Kohler part # 220379-S. $5.50 each, plus shipping & handling.


Crankcase Breather Plate and Reed Valve Assembly. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, KV161, L160/L161, L181 and M8. Replace damaged or rusted breather plate/reed valve assembly to prevent loss of oil through breather vent hole, prevent outside dust and dirt from being drawn into crankcase and maintain crankcase vacuum and proper ventilation so engine will produce more power and last longer.

  • New Old Stock or used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 230066-S. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Modified Kohler twin cylinder engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 or MV20 crankcase breather plate and check valve or reed valve assembly so it will fit Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, KV161, L160/L161, L181 and M8. NOTE: The neoprene rubber seal is not needed with the breather that have the umbrella check valve. Replaces Kohler part # 230066-S. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


Crankcase Breather Reed Valve. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K330/K331, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. Replace damaged or rusted reed valve to prevent loss of oil through breather vent hole, prevent outside dust and dirt from being drawn into crankcase, and maintain crankcase vacuum so engine will produce more power. OEM Kohler part # 235047-S.

  • $10.15 each, plus shipping & handling.


Old Style Replacement Neoprene Rubber Umbrella Check Valve and Crankcase Breather Plate w/Umbrella Check Valve used on Kohler KT-series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Replace deteriorated rubber umbrella check valve to prevent loss of oil through breather vent hole, prevent outside dust and dirt from entering crankcase and maintain crankcase vacuum so engine will produce more power. NOTE: The old style breather with the umbrella valve works just as well as the new style breather with the steel reed valve. So if the umbrella valve of your breather is damaged, it can be replaced. NOTE: It cost less to just replace the umbrella valve than the entire breather plate with the steel reed valve.

  • New Neoprene Rubber Umbrella Check Valve Only. High quality aftermarket. Dimensions: 1" diameter x 3/16" diameter center plug. Retaining hole in breather plate will need to be drilled-out/enlarged to 3/16". Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 52 462 01. $4.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Old Style Crankcase Breather Plate with New Neoprene Rubber Umbrella Check Valve Installed. Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 52 096 22, 52 096 41 or 52 452 07. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)

New Style Crankcase Breather Plate with Steel Reed Valve. Fits Kohler KT-series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Each listed below replaces OEM Kohler part # 52 254 07. NOTE: The two items listed below are basically the same part with different part numbers and prices.

  • OEM Kohler part # 52 035 02-S. $37.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 52 035 04-S. $27.10 each, plus shipping & handling.
Crankcase Breather Cover. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K330/K331, K321, M14, K341 and M16 with the round shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly. Replace bent, damaged or rusted cover to prevent leaking oil. Vent open to atmosphere.
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # A-235418-S. $9.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
Crankcase Breather Cover. Fits Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361 with the oblong shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly. Replace bent, damaged or rusted cover to prevent leaking oil. Vent hole accepts PCV neoprene rubber breather hose/tube(s) listed below. OEM Kohler part # 47 096 01-S.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $18.55 each, plus shipping & handling.
Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hose/Tube. Approximately 4" unextended length. Fits Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine model K181 with specification numbers 301000-301058, and Magnum M8 with specification numbers 301500-301656. Replace cracked, dry-rotted or missing breather hose/tube to prevent dirty/dusty outside air from entering combustion chamber, which will cause excessive engine wear. Fastens between base of metal air cleaner/filter assembly and crankcase breather cover. Part of positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system; vents back-pressure from inside crankcase into air intake to help oil stay clean longer.
  • OEM Kohler part # 41 326 02-S. $19.55 each, plus shipping & handling.


Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hose/Tube. 3-11/32" overall length. Fits various Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16. Replace cracked, dry-rotted or missing breather hose/tube to prevent dirty/dusty outside air from entering combustion chamber, which will cause excessive engine wear. Fastens between base of air cleaner/filter assembly and crankcase breather cover. Part of positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system; vents back-pressure from inside crankcase into air intake to help oil stay clean longer.

  • Used and in excellent condition or New Old Stock. Discontinued Kohler part # 47 326 03-S. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hose/Tube. 3-17/32" overall length. Fits Kohler K-series AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301, K321, K341 and K361. Used on Cub Cadet garden tractor models 800, 1000, 1200, 1250, 1450 and 1650. Replace cracked, dry-rotted or missing breather hose/tube to prevent dirty/dusty outside air from entering combustion chamber, which will cause excessive engine wear. Fastens between base of oblong shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly and crankcase breather cover. Part of positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system; vents back-pressure from inside crankcase into air intake to help oil stay clean longer.

  • OEM Kohler part # 47 326 01-S. $17.50 each, plus shipping & handling.


Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hose/Tube. 3-29/32" overall length. Fits various Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16. Replace cracked, dry-rotted or missing breather hose/tube to prevent dirty/dusty outside air from entering combustion chamber, which will cause excessive engine wear. Fastens between base of air cleaner/filter assembly and crankcase breather cover. Part of positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system; vents back-pressure from inside crankcase into air intake to help oil stay clean longer.
  • Used and in excellent condition or New Old Stock. Discontinued Kohler part # 47 326 04-S. $35.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hoses/Tubes. Fits various opposed twin cylinder Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, M18, M20, CV18, CV20, CV22, CV23, CV25, CV620, CV624, CV640, CV670, CV675, CV680, CV724, CV730, CV740, CV745 and CV750, according to specification number. Replace cracked, dry-rotted or missing breather hose/tube to prevent dirty/dusty outside air from entering combustion chamber, which will cause excessive engine wear. Fastens between base of air cleaner/filter assembly and crankcase breather cover. Part of positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system; vents back-pressure from inside crankcase into air intake to help oil stay clean longer.
  • New Style. Approximately 3-5/8" Unextended Length. OEM Kohler part # 25 326 06-S. $15.55 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Old Style. Approximately 3-3/8" Unextended Length. OEM Kohler part # 52 326 06-S. $29.20 each, plus shipping & handling.


The items listed below can be used to convert Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301, K321, K341, K361, or Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14, M16 with the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) crankcase breather cover to open atmospheric vent. Makes for a nice, distinctive appearance. Use with 1/2" metal hole plug (listed below) in air cleaner base.
  • 1/4" NPT x 3/8" Barb 90º Angle Brass Fitting. Use with metal hole plug listed below. Use 1/4" NPT hand tap to cut threads in cover to accept this fitting. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 1-5/8" unextended length Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hoses/Tube. Originally designed for Kohler engine models CH18, CH730 and CH740. OEM Kohler part # 24 326 86-S. $5.95 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 2" unextended length Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hoses/Tube. Originally designed for Kohler engine models CH18, CH20, CH23, CH640, CH730, CH740, CV18, CV20, CV22, CV23, CV25, CV620 and CV640. OEM Kohler part # 24 326 83-S. $3.45 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • 3-5/8" unextended length Neoprene Rubber Crankcase Breather Vent Hoses/Tube. Originally designed for Kohler engine models 61508, 61532, 61533, 61537, 61540, 61547, 61553, 61554, 61557, 61558, 65508, 65530, 65534, 65538, 65550, 65551, 65552, 65553, 65557, 65582, 65599, 65609, 67508, 67515, 67527, 67529, 67541, 67544, 67552, 69511, 69526, 69537, 72509, 75518, CV620, CV640 and CV640. Also fits certain single cylinder Wisconsin engines. OEM Kohler part # 24 326 87-S. $7.50 each, plus shipping & handling.


1/2" Metal Hole Plug. Use to block-off/plug AQS breather vent hole in base of oblong shape metal air cleaner/filter assembly on Kohler AQS "Quiet Line" engine models K241, K301, K321, K341 and K361, and Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16. Use with brass fitting or neoprene rubber crankcase breather vent hoses/tubes listed above. Apply clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant for an air-tight seal, and bend locking tangs outward/hammer flat to secure permanently in hole. $2.00 each, plus shipping & handling.

FYI: The governor assembly to crankcase vent breather hoses/tubes (Kohler part #'s 277392-S and X-484-1-S) for Kohler engine models K482, K532 and K582 are no longer available from Kohler. Use a neoprene rubber or vinyl hose or tubing of the appropriate size as a replacement.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler engine models K90/K91. Approximately .050" compressed thickness; included in complete engine rebuild gasket set. Kohler part # 220124-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $8.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $10.14 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161 K181, M8. Approximately .050" compressed thickness; included in complete engine rebuild gasket set. Kohler part # 41 041 10-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $6.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $9.10 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321 and M14. Approximately .050" compressed thickness; included in complete engine rebuild gasket set. Kohler part # 47 041 15-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $6.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $14.75 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cylinder head gasket. Fits Kohler engine models K341 and M16. Approximately .050" compressed thickness; included in complete engine rebuild gasket set. Kohler part # 45 041 17-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. $10.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $14.80 each, plus shipping & handling.

About Installing Bigger/Oversize 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 25-30% bigger than the exhaust valve, which would make it 1.68". And this is way too big for the K361 head.


A Stock (Factory) Cam with Bigger/Oversize Valves Versus a Big (Long Duration) Cam with Stock Size Valves?

Using a stock factory camshaft with oversize valves versus a high performance camshaft with stock-size valves would make a big difference in engine performance. Because the short duration (and stock lift) on a factory cam would limit the amount of air that enters and exits the combustion chamber at high RPM or at open RPM. On the other hand, big valves would allow more airflow in and out of the combustion chamber, but the amount of airflow would be limited by the size of the intake port and carburetor's venturi or throttle bore. Plus, the cylinder head would need to be machined for the bigger/oversize valves for clearance. So despite the valve size, the cam would definitely make a world of difference in how well an engine performs, especially at the RPM range the cam profile/lobes are designed.

With all high-performance cams that have lift of around .400" or more, the lifter bores (part of the engine block) needs to be ground down so the cam lobes can move the lifters up further so they'll clear the block. Also, large base lifters are required for cams with a lift above .400". And extreme big tool steel lifters are required for cams with a lift above .572".


Installing Bigger/Oversize Valves in a Flathead Engine for Improved Performance -

In order for an engine to build up more compression and to gain more power and higher RPM, an engine needs to flow more air (and fuel) in and out of the combustion chamber. Therefore, the valves (and ports) needs to be approximately 22-40% bigger than the originals. For more higher RPM or at open RPM, the intake valve needs to be 25-30% bigger than the exhaust valve. In the K241 and K301 Kohler engines, the original OEM intake valve can be used in the exhaust hole. If you use your tractor ONLY for competition pulling, an intake valve will hold up just fine in the exhaust hole. Don't worry about it burning. Most pulling tractors don't run long enough to burn valves. (In my personal experience, I've ran an intake valve in my 30ci since 1990 and it has held up just fine.) But if you plan to mow grass and do general lawn and garden use too, it'll be best to use a K341 exhaust valve in the exhaust hole. Most K-series intake valves are made of mild steel, and all Magnum intake (and exhaust) valves are made of extremely hardened steel (Stellite). Exhaust valves are heat treated, to withstand prolong extreme exhaust heat.

On the K341 or M16 engines, a special made or larger automotive valve must be used for both the intake and exhaust, as long as the stem diameter is the same or slightly larger. The valve guide will need to be reamed out to match the larger stem, too. The overall valve length for OEM stock Kohler valves is 4.635". If you have a longer valve that you want to install, the valve stem will need to be shortened and the keeper groove recut in a metal lathe. If using a valve with a larger diameter stem, it's best to narrow the stem diameter in the area that's under the valve head and above the valve guide (port area), which, depending on cam lift and duration, will give about 22% - 40% increase in air flow.

On the intake valve side, for every 1/8" increase in diameter, about 1 horsepower is added for a 4,000 RPM limit engine and 2-3hp is added for a non-governed/high-performance open RPM engine. Of course, according to the diameter of the intake valve, the exhaust valve will need to be increased by 25%, to quickly rid the combustion chamber of the burnt gases. And the reason the intake valve is bigger than the exhaust is because air (and fuel) enters the combustion chamber under vacuum and exits under pressure. So there is no need to make the exhaust valve the same size as the intake valve.

The approximate oversize valves have been found to work well in the following most popular Kohler engines. These are for engines that run at open RPM. Stock engines that run at around 4,000 RPM can use smaller size valves.

The sizes listed above È flows best according to the cubic inch displacement and when using a 1.200" carburetor venturi. By the way - the K241 and K301 intake valve can be used in the exhaust hole, with the seat removed. And remember this when installing larger valves: The larger the valve head diameter (and higher the lift the cam has), the larger the valve cavity (part of combustion chamber) will need to be (for clearance around and above the valve). A larger combustion chamber will have less compression which means less horsepower. But, more power and compression will be regained if the valve job, use of the right cam and precise valve timing are all matched correctly.

And when installing offset valve guides, take into consideration that if the block has valve seat inserts, with the insert(s) removed, if the face of the oversize valve will make contact with the part of the seat that's farthest from the piston.

Remember, when enlarging the ports, especially the intake port, make it the same size as the venturi in the carburetor or an air restriction (bottle neck) will occur, and the engine will not breath sufficiently at higher RPM. The exhaust port runner needs to be about 22% smaller than the intake port.

FYI - Regardless of what you've heard, running an engine without a muffler or some kind of exhaust system will NOT cause the exhaust valve to burn. This is an old mechanic's myth that got started many years ago when poor quality metal was used in the manufacturing of exhaust valves. Technology in metallurgy and quality of exhaust valves have advanced a lot in recent years.


Information About Valve Springs - [Top of Page]

The Reason Low-Pressure Valve Springs are Used in Most Small Engines Opposed to Much Stiffer Springs That's Used in Automotive Engines-

Most 4-cycle flathead and OHV (Over Head Valve) lawn and garden equipment small engines have a governor that controls and limits the engine's top speed and allows the engine to rev to around 3,200-3,600 RPM. The valve springs don't need to be very stiff at 3,200-3,600 RPM because the engine doesn't rev fast enough for. 1) the valves to float, and 2) the keepers/locks/collets to become dislodged, causing a valve to disconnect from the retainer. In an OHV engine, this is known as "dropping a valve." Which will likely destroy the engine. For most automotive engines on the other hand, they don't use a governor to limit the engine's RPM. Therefore, they require much stiffer valve springs, especially the OHV engines, so the engine will rev up faster, and to lessen the chance of "dropping a valve."


NEVER Install Rusted Valve Springs in an Engine!

Used valve springs rarely lose adequate pressure to open and close the valves at the RPM they are designed for. They can be reused as long as they're not rusted. Because the rust-pitted areas is a weak spot and when in operation and under pressure, the spring could break. Sometimes when out of an engine, and in storage [on the shelf], condensation will rust valve springs. When storing valve springs for a long period of time, submerge them in a container of lightweight oil or kerosene to prevent from rusting.


Pulling Engines That Turn at High RPM or at open RPM -

If an engine is going to turn above 4,000 RPM, stiffer valve springs will need to be installed along with heavy-duty retainers. (And definitely make sure the flywheel is precision balanced or better yet, install a steel flywheel. along with a quality connecting rod that has an inserted bearing.) Stiffer valve springs reduce the chance of "valve float," which occurs at high RPM. ("For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction." - Newton's third law of motion.) Valve float allows the engine to momentarily lose compression, cause fuel to spray out the carburetor and the engine will make a "hunt, hunt" sound. As a result, the engine will lose power, and as the weight of the sled is coming up on the tractor, the engine may not be able to recover.

If one is lucky enough to find some, they could use the inner spring of a high-performance automotive valve spring kit in a single cylinder engine. Stock keepers/locks/collets should work fine, too. By the way - valve keepers usually don't wear or get damaged because they don't rotate on the valve stem. To check yours, with a valve out of the engine, install a valve retainer or rotator on the valve, then the keepers, and then pull back hard on the retainer or rotator. If the retainer or rotator holds or squeezes the keepers tight in the groove, then they can be reused. Anyway, to reduce the chance of valve float, use dual springs along with stainless steel valves, hardened retainers and keepers when using a steel cam that has a lot of lift (more than .460" of lift). If using ordinary long lasting valves with dual springs, the head of the valve(s) (especially the exhaust valve) might become concaved over time because of the extreme pressure. And make sure that "coil bind" doesn't occur (when the spring become totally collapsed and the coils actually touch each other) when the valve is at full lift. Coil bind could break a good cast camshaft or even bend a steel one.


Using the Small Block Chevy Valves in a Kohler Engine -

1.72", 1.94" & 2.02" Small Block Chevy Intake ValvesSmall block Chevrolet V8 and certain Chevy V6 stock intake valves will work in a K241-K341 Kohler engine with excellent results, even with offset valve guides. The 1.72", 1.84", 1.92" or 2.02" diameter intake valve can be used for the intake in a K241-K341 [pulling] engines. The 1.94" and 2.02" Chevy valves will work for the intake in a 16hp/50.5 c.i. [pulling] engine. And despite what anybody says, valves for Chevy engines are not made in two pieces. They are of a one piece design with a hardened anti-wear cap to prevent the stock [Chevy] rocker arms from wearing the end of the stems.

Stock intake valves works great as an exhaust valve in a pulling engine because the engine doesn't run long enough for the valve to burn or warp.

The valve stem will need to be shortened next to the keeper groove (make the overall length the same as Kohler valves, which is 4.635".), and the oil seal groove becomes the keeper groove. Being the Chevy valve stem is 11/32" in diameter, the valve guide(s) will need to be enlarged with an 11/32" reamer so the valve stems will have correct clearance.

The Chevy valve head will also need to be lightened and the face (and seat) should be ground at a 30º angle for the intake (for maximum air flow), and 45º for the exhaust. And either the Chevy retainers can be used or stock Kohler retainers can be used with the Chevy valve. But the Chevy keepers/locks must be used because of the larger diameter valve stem. The Chevy retainer will need to be turned down in a metal lathe to fit the smaller aftermarket valve springs that's made for Kohler pulling engines. Don't try use Chevy valve springs in a Kohler engine! They're way too stiff and much too difficult to install in a Kohler engine. Actually, they're almost impossible to compress for installation in a Kohler engine.


Remember to do this when installing bigger/oversize valves -

Improving Engine Breathing When Using Bigger ValvesWhen installing larger valves, the tapered area on the engine block around each valve must be ground away for full airflow into and out of the combustion chamber. The area just outside of the valve seats next to the piston area (the area where the valves are angled down into the block) needs to be ground away also so the engine can have full air flow in and out of the cylinder. This is very important because if it isn't opened up there, it'll starve the engine for air/fuel. To check this area for adequate clearance, with the head removed, rotate the engine so each valve is fully opened, then insert a wooden dowel or soft aluminum rod (to keep from scratching the valve face and seat) that has the same diameter of the lift of the cam to use as a plug gauge. Grind the tapered area around the valves enough so with the valves installed, you can fit a soft metal (aluminum rod) between the valve face and seat with the valves at full lift. This is how you get full airflow into and out of the combustion chamber. With the metal ground away, the rod should fit snug under the valve head and seat all the way around each valve. If the plug gauge doesn't fit, the metal on the block just outside each valve seat needs to be ground away, especially toward the piston. Be extremely careful not to let the grounding stone touch the finished seats though! (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)

If you're concerned about doing the above È will decrease the compression ratio, well, it will somewhat. But, by doing so, it'll allow the engine to draw in much more air, producing more compression. In return, it'll produce more power and RPM. I know, we've done this many times with excellent results.

And the only way I found to grind this area of the block is to use a 1/4" capacity pneumatic die grinder with a 1" diameter rounded end stone. To keep the stone from touching the valve seat, I rest the side of my right hand on the top of the block (I'm right handed) and slowly and very carefully grind away the metal.


Information About Valve Guides - [Top of Page]

What Causes a Small Engine to Make an Erratic "Pop" Sound Out the Exhaust at Idle Speed? (Added 3/22/21)

An engine misfire at idle speed may be caused by an excessively worn valve guide, especially the exhaust, because carbon deposits can sometimes wear away at inside of the guide. A worn guide will cause the valve to "dance around" upon closing and not fully close or not make full contact with the seat at times. When the fuel ignites the moment the valve is not fully closing, this will momentarily send the combustion out through a "wedge" between the valve and seat instead of containing it within the combustion chamber, which will make an erratic popping sound out the exhaust. An excessively worn intake valve guide may make a popping sound out through the carburetor at idle speed. To check for excessive worn or looseness of the valve guides, remove the cylinder head, and with each valve at its highest lift, use your hand & try to wiggle them around. But then again, a slight misfire, especially at higher RPM, can be caused by a faulty ignition condenser.

Replacing or Installing New Valve Guides -

It requires special tooling to install replacement valve guides for precision and accuracy. To accurately bore out a valve guide, a special-made 60º tapered pilot needs to be placed inside the valve seat to guide the cutting tool straight through the guide. Otherwise, it will be bored crooked. If an integrated valve guide hole is drilled crooked due to a worn guide, the block may be ruined. And although Briggs & Stratton offers valve guides that can be installed in virtually small engine block, it's actually better, more accurate and probably cost less to have a reputable automotive machine shop install universal thin-wall bronze sleeve valve guides in your block. The thin-wall bronze sleeve valve guides can be installed in existing OEM pressed-in valve guides, too. Thin-wall bronze sleeve valve guides come in various sizes and this is the same type of guides that most automotive machine shops install in automotive OHV cylinder heads and flathead engines nowadays. Because the pressed-in replacement valve guides is old school technology. If you decide to have universal thin-wall bronze sleeve valve guides installed in your flathead or OHV small engine, you will need take the valves with the block or head so the person who installs the guides can measure the valve stems so the guides will have the correct clearance. I've had this done on my own personal engines, and to many of my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great.

FYI: The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners

There are two ways to measure the amount of wear in valve guides. One way is with a dial indicator. The other way is with an "go/no go gauge" and a micrometer. It's best to have a local machine shop do the measuring because they have the right tools and they're experienced with such things.

How to Remove and Install Pressed-In Cast Iron Valve Guides in a Cast Iron Block Kohler Engine:

  1. Acquire a 1/2" diameter x 5" long grade 8 bolt. Machine the threads down to .300" so it will become a pilot to fit inside the valve guide. This will be the driver tool.
  2. Remove the valves, springs and retainers. Measure old guides to ensure if they are actually worn or within specs.
  3. To remove worn valve guides:
    • On the Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161 K181, L161, L181, M8 and all opposed twin cylinder Kohler engines, if the lifters (and camshaft) are installed, break off half of the guide inside the valve spring compartment with a cold chisel and medium size hammer, then use the machined bolt as mentioned above È and a big hammer to drive the remaining guide out and into the valve spring compartment. If the lifters and cam isn't installed, just drive the entire guide out into the valve spring compartment without breaking it off.
    • On the Kohler engine models K241-K341, if the lifters (and camshaft) are not installed, drive the entire guide out into the valve spring compartment with the machined bolt and a big hammer. But if the lifters (and camshaft) are installed, and if there's not enough space to remove the entire old guide, then half of the guide will need to be broke off with a cold chisel and hammer, then the rest of the guide can be removed.
  4. Install the new guide with the machined bolt with a flat washer under the pilot so the guide will be flush inside the intake and exhaust pockets.
  5. The new guides may need to be reamed out with a 5/16" reamer so the valve stems will have correct clearance.

FYI: The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners

Installing Offset Valve Guides -

Straight vs Offset Valve GuidesThe best way to gain more power and torque from any engine is to have a smaller combustion chamber to increase the compression ratio. On a flathead (valves in block) engine, the way to do this is by moving the valves closer to each other and closer to the piston with the use of offset valve guides. Machining for oversized valves must be installed in order to do this. Stock valves cannot be used with offset guides because the offset guides will move a portion of the valve head off the seat (it'll have a crescent moon shape). Valve guides for Kohler engines can be made with the hole offset at any distance from center, but the most common offset is .085".

For the K241, K301 and early model K321 Kohler engines with the OEM centered valve guide and valve seat removed, a 1.375" [OEM intake] valve can be used in the exhaust hole. But with the seat removed and a .085" offset guide installed, a minimum 1.545" oversized valve will need to be used, with a maximum 1.420" inside diameter seat machined into the block. (1.250" [diameter of counterbore] + .170" [.085" x 2] = 1.420" [seat inside diameter] + .125" [added for overall valve head diameter] = 1.545".) For the intake valve with a .085" offset guide with no valve seat insert (seat machined directly in the block), a maximum of 1.700" oversized valve can be used.

And for the later K321 or all K341 Kohler engines with the original 1.375" diameter exhaust valve and the OEM centered valve guide with the valve seat removed, a 1.600" oversize valve can be used in the exhaust (or intake) hole. But with the seat removed and a .085" offset guide installed, a minimum 1.795" oversized valve will need to be used, with a maximum 1.670" inside diameter seat machined into the block. (1.500" [diameter of counterbore] + .170" [.085" x 2] = 1.670" [seat inside diameter] + .125" [added for overall valve head diameter] = 1.795".) But for the intake valve with a .085" offset guide, a maximum of 2.000" oversized valve can be used.

About Titanium Valves -

Titanium valves with too large of a head and too long of stem can be machined smaller for use in a Kohler engine, but titanium is extremely hard material and almost impossible to machine in a metal lathe even with carbon bits, which is the hardest available. I've tried to machine titanium valves before with no luck. They need to be ground (machined) with a metal grinder instead.


Installation of new valve guides usually doesn't require new valves. Although the valves will need to be reground so they will seat better. And to remove the guides, first remove the valves. Then use a long 5/16" grade 8 bolt with a nut threaded on it and a heavy hammer to drive the guides out and into the valve spring compartment. Install new guides by driving them in with a hammer until they are flush with the port. The offset guides may need to be enlarged with a 5/16" reamer so the valve stems will have correct clearance. There are 3 ways to install new valve guides:

Bronze is hard material and it retains oil because it's porous. Go here to learn more about bronze valve guides: K-line Interrupted Spiral Guide-Liners. To help the guides and valve stems last longer, drill a small (1/8") hole crossways through the lower part of each guide in the valve spring compartment so the crankcase oil will help keep the valve stems and guide well lubricated and cool. This will reduce stem-to-guide friction (wear) and it'll help promote smooth valve action, which will help increase horsepower slightly and longevity of the guide.

To remove the valve guides from the K241-K341 Kohler engines, drive them out into the valve spring compartment with a 5/16" diameter grade 8 bolt with a nut threaded on the bolt and a big hammer. Also, after many years of use, some guides can be very stubborn to remove, especially the exhaust one. So instead of removing the old guides from an engine with stock valves, have them reamed to accept a thin-wall bronze sleeve/liner. Besides, all new OEM guides needs to be reamed for the valve stem to fit anyway. So why not have a bronze liner installed instead? FYI: The alternative to installing new replacement OEM-type valve guide(s) is to have the old [worn] guide(s) reamed for installation of thin-wall bronze sleeves/liners (bushings), which can be installed by an experienced and reputable automotive machine shop. Thin-wall bronze valve guides are a low-cost and actually works better than replacing the OEM guide in most engines. Bronze lasts longer than cast iron guides because it is harder material and it retains more oil for better lubrication of the valve stem. Installing CLASSIC Bronze-Liners

When thin-wall bronze valve guide sleeves/liners are installed, first, the valve guide is reamed the same outside diameter as the liner. Then the liner is inserted in the guide, and an air-operated valve guide driver is used to expand the liner in the guide so it'll have the correct clearance for the valve stem.

To bore the offset center hole in a guide, drill the hole in the guide approximately .085" offcenter with the guide firmly clamped in a super spacer (with a self-centering 3-jaw chuck) that's fastened on the table of a vertical milling machine. When drilling bronze, use a non-oily lubricant, such as brake cleaner.


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 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 locations 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 additional clearance around the valves.
  6. Now the cylinder head can be machined for the valve cavities and combustion chamber.

How to check for correct 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. Place a small amount of modeling clay (such as Play-Doh) on each valve head and under the head in each valve cavity. (Place some oil on each valve and valve cavity to keep the clay from sticking to either.)
  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.

How to make your own modeling clay (Play-Doh):

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, Section or Website]


FYI - One valve I found is an exhaust valve made for a Wisconsin engine. It's a Perfect Circle part #211-1832. It has a 1.590" diameter head and 5/16" diameter stem. Overall length is 4.865". But Kohler valves are 4.635" in overall length. This means the stem will need to be shortened .230" and a new keeper groove will need to be machined. Check at a local auto parts supply store for this valve. They can usually get any size or type of valve you want.

If one is extremely careful, bigger/oversize valves can be installed using a pneumatic (air-operated) 1/4" capacity pneumatic die grinder with an ordinary grinding stone and an electric valve seat grinder. There's no need to install valve seat inserts either. Just cut or grind the new seats directly into the cast iron block. For best flow and compression, the high point of the seat needs to be even with the deck of the block. If the seat is made too deep, valuable flow and compression will be lost! Most blocks can be decked to regain the compression, though. (If rules allow it.) (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)

For best valve flow, cut or grind the intake valve face and seat at a 30º angle, and the exhaust valve face and seat at a 45º angle. Give the intake seat about a .030" width, and the exhaust seat about a .060" width. Make the valve face mating surface near the edge of the valve, too.


What is Port and Polish (or Porting and Polishing) of an Engine? - [Top of Page]

"Porting" is when the intake and exhaust port runners in a flathead engine block or OHV (Over Head Valve) cylinder head are made larger in volume so more air/fuel can enter the combustion chamber and the exhaust gases can exit quicker so the engine will produce higher compression pressures which results in more power and torque at higher RPM.

"Polishing" is when the ports are made smooth. Many years ago, most high-performance engine builders thought that by making the intake port and intake manifold (or carburetor extension, spacer, intake tube, stand-off, or whatever they may be called by garden tractor pullers), smooth and polished, this would help the engine to produce more power and torque. Which in theory makes sense. But in reality and in recent dyno tests, the intake passageway shouldn't be smooth or polished. If enlarged (for more airflow), but made with a rough surface, this will create turbulence in the port. The turbulence will cause the incoming air to atomize with the fuel vapors more thoroughly, which will help the engine produce much more horsepower and torque at high RPM or at open RPM. The exhaust port runner and header pipe on the other hand, should be smooth and polished, so the spent exhaust gases can exit the combustion chamber quickly and smoothly.

An Easy and Sure Way to Determine the Port Size and Flowing the Ports -

When enlarging the intake and exhaust port runners to move more air in and out of the combustion chamber so the engine can produce more power, and to determine the correct size of each port, for the intake port, make a couple of "plug gauges" from a 1.000" diameter fender washer, which can be mounted on a long bolt for use as a handle, for a carburetor with a maximum 1" venturi (for a Stock-Altered pulling engine), or a 1.200" diameter fender washer to match a 1.200" carburetor (for a 16hp Missouri Hot-Stock and 16hp Missouri Super-Stock pulling engines). And use a 1.000" washer for the exhaust port in a 10-14hp Kohler engine.

For best engine performance, the intake port runner should be enlarged to match the diameter of the carburetor's bore or venturi. To enlarge the ports or "port out" in a flathead engine block or OHV cylinder head, a pneumatic die grinder with a large, long pointed stone could be used, but this method is VERY time consuming and tiresome. It takes about 5-6 hours of labor with a quality-made air die grinder, quality-made grinding stone and a high capacity air compressor/tank.

But instead of using the die grinder, a 1/2" capacity pneumatic air drill with a large high speed steel drill bit and high capacity air compressor can be used for much faster and accurate results to enlarge the port(s). NOTE: Pneumatic air drills draw a lot of air volume when in use. So an air compressor with a minimum 60 gallon storage tank and good size pump will need to be used to supply adequate air to keep up with the demand of the air drill.

For the K241, K301 and early model K321 blocks (with the 1-1/8" exhaust valve), use the pneumatic air drill with a [high quality and sharpened] 1-1/16" or 27mm (which is close to 1.07") drill bit to enlarge the intake port to match the #26 carburetor with a 1.07" throttle bore that have the venturi bored-out. This should take about 30 minutes to complete. Because there's more material (metal) to remove. And for a later model K321 (with the 1-3/8" exhaust valve), M14, K341 and M16 blocks, use a 1-3/16" or 30mm (which is close to 1.2") drill bit to match the #30 carburetor with a 1.2" throttle bore that have the venturi bored-out. This process should take about 10 minutes to complete. Because there's less material (metal) to remove. Apply WD-40 frequently inside the port to aid in quicker cutting of the drilling process. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!) The intake port doesn't need to be bigger than the carburetor's straight-through throttle bore (with the venturi bored-out) that's going to be used on the engine.

Fabricate a plug gauge made with a flat washer of the appropriate diameter fastened on a long bolt with two jam nuts to serve as a handle. After the port is "drilled out" or enlarged, if there's any high spots, use a 1/4" capacity pneumatic die grinder with a 1" diameter pointed stone for a smooth final finish. When grinding the port, feel inside the port with your finger for smoothness.

When facing the intake port, position the air drill so the shank of the drill bit is aimed slightly downward and slightly angled to the right in relation to the engine block. This will make for the best air flow through the port and into the combustion chamber. Afterwards, the drilling process should leave the port straight and smooth to the touch. If there are a few rough spots, they can be smoothed with a die grinder/stone. Don't use an electric drill, even a heavy duty one, to drill out the ports in an engine! A very large drill bit will likely to "catch" or get "hung up" abruptly in the cast iron during the drilling process and this could cause the reduction gears in the drill to strip out and break. Pneumatic drills have no gears, just an air turbine. Therefore, if/when the bit catches in the port, there's nothing break in the drill.


Degree of the Intake Center Line -

The intake centerline angles that I use when I port a K241-K341 Kohler engine are 4º down and 4º to the right when standing to the side of the block. If an engine has hardened exhaust valve seat(s), unleaded gasoline has no effect on the wear of the seat(s). In fact, all engines built nowadays or since unleaded gas was first introduced have hardened exhaust valve seats. Valves are unaffected by unleaded gas. Also, unleaded gas helps to keep the combustion chamber free of carbon deposit buildup.


Information about Valve Lifters (Tappets) - [Top of Page]

About a Worn Lifter Adjuster Head and Face -

Wide Base LiftersWhen adjustable Kohler lifters wear, sometimes the center of the adjuster head will wear or become concaved, which will affect valve adjustment if not made perfectly flat again. The head will need to reground on a valve grinding machine until it's perfectly flat again. (And always wear eye protection whenever working with metal!)

When new flat tappets or lifters are manufactured, the center of the lifter face (the part that makes contact with the lobe on the cam) is slightly raised (approximately .001"). The lifter sits slightly off-center of the cam lobe so when the valve opens, the lobe rotates the lifter slightly to prevent wear to either part. Otherwise, if the lobe is centered with the lifter, the lobe will scrape the lifter when the valve opens, causing excessive wear to both the lifter and lobe in a short time. If you need to replace a worn lifter (and undoubtedly the camshaft, too), the best thing to do is acquire a good used lifter (I have a bunch of good used OEM Kohler lifters in stock) or purchase a new one. It is almost impossible to "reface" a lifter because they're made of extremely hardened steel. A good used lifter can be successfully reused with a new or used camshaft without wearing the cam lobe. What needs to be done to prevent wear to the lobe is roughen the face of the lifter with 600 grit sandpaper until all the shiny surface is gone. This will provide a new wear pattern for the lifter and lobe. For break-in of the lifter and lobe, use SAE 30 weight conventional (petroleum-based) motor oil with high zinc content to provide a protective film as the parts wear into each other, producing a hardened surface wear pattern. If a lifter face is pitted with rust, it will need to be replaced with either a good used lifter or a new one. And if the cam lobe(s) are worn, then either replace it with another good used camshaft, or for a K241-K341 Kohler camshaft, the lobes can be welded up and professionally reground to turn it into a performance camshaft.

Reusing Flat Base Lifters/Tappets - (Added 6/7/24)

The base or face (the part that makes contact with the cam lobe) on all new lifters (or tappets, as they're sometimes called) have marks for a cross-hatch pattern. Therefore, if the base/face on a used lifter isn't worn, it can be reused by rubbing the base/face (by hand) on 400 grit sandpaper on a hard, flat surface to give it new marks for a cross-hatch pattern. Be sure to retain the 1º convex (curved) shape to match the 1º angle on the nose or toe of the cam lobe. Making new cross-hatch marks will allow the lifter to "grip" the cam lobe upon every lift so the lifter will rotate slightly (prevent scraping), creating a new wear pattern and prevent wear to both the lifter and lobe.


How to Use Ordinary Hydraulic Lifters in a High-Performance/Open RPM Engine -

When pulling (or racing) virtually any open RPM competition garden pulling tractor engine (such as Kohler Command) or automotive engine with hydraulic flat bottom or roller lifters, to prevent from using anti-pump up lifters, ordinary stock lifters can be used instead. To prevent ordinary stock lifters from "pumping up" with oil at open RPM, which may cause the valves to momentarily not fully close, simply set the valve clearances at zero lash with no preload in the lifter. By doing this, the lifters will always be pumped up, allowing the valves to fully close at open RPM, and preventing an erratic or momentary misfire and backfire (through the intake or out the exhaust).


Information about the Camshaft and How to Degree in a Steel Cam - [Top of Page]

The most important part of any high-performance engine is the camshaft. It's the heart of the engine. Simply put, the cam tells the valves what to do, when to do it and for how long. To be truly competitive on the track, a high-performance engine really needs the latest and updated cam that's available. Installation of a special camshaft is important if increased performance is to be obtained. Performance camshafts lift the valves higher and hold them open longer in relation to piston travel than stock cams. The increased lift is known as "valve lift" and when the valves stay open longer, this is known as "duration." Cams with much more lift and especially more duration than a factory stock cam is considered a "performance cam."

The rule of thumb for any high performance engine is, the higher the rpm, the more valve lift and duration the cam lobes needs to have so the engine will produce more power. The increased lift allows for more air to enter and exit the combustion chamber at higher rpm, and the increased duration traps more air in the combustion chamber at higher rpm to build up the compression. On the engine dyno, with a factory stock cam, the engine will make power up to around 3,600 rpm, then "flat line" or fail to produce more power after that.

How a high-performance cam with increased lift and duration help the engine produce more power -

Air is very flexible. It can be compressed as well as it can be expanded. When an engine has a long duration cam, with the cylinder head off, as the crankshaft is slowly rotated by hand, you may notice that before the piston reaches TDC (Top Dead Center) or BDC (Bottom Dead Center), the valves stay open longer and doesn't fully close until the piston is a good ways up or down in the cylinder. This is called "duration." With an OEM stock cam or short duration cam, the valves will become fully closed when the piston is at or close to TDC or BDC. Anyway, with a long duration cam, when an engine revs at high RPM or at open RPM, air doesn't have time to exit out through the valves, so it "compresses" and becomes trapped within the combustion chamber. In this way, the piston can draw more air (and fuel mixture) into the combustion chamber through the intake valve. The engine is able to build up more compression at higher RPM with a long duration cam so it will produce more power. In addition, a larger portion of the burned gases will be expelled from the combustion chamber through the exhaust valve. This is why most high-performance automotive engines with a long duration cam idle "radically" or with a low tone, loping/thumping sound, and single cylinder pulling engines with a long duration cam and an open header pipe have a bellowing "BOOM, BOOM" sound out the exhaust. That's air the piston is pushing out past the exhaust valve before the valve can fully close. The reason it makes the BOOM, BOOM sound is because air is moving faster than the speed of sound, which breaks the sound barrier.


Measuring the Overall Length of a Kohler Camshaft -

Use the depth gauge on a dial or digital vernier caliper to accurately determine the exact overall length of a K241, M10-K341, M16 and K361 camshaft. The length should measure between 5.801" - 5.806". When installed in the engine and for the correct amount of end-play/clearance, most cams require a .005" and .010" shim to allow for the .005" to .010" factory-specified end-play/clearance. If a cam measures too short, then it is worn narrow on the flywheel end, or the inside of the block is worn wide (on the flywheel end) so the cam will have excessive amount of end-play/clearance. If a cam is worn short, or if the block is worn wide, being the cam has angled gear teeth that push it forward in the block when in operation, add the shims/thrust washers/spacers on the flywheel end of the cam. This should place the cam in perfect timing with the crankshaft. If excessive shims/thrust washers/spacers are added to the PTO end of the block, this will advance the valve timing so much that the cam will not be in perfect timing with the crankshaft, and the engine will not produce full power and it will run sluggish.


Also, cylinder head clearance, improved carburetion, larger valves and stiffer valve springs are a must in order to take full advantage of a bigger cam. And always use the 1.280" diameter wide base lifters with a cam that has at least .400" of lift despite the duration. Use of the right cam and precise valve timing can help an engine come to life and scream down the track!

When using a billet steel camshaft with minimum .575" of lift and dual valve springs, it's best to use a billet steel cam gear also. Because if a cast iron gear is used, the gear teeth could break when the cam comes around right when lift occurs, which will likely break the gear teeth on the crankshaft, too. Also, the "shrapnel" of loose broken gear teeth flying around in the crankcase could become lodged between other moving parts, destroying them as well.

The correct installation of the camshaft is very important for full power and torque. The camshaft is the heart of your engine and if it isn’t installed properly, the whole engine will run sluggish. Camshaft degreeing is the one most important thing that can be done to an engine. If the camshaft isn't degreed in, odds are it will usually be too far advanced or retarded. I highly recommend that you properly degree your camshaft. Step-by-step method of how to degree your camshaft is listed below. If your camshaft can move back and forth in your engine, you are losing power. When your camshaft moves forward, your ignition timing becomes retarded, which makes your engine run sluggish.

IMPORTANT! BE AWARE! Lifts up to .432" can safely be put on the Kohler cast cam. A Kohler cast iron camshaft with more lift than .432" lift that has both lobes welded-up and reground for more lift and duration is not expected to live long with stiffer-than-stock valve springs. The more lift a cast cam has, the more likely it is to break. It's only a matter of time. They break next to the gear. The reason they break is because the support pin flexes under load (valve lift), and cast iron doesn't. That's why if a cast cam is used, it's best to use a support pin made of hardened steel.

IMPORTANT! When rebuilding a Kohler engine or installing another [cast] camshaft, check the cam pin for wear. If it's worn, this will allow the cam to "wobble around" at high engine RPM resulting in erratic valve action, and it'll cause the ignition timing to be very erratic, which will cause the engine to run erratic and lose power. A cam running on a worn pin will even make the engine "pop" and backfire out the exhaust at high RPM.

The OEM cast iron camshaft in the K90-K361 Kohler engines is held in place by a single long pin that goes in from the flywheel end of the block, through the cam and is wedged in the PTO side of the block. To remove it, use a long, hardened 3/8" diameter (for the K141, K160/K161 K181, L161, L181, M8 engines), 7/16" diameter (for the K241-K361 engines) bolt or steel rod and a medium size hammer, and drive it out from the PTO side of the block. It comes out on the flywheel side. Replacement is in the reverse order of removal. Be sure to reset the valve clearances after the new pin is installed. As the cam pin is driven out, be sure that the shim(s) (very flat washers) that's on the end of the cam towards the flywheel end don't fall out of place.

When using a cast cam in an engine that runs at open RPM, be sure to install heavier-than-stock valve springs to prevent valve float at high RPM. And make sure to use high zinc oil, not a multi-weight for newer engines. Without the zinc, it will wear the lobes. High zinc examples are: Delvac, Cen-Pe-Co, Amsoil Dominator, Red Line, Brad Penn, Rotella, Joe Gibbs, and others. Just check it out before you buy.


How a Long Duration Camshaft Works -

An engine that has a stock camshaft and when it is at an idle speed, about 95% of the air that enters the engine becomes trapped within the combustion chamber. This does not change as engine speed increases. But with a long duration cam that has "humped-up" lobes, at idle speed, some of the air that enters the combustion chamber, and being the valves stay open longer, exits through the intake and exhaust valves. This is why engines with a high-performance camshaft have a rough idle. The more duration a cam has, the rougher or more radical the engine will idle. Anyway, as engine speed increases, and being air can be compressed as well as it can be expanded, air will become trapped within the combustion chamber and can't be pushed back out into the carburetor and out the exhaust. The "trapping of air" builds up air pressure within the combustion chamber, which increases the compression pressure, resulting in a higher compression engine. Thus, allowing the engine to produce more power at higher RPM. The faster an engine revs up, the more air will become trapped in the combustion chamber. This is also why engines with a high-performance/long duration camshaft runs smooth as engine speed increases.

Have you ever noticed that when the piston is on the exhaust stroke, how each valve is slightly open? Well, that's called valve overlap. It's normal on all camshafts. It scavenges the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber and creates more vacuum for the incoming air/fuel. It happens only when the piston is on the exhaust stroke. And both valves are fully closed on the compression stroke. The more overlap a cam has, the rougher or "lopier" the engine will idle. This is why race cars idle so rough, and the Briggs & Stratton flathead opposed twin cylinder engines have a "lopey" idle.

The Cause of Slight Carburetor Flooding or "Loading Up on Fuel" at Slow Idle with a High Performance/Long Duration Camshaft -

Sometimes when using a high performance/long duration camshaft, regardless if the engine has a stock or modified carburetor, if the engine idles for a long period of time, it may run rich on fuel at a slow idle speed. What causes this is with a long duration cam, intake vacuum is low and with a single cylinder engine, being the valves stay open longer, excess fuel builds up in the carburetor and/or intake tube. All engines with a long duration camshaft have lower than normal vacuum at slow idle. The longer the duration a cam has, the lower the vacuum. What causes excess fuel to build up in the intake is the long duration of the cam lobes holds the [intake] valve open longer, and at slow idle, pressure of the piston moving upward in the cylinder blows some of the air/fuel back into the carburetor and/or intake tube. And as the engine is accelerated, raw unburned fuel (methanol) black smoke (gas) will blow out the exhaust pipe until the fuel is cleared out of the carburetor and/or intake tube. With the engine running well above idle, air becomes trapped within the combustion chamber and the piston don't have time to push any air/fuel back into the carburetor and/or intake tube. This happens with gasoline, E85 or methanol fuels, and there's nothing that can be done about it. It's the nature of the long duration camshaft. Some might think when this happens that there's something wrong with the carburetor, and nothing can be done to the idle fuel passageway to prevent this. Just make a simple adjustment with the idle air/fuel mixture screw, set the engine at a fast idle and don't allow the engine to idle for a long period of time. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]


How to Install a High Performance Billet Steel Camshaft That Require Two Separate Support Pins in a Kohler 10-16hp Engine - [Top of Page]

This information is for stroker competition pulling engines (engines with a longer than stock stroke) with the OEM Kohler bearing plate. A maximum of 3.500" stroker crankshaft can be used with the pin-through type of cam. For a longer stroke, the two-pin billet steel cam that's ground thin between the lobes must be used. The parts required are: two 1/4-20 UNC x 1/4" length Allen set screws, one 1/4-20 UNC x 1/2" length grade 8 bolt, one 1/4' I.D. split lock washer, a wide, flat steel washer with a 1/2" center hole, and one OEM Kohler camshaft pin (in good condition, of course).

  1. Enlarge the [tapered] camshaft pin hole in the PTO end of the block exactly to .500".
  2. Place the camshaft in the block, insert one end of the cam pin through the hole in the block until it bottoms out in the cam, and place a mark on the pin with a Sharpie next to the block. This is to determine the length of each pin and where they will need to be cut off. Do this at each end of the block.
  3. Remove the camshaft from the block.
  4. Being the OEM Kohler cam pin is made of somewhat hardened material, use a heavy duty electric chop saw with a metal cut-off wheel (like the one that most automotive exhaust/muffler shops have) to cut on the marks to make two short pins.
  5. After the two (short) pins are made, bevel the cut-off ends, and chuck one pin in a metal lathe (with a self-centering 3 jaw chuck), and then drill and tap 1/4-20 UNC threads about 1" depth into one end of the pin. This pin is for the flywheel end, so a long 1/4" bolt can be used to extract, remove or pull the pin out of the block later.
  6. To retain and secure the cam pin in place on the flywheel end of the block, drill and tap a 1/4-20 UNC hole at an angle in the block. This is for two short 1/4-20 UNC Allen set screws, one tightened against the other, to secure the pin in place. Go here to learn how to cut new threads, the correct and professional way.
  7. To retain and secure the cam pin in place on the PTO end of the block, drill a 9/32" hole in a wide, flat washer, and weld the washer to one end of the cam pin, install the washer/pin in the block, mark through the drilled hole in the washer on the block with a Sharpie, and drill and tap the mark for a 1/4-20 UNC threaded hole. Go here to learn how to cut new threads, the correct and professional way.
  8. Apply clean motor oil inside the camshaft, and install the cam in the block.
  9. Install both pins in the flywheel and PTO ends of the block and into the cam to set the proper end-play/clearance.
  10. On the flywheel end of the block, tighten the set screws against the pin. If using a billet bearing plate, apply clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant over the end of the pin to prevent an oil leak. No need to apply silicone if using an OEM Kohler bearing plate (except a Magnum bearing plate).
  11. Before installing the washer/pin in the PTO end of the block, apply clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant under the washer, then install the washer/pin and secure it to the block with the 1/4-20 UNC bolt and split lock washer.


Installing Needle Bearings in a Kohler Block for a High Performance Camshaft -

To install needle bearings in a K241-K341 Kohler block for a high performance camshaft that will accept them, the holes for the cam pin will need to be precision bored (enlarged) exactly dead center to .6875" (11/16") on the table of a milling machine. The exact dead center of the holes are found by using a centering indicator. If the holes are bored off-center just a few thousands of an inch, the cam and crank gear teeth won't mesh correctly and the lifters will wear the cam lobes prematurely. By the way - the needle bearings in Kohler's balance gears will work perfect for a camshaft that require them because they have the correct dimensions. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]


Always degree in a high-performance steel cam to get maximum power from it. Why is this so important? Timing of the valves in relationship to piston travel plays a huge role in how well an engine performs. The key to accurate cam timing is to find exact Top Dead Center (TDC). The best method to find TDC is to use a degree wheel, dial indicator with a magnetic base, and a flat bar type of piston stop tool.


Degree Wheel, Dial Indicator and Piston Stop - The Correct Tools Required to Precisely Degree In a High Performance Camshaft - FYI - These tools are also used to accurately set the ignition timing.

Degree Wheel

The degree wheel is a round disc (usually made of aluminum) with the facing edge marked off in degrees, similar to the markings on a protractor. It's actually two 180º protractors put together to form a 360º circle. When used in conjunction with a dial indicator, it's installed on the crankshaft during the engine build to degree the cam in and check for correct valve timing events. It can also be used to check for accurate ignition timing. When in use, a degree wheel is fastened to the front of the crankshaft (automotive engines) or flywheel end (small engines). If it's fastened to the PTO end, it will need to face the engine block and be read from that position.

Dial Indicator and Magnetic Base

A dial indicator is necessary to check for correct valve timing to tell precisely when a valve starts to open and the moment it closes. This opening and closing is very critical for high performance engines and cannot be done by feel or by sight. A dial indicator can also be used to set accurate ignition timing in relation to piston travel. Each mark on the face of a dial indicator represents one thousandth of an inch (.001") graduations. The marks with a number (10, 20, 30, etc.) represents every ten thousandths of an inch (.010", .020", .030", etc.). A dial indicator always mounts on top of the engine block with a sturdy bolt-on bracket or a magnetic base. Dial indicators are very precision and delicate instruments. Care must be used in handling one.

Piston Stop Tool

A piston stop tool is used to accurately find the piston's true Top Dead Center (TDC) in the engine block. The piston stop tool is always used on the #1 piston, which is closest to the flywheel on a multi-cylinder air-cooled engine, and closest to the front of an automotive engine.

As far as I am aware of, a deck-mounted, flat bar piston stop cannot be purchased from any source. One will need to be made from scratch. To use a very simple piston stop for a flathead engine, if the spark plug is perpendicular (at a 90º angle) with the head, a long-reach (long threaded) spark plug can be used in the head to serve as the bump-stop. Adjustment of the spark plug is used to "stop" the piston. Simply position and fasten the head on the block with a couple of bolts with the plug over the piston. The spark plug can be adjusted up or down to find true top dead center of the piston in relationship with the degree wheel. A blunt-end (not to damage the piston) steel rod may need to be welded on the end of the plug for an extended reach. If a piston pops out of the cylinder at TDC, then install flat washers as needed so the head will clear the piston at TDC.

For a universal deck-mounted, flat bar type of piston stop, the bar should be made of minimum 1/4" thick x 1" wide flat steel or aluminum, drilled with a couple of holes so that it can be fastened to the top of the block with a couple of head bolts, directly over the piston. A minimum 1/4" bolt with a thin jam nut, is threaded in the bar to serve as the bump-stop. Adjustment of the bolt is used to "stop" the piston. If a piston pops out of the cylinder at TDC, then install flat washers as needed so the bar will clear the piston at TDC.

To check and adjust the cam or ignition timing on an OHV (Over Head Valve) engine with the cylinder head installed on the engine block, a low-cost and simple bump-stop piston stop tool can be made from a 14mm spark plug non-fouler. (Spark plug non-foulers are used in automotive engines that burn/consume a lot of oil to help prevent oil-fouling of the spark plugs.) To convert a spark plug non-fouler into a bump-stop for a piston stop...

  1. Acquire a 3/8-24 UNF full-length threaded rod (All-Thread) of the appropriate length depending on depth of combustion chamber and depression in piston.
  2. Drill through the non-fouler with a 21/64" drill bit.
  3. Cut threads through the non-fouler with a 3/8-24 UNF tap.
  4. Weld a "T" handle on the end of the threaded rod to rotate it up and down in the non-fouler.
  5. Place a thin jam nut and flat washer on the threaded rod, insert the threaded rod through the non-fouler to serve as the bump-stop.
  6. To use, the non-fouler will need to be tightened in the head, then the bolt can be adjusted for piston travel in relationship with the degree wheel. [Return to previous paragraph, section or website]

Advancing or Retarding a Steel Camshaft with an Adjustable Gear: (The paragraph below was copied and pasted from Vogel Manufacturing.)

Adjust at the gear (loosen the (4) four clamping bolts) by moving approximately 5º in either direction. To return to position as ground, line up the ¼" dowel hole in gear with the ¼" dowel hole in cam face and insert ¼" dowel. As a reference point, .020" movement at the cam flange outside diameter is 1º cam movement or 2º crank movement. Remember, degree in a camshaft with no lash and no installed springs.

Failure to accurately degree in the camshaft can effect how an engine performs. Precise valve timing quickly becomes a crap shoot without a degree wheel. Published valve timing is only a suggested starting point based on dyno testing and track experience. There are variables that may call for different valve timing in your specific combination. If you don't know where your valve timing is then the cam grinder or engine builder cannot recommend changes to help you get the most out of your engine.

Now is a good time to mention that while your cam grinder or engine builder should be able to supply you with a cam appropriate for your application, it will be necessary in most cases to change jetting and fine tune the cam timing and lash settings to the operator's preference and ability. The cam grinder or engine builder cannot know about the RPM ranges in your application without good accurate information on which to base his recommendations.

There are two easy ways to change the characteristics of your cam. Advancing and retarding the cam can move the power band up or down a few hundred RPM. Advance for more bottom end and retard for more top end. It usually takes about a 4º change to feel it. The second way is to change the valve lash. Tightening the lash will increase the top end power while loosening it will increase bottom end power. You won't hurt anything by tightening the lash but check with your cam grinder as to the maximum lash you can use before running off the ramp and damaging the valves. When making these changes, increases at one end mean decreases at the other end.

Valve opening and closing times are measured by the number of degrees of crankshaft rotation that takes place before or after what is called the piston's Top Dead Center (TDC) or Bottom Dead Center (BDC) positions. A piston is at TDC when it is at its highest point in the cylinder and at BDC when at its lowest point. The intake valve opens before the piston reaches TDC (which is BTDC) on the exhaust stroke and closes after the piston passes BDC (which is After Top Dead Center or ABDC) on the intake stroke. While the exhaust valve opens before the piston reaches BDC (BBDC) on the power stroke, it closes after the piston passes TDC (ATDC) on the exhaust stroke.


Names of Different Areas of the Cam Lobes
Names of Different Areas of the Cam Lobes

To find how much lift any particular cam has, using a micrometer or dial or digital vernier caliper, measure across the base circle of one lobe and then measure from the bottom of the base circle to the toe of the lobe, and then subtract the difference. The answer will be the exact amount of lift each lobe has. To find the valve lift, simply subtract the valve-to-lifter clearances from the lift of each lobe.


How to Dial In (or Degree In) a Steel Billet Cam for a Kohler Engine -

  1. Use a pencil, paper and arithmetic for this procedure, to keep track of the results. Pencil and Paper
  2. Install the valves, lifters, camshaft, crankshaft and front bearing plate in the engine. Make sure that the timing marks on both the cam gear and the crank gear are aligned. With the piston on the compression stroke and both valves fully closed, set the valve lash at zero for both valves. Install some stock valve springs to ensure that the valves will be in the fully closed position, and for a more accurate reading. Make sure the ends of the lifters and valve stems are ground square for proper adjustment!
    NOTE: If there's no timing or alignment marks on the gear teeth on the engine you're reassembling, then the to align or time the camshaft with the crankshaft is with the piston positioned at TDC and both lobes on the cam at BDC or pointing downward. Then, install the valves in the block. Rotate the crankshaft until the piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. The valves should be fully closed. If the piston is on the exhaust stroke at TDC, each valve should be open slightly. And if you "rock" the piston up and down slightly with it on the exhaust stroke, one valve should close and the other should slightly open and vice-versa.
  3. Fashion a rigid pointer from stiff wire or an old coat hanger and attach it to the engine block. This pointer locates the degrees on the degree wheel.
  4. With the degree wheel installed on the flywheel end of the crankshaft, rotate the crank to get the piston at TDC and check to ensure that the valves are fully closed then adjust the pointer to zero (0º TDC) on the degree wheel.
  5. Turn the crankshaft opposite the running rotation approximately 15-20º. Install a piston stop on the top of the engine block fastened in place by two head bolts.
  6. Continue to turn the engine in the same direction until the piston comes back up and just touches the piston stop. Make a note of the exact number on the degree wheel that the pointer is on.
  7. Rotate the engine in the other direction (running rotation) until the piston comes back up and touches the piston stop. Again note the number where the pointer is.
  8. Remove the piston stop and rotate the crankshaft to the midpoint of the two marks. At this point the piston is at the true top dead center. Loosen the degree wheel and adjust it so it will read 0º TDC at the pointer. Don't rotate the crankshaft to do this!
  9. Now, it's time to locate the lobe centerline relative to TDC. Attach the dial indicator's magnetic base on the top of the engine block. Set the tip to contact the top of the intake valve. Check to make sure that the indicator plunger is parallel to the valve stem. NOTE - any variance in an angle will produce geometric errors in the lift readings.
  10. Rotate the crankshaft in the normal direction (the direction in which the engine cranks over to start it) until maximum lift of the intake lobe on the cam is reached. Maximum lift is attained when the dial indicator starts to change direction. At this point reset the dial indicator to zero.
  11. Now turn the crankshaft in the normal direction until the indicator reads .050" before maximum lift. Make a note of the number on the degree wheel.
  12. After that reading, continue to rotate the crankshaft in its normal direction until the indicator goes past its zero setting to .050" on the closing side of maximum lift. Again, record the reading.
  13. Add the two numbers and divide the answer by two. This number is the location of maximum lift of the intake lobe relative to the crank and piston (a.k.a. the intake centerline). Check the cam specification card and it should confirm the settings. If it doesn't, remove or install shims/thrust washers/spacers or adjust the cam gear as necessary.

By the way, I wish the people who custom grind and sell high-performance adjustable steel cams would include detailed instructions in their packages on how to set the cam timing. It's not right for A-1 Miller's to have to try to explain it to everyone. Because I'm not making any money off any of my pulling tips.

See this website for additional information for degreeing in a single cylinder engine camshaft: http://www.compgoparts.com/Support/Tutorials/CamshaftDegreeing.asp


Kohler's Old Style Two-Piece Camshaft -

If you've ever seen a Kohler camshaft that's made in two pieces (not broken in two), these were original equipment from the factory and came in all K141 engines and the very early K241 engines up till 1964. The two-piece cams were made before the automatic compression release mechanism came into existence. (Kohler revealed their Automatic Compression Release (ACR) in 1965.) Instead, theses cams have an ignition timing retard mechanism. With this type of cam, the engine would start under full compression, making it hard on the starter/generator (if it wouldn't start right away, the battery would eventually drain). At cranking speed, the ignition timing is positioned at 0º TDC so the engine wouldn't "kick back" under full compression. when attempting to start it. "Kick back" occurs when the flywheel/crankshaft suddenly and violently rebounds or momentarily rotates in the opposite direction, which is could bend or break the starter armature shaft or the aluminum starter housing. After the engine starts, spring-loaded flyweights on the cam gear automatically rotates the point lobe slightly, advancing the timing to 20º BTDC so the engine can produce full power. These cams have the same lift and duration as the newer, one-piece camshaft with the automatic compression release mechanism.

These cams have the same lift and duration as the newer ones with the compression release, and the other difference are as follows:

IMPORTANT! If you choose to reuse this camshaft to keep the engine "all original," when reinstalling the cam in the engine block, make sure the timing marks on both the cam gear and ignition cam (points lobe) are aligned. If this isn't done, the ignition timing will be 180º off and the engine will not start. Also, make sure the springs that's on the flyweights are properly positioned on the points lobe so there's pressure on each spring and so the timing advance flyweights can move inward and outward when the engine is shut down, and started up.

IMPORTANT! NEVER INSTALL THE CAMSHAFT DRY! To prevent seizing of the cam on the pin when the engine is ran for the first time, apply plenty of clean motor oil inside the cam before installing it in the engine. This will provide vital lubrication of the cam until crankcase oil reaches it.

IMPORTANT! When setting the ignition timing on the engine with this type of cam, set the points so they just begin to open with the piston positioned on the compression stroke at 0º TDC (T mark on the flywheel). When the engine starts, the points lobe automatically rotates slightly, advancing the timing to 20º BTDC. Don't set the timing at 20º BTDC (S mark on the flywheel) with this type of cam! Because setting it at 20º BTDC will cause the engine to "kick back" when attempting to start it. "Kick back" occurs when the flywheel/crankshaft suddenly and violently rebounds or momentarily rotates in the opposite direction, which is could bend or break the starter armature shaft or the aluminum starter housing. And if it does start, the timing will automatically be advanced to 40º BTDC, which will cause the engine to run too hot and prematurely wear out. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]


Removing the Camshaft -

Kohler's cast iron camshaft is held in place by a 1/2" diameter steel pin that goes all the way through the cam and engine block. The camshaft is removed by first removing the flywheel, aluminum bearing plate, piston/rod assembly and crankshaft. Then use a long steel rod that's slightly smaller than 1/2" in diameter and a medium size hammer to drive out the pin from the PTO end of the block. (See the photo to the right ->.) And when reinstalling the pin, drive it in from the flywheel side until it's flush with the block. The hole in the PTO end of the block is tapered to secure the pin in place.

IMPORTANT! NEVER INSTALL A CAMSHAFT DRY! Always lubricate the pin and inside the camshaft with plenty of motor oil or grease before reinstalling the cam in the block! Failure to do so, just after starting the engine, friction from dry running will cause the cam to seize on the pin. Severe damage to the pin, cam and engine block will result!

IMPORTANT! To prevent damaging or cracking the engine block, drive out the camshaft pin from the PTO end towards the flywheel end. Do not drive out the pin from the flywheel end! Doing this could also crack or break the camshaft! The hole on the PTO end of the block for the cam pin is tapered. This is what secures the pin in place.

The 7" length camshaft pin is no longer available from Kohler for their K241-K361 K-series engines. It's replaced with a 6-3/4" length [Magnum] pin and a 1/2" diameter steel expansion cup plug. When a 6-3/4" pin is installed in a K-series or Magnum engine, it needs to be driven in 1/4" below the surface of the block (through the flywheel end). Then the 1/2" cup plug needs to be installed to block the hole, prevent an oil leak and keep the pin tight in the tapered hole in the PTO end of the block. Failure to do this could cause the pin to loosen in the tapered hole, and possibly spin with the cam, wearing the holes in the block. And unlike the older K-series engines, being the Magnum bearing plate/gasket doesn't cover the cam pin hole, a 1/2" steel expansion cup plug (with a 6-3/4" pin) or clear RTV silicone adhesive sealant (with a 7" pin) is to be installed in front of the pin to prevent an oil leak. On the older K-series engines, the bearing plate/gasket covers the pin, which seals in the oil.

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Nylon Governor Gears for general lawn and garden use. Also suitable for use in a 4,000± RPM pulling engine. OEM Kohler part # A-235743-S.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $43.95 each, plus shipping & handling.
Cast Iron Governor Gear. Recommended for very high RPM or open RPM pulling engines. Will not explode like the nylon governor gears sometimes do. (Kohler never made a steel governor gear.) Discontinued OEM Kohler part # A-237031.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $40.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
Governor Gear Stub Shafts. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181 and M8. Dimensions: 3/8" diameter x .625" length. Each is press-fit into block. Kohler part # 230125-S.
  • High quality aftermarket. Precision ground, heat-treated alloy steel. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $23.15 each, plus shipping & handling.

Governor Gear Stub Shafts. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361 and all KT-series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder flathead engines. Dimensions: 3/8" diameter x .815" length. Each is press-fit into block. Kohler part # 235125-S.

  • High quality aftermarket. Precision ground, heat-treated alloy steel. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler. $48.45 each, plus shipping & handling.

1-1/8" Diameter Steel Welch Expansion Plug to block access to governor gear stub shaft. Concaved/dish-shape, not cupped. OEM Kohler part # X-230-11-S.

  • $1.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
Thrust Washers for Governor Gears. A thrust washer is required to prevent the governor gear from wearing against the engine block when the governor is under full pressure from the engine running at higher rpms. Many people are not aware of this small, thin washer and it usually falls out and gets lost while cleaning inside the block. Lubricate the governor stub shaft and thrust washer with motor oil or automotive chassis lube before reinstalling to prevent the governor gear from wearing until the crankcase oil reaches these areas. Each measures 3/8" I.D. x 5/8" O.D.
  • Hardened Steel Thrust Washer. Recommended for nylon governor gear. High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 237022-S. $1.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Bronze Thrust Washer. Recommended for cast iron governor gear. High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # X-25-67-S. $1.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Bronze Thrust Washer. OEM Kohler part # X-25-67-S. $2.70 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • Hardened Steel Thrust Washer. OEM Kohler part # 237022-S. $4.50 each, plus shipping & handling.
Automatic Compression Release (ACR) Spring. This tiny [hair-like] spring is hard to find part nowadays. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K161, K181, M8, K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. Fits later one-piece camshafts with the automatic compression release (opens exhaust valve slightly upon the compression stroke) and not the early two-piece camshafts with the automatic spark advance. FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshape to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller
  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part number 47 089 01-S. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
New-Style, One-Piece, OEM Kohler Camshafts with Automatic Compression Release (ACR). NOTE: May or may not come with the tiny (hair-like) automatic compression release (ACR) spring (see above). If required, reuse the spring off your camshaft. IMPORTANT: Apply ample amount of clean motor oil inside cam before installing to prevent seizing of cam on pin! This will provide vital initial lubrication until crankcase oil reaches the cam/pin when the engine is first ran. And when reusing lifters, roughen lifter faces with 600 grit sandpaper to produce a new wear pattern so the lifters will rotate slightly with every lift to prevent wear to the cam lobes. Also, the lobes on these used cams have not been reground for performance. [Top of Page]
  • K-series Camshaft with Points Lobe. Fits and designed for Kohler K-series engine models K241, K301, K321 and K341. Points lobe, lifter lobes, gear teeth and ACR are all in good condition. Can be used in an early K-series engine as an upgrade from the older two-piece camshaft with the automatic timing advance for easier cranking of engine. Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 45 010 06-S, 47 010 09-S. (These are basically the same camshafts, just different part numbers.) $75.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Magnum Camshaft with no Points Lobe. Fits and designed for Kohler Magnum engine models M10, M12, M14 and M16, but can be used in the K-series models K241, K301, K321 and K341 that have solid state ignition or crank trigger electronic ignition. Lifter lobes, gear teeth and ACR are all in good condition. Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part #'s 47 010 06-S, 47 010 11-S. (These are basically the same camshafts, just different part numbers.) $65.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)

Professionally Reground 4,000± RPM Performance Torque Cast Camshaft for Kohler General-Use or Competition Pulling Engines

FYI - In order to gain the full benefit of a performance camshaft, just installing this type of cam will not greatly increase the power output of a Kohler engine. Along with the performance cam, the carburetor will need to be bored-out and reworked, the cylinder head will need to be milled .050" to raise the compression ratio, the valves/seats will need to be reworked, and installing an open/unrestricted exhaust header pipe will help, too. All of these things must work together so more air will enter the combustion chamber (and exit the chamber), which will build up more compression to allow the engine to produce more horsepower and torque.

For Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. This particular cam profile design is suitable for heavy lawn and garden work, snow removal, etc., or stock competition pulling to provide more torque (lugging power) and improved engine performance from 3,800 to 4,200 RPM. The lobes on this cam are not welded up. They are professionally and precision reground on a cam grinding machine to have the factory stock lift (.324"), but with slightly increased duration, which makes it perform best around 4,000 RPM. This cam will pass tech for a stock cam. It will add about 3 more horsepower and 2 ft. lbs. of torque to the average stock engine with more lugging power than the OEM Kohler K361 cam. This cast cam performs best with our performance BLUE valve springs (listed below; to prevent fuel spray out the carburetor and lifter chatter), race-quality retainers (or the OEM Kohler stamped steel retainers can be used), quality valve job, ports made larger, and a reworked carburetor with a bored-out venturi for maximum performance for competition pulling. If there's any restriction of airflow in and out of the combustion chamber, the cam will not perform at 100% efficiency. This cam builds up the compression about 6% more than the K361 cam, and approximately 11% more than the flathead engine cams at around 4,000 RPM. This cam sounds just like an OEM Kohler stock cam. You can't hear the difference out the exhaust. The duration and centerline of the lobes on this cam helps the engine produce the most power and torque between 3,600-4,500 RPM. At higher RPM, due to the limited duration, no substantial gain in power or torque will result. If the engine is built to the max, tractor is geared correctly and traction is adequate, engine shouldn't bog down much with this cam. It'll keep pumping out the ponies right out the gate! Use with the OEM Kohler 1" base lifters. When reusing lifters, roughen lifter faces with 600 grit sandpaper in an erratic pattern to produce a new wear pattern and so the lifters will rotate slightly with every lift to prevent wear to the cam lobes. Use the recommended break-in oil, too. This cam installs just like the OEM Kohler cam. Just thoroughly lubricate the inside with motor oil, align the timing marks on the gear teeth, set the end-play and valve clearances at .010" for the intake and .014" for the exhaust, and it should be good to go! IMPORTANT: NEVER INSTALL THE CAMSHAFT DRY! To prevent seizing of the cam on the pin when the engine is ran for the first time, apply plenty of clean motor oil inside the cam before installing it in the engine. This will provide vital lubrication of the cam until crankcase oil reaches it.

  • $175.00 each to professionally regrind YOUR Kohler K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 or M16 stock camshaft*, plus return shipping & handling.
  • $200.00 each for a professionally reground cam only with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in* for exchange, plus shipping & handling.
  • $220.00 for a professionally reground cam, blue springs and race quality retainers with your acceptable stock camshaft core* trade-in for exchange, plus shipping & handling.
  • $225.00 each outright for a professionally reground cam only with no core trade-in, plus shipping & handling.
  • $235.00 for a professionally reground cam and blue springs with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in*. Customer can reuse their own stamped steel retainers (do not use rotators!), plus shipping & handling.
  • $245.00 for a professionally reground cam, blue springs and race quality retainers with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in*, plus shipping & handling.
  • *NOTE: Only the one-piece camshaft with the ACR (automatic compression release) will be accepted as a regrind or core trade-in. Core trade-in must be in good condition, no cracks, never reground or welded on before, gear teeth in good condition, minimal wear on points lobe and preferably the compression release tang intact with the ACR spring installed. And when sending a cam to A-1 Miller's, please include a note with your name, complete mailing address, phone number and a description of what you want done and a list of any other parts you may need, and we will contact you when the cam (and parts) are ready to be sent back to you. Please send to: A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises, 12091 N Route B, Hallsville, MO (Missouri) 65255-9604 USA.

FYI: When the cam lobes are reground, metal is removed from the base circle which reduce the diameter of the base circle in order retain maximum lift at the point on the lobe. The ramps on the lobes are also "rounded" to give the cam more duration. The cam grinding machine's grinding stones are about 1" wide, and after the cam grinding process, I have to manually grind metal away from the sides of the base circles so the edge of the lifters won't "ride up" on the ungrounded areas and hold the valves slightly open when they're supposed to be fully closed. I have to do this to every reground cam I have in stock. Some cam grinders apply a phosphate conversion coating (which resembles flat or matte black paint) to the entire camshaft, especially the lobes. This coating is to prevent galling (wear) during the break-in period and it also covers the secondary grinding areas on each side of the base circles of the lobes so they can't be readily easily seen or noticed. Motor oil with high zinc phosphate content will also protect the cam lobes and other internal moving engine parts from wear during break-in. Otherwise, if everything else is set up correctly with your engine, this cam should work fine. There's no need to be concerned when you receive the cam and see the metal ground away. Also, some of the cams I have, the points lobe is slightly worn. (It's hard to find a good used, 100% unworn cam nowadays.) I include a stainless steel points pushrod with a flared-end to make contact with the unworn areas of the lobe. The pushrod will need to be installed from inside the block before the cam is installed. IMPORTANT: To prevent seizing of camshaft on pin when engine is ran for the first time, apply plenty of motor oil on cam pin and inside cam before installing cam in engine. This will better protect the parts until crankcase oil reaches them.


Medium Performance (Blue) Single Valve Spring Set for Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. Can also be used in Kohler opposed twin cylinder engine models KT17 Series II, KT19 Series II, M18, M20, K482, K532 and K582 for increased performance or competition pulling and with the OEM Kohler stamped steel valve retainers listed below. These springs are more aggressive than OEM Kohler valve springs, but less aggressive than the red valve springs listed below. Suitable for competition pulling engines only; not recommended for general yard or garden use. Best to use the extreme duty valve spring compressor tool. Designed for the OEM Kohler stock cam or our reground 4,000± RPM torque cam with stock lift in pulling engines running up to 5,000 RPM for quicker valve closing to prevent valve float. (Newton's third law of motion.) Valve float allows the engine to momentarily lose compression, cause fuel to spray out the carburetor and the engine will make a "hunt, hunt" sound at high RPM. As a result, the engine will lose power, and as the weight box on the sled moves forward upon on the tractor, the engine may not be able to recover. These springs can be used with stock size valves, OEM Kohler stamped steel/non-rotator retainers and keepers/locks/collets. Do not use with OEM Kohler valve rotators with these springs! Rotators are thicker, and being these performance springs are much longer (and slightly stiffer) than stock springs (that require rotators), coil bind may result at full valve lift, which could break the cam. Sold as a matched set. One spring is no stiffer than the other. Same diameter as OEM Kohler springs. Dimensions: .697" I.D.; .953" O.D.; 2" uncompressed height. specifications: Seat load: 27 lbs. @ 1.650"; Open load: 70 lbs. @ 1.200"; Coil bind: .920"; Spring rate (lbs/inch): 96. Made by Comp Cams.

  • New. $10.00 per set of two, plus shipping & handling.

High Performance Cast Camshaft for Hot-Stock and Stock-Altered Kohler Competition Pulling Engines

Designed specifically for Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361 competition pulling engines. This is a much more aggressive camshaft than listed above. The lobes are hard-surface welded on an OEM Kohler cast cam, then professionally and precision ground on a camshaft grinding machine to give it a valve lift of .330" @ .010" lifter-to-stem clearance for the intake and .329" @ .012" lifter-to-stem clearance for the exhaust, but much more duration (290º), which holds the valves open longer in relation to piston travel. The valve lift is measured without the valve springs installed. Because with the springs installed, they place downward pressure on the cam, resulting in a lower reading. This is normal for all high performance engines with stiff valve springs. This cast cam performs best at open RPM with our high performance RED valve springs (listed below; to prevent fuel spray out the carburetor and lifter chatter), race-quality retainers (or the OEM Kohler stamped steel retainers can be used), quality valve job, ports made larger, and a reworked carburetor with a bored-out venturi for maximum performance for competition pulling. If there's any restriction of airflow in and out of the combustion chamber, this cam will not perform at 100% efficiency. Due to the increased duration, with an open header pipe, at low idle, this cam produces a distinctive loud and attention-getting BOOM, BOOM sound, and the sound "smoothes out" at higher and steady engine RPM, and then upon sudden deceleration, it produces a loud bellowing, rumbling, crackling sound with backfire (possibly with flames) out the exhaust, which is normal. Due to the long duration, at prolonged slow idle, this cam might also cause slight flooding or "loading up of fuel" in the carburetor, which is normal; click here to learn about this. This cam profile helps the engine produce the most power and torque at open RPM operation. If used in a 4,000± RPM engine, no substantial increase in power will result. To be used with wide base lifters. When reusing lifters, roughen lifter faces with 600 grit sandpaper in an erratic pattern to produce a new wear pattern and so the lifters will rotate slightly with every lift to prevent wear to the cam lobes. Use the recommended break-in oil, too. This cam installs just like the OEM Kohler cam. Just thoroughly lubricate the inside with motor oil, align the timing marks on the gear teeth, set the end-play and valve clearances at .010" for the intake and .012" for the exhaust, and it should be good to go! NOTE: If methanol fuel is going to be used, and depending on the size of the combustion chamber, the ignition timing will need to be advanced to 28-30º BTDC. To reach this much timing, the automatic compression release mechanism on this cam will need to be removed and a high torque starter or gear reduction starter will also need to be used. Otherwise, the timing would be so far advanced, the spark will occur when the compression release opens the exhaust valve. This will cause the engine to be hard to start, if it would start at all. IMPORTANT: NEVER INSTALL THE CAMSHAFT DRY! To prevent seizing of the cam on the pin when the engine is ran for the first time, apply plenty of clean motor oil inside the cam before installing it in the engine. This will provide vital lubrication of the cam until crankcase oil reaches it.

  • $215.00 each to professionally weld up and regrind YOUR Kohler K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 or M16 camshaft* for Hot-Stock or Stock-Altered open RPM competition pulling, plus return shipping & handling.
  • $240.00 each for a professionally welded up and reground cam only with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in* for exchange, plus shipping & handling.
  • $262.00 for a professionally welded up and reground cam, red springs and race quality retainers with your acceptable stock camshaft core* trade-in for exchange, plus shipping & handling.
  • $265.00 each outright for a professionally welded up and reground cam only with no core trade-in, plus shipping & handling.
  • $275.00 for a professionally welded up and reground cam and red springs with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in*. Customer can reuse their own stamped steel retainers (do not use rotators!), plus shipping & handling.
  • $285.00 for a professionally welded up and reground cam, red springs and race quality retainers with your acceptable stock camshaft core trade-in*, plus shipping & handling.
  • *NOTE: Only the one-piece camshaft with the ACR (automatic compression release) will be accepted as a regrind or core trade-in. Core trade-in must be in good condition, no cracks, never reground or welded on before, gear teeth in good condition, minimal wear on points lobe, and preferably the compression release tang intact with the ACR spring installed. And when sending a cam to A-1 Miller's, please include a note with your name, complete mailing address, phone number and a description of what you want done and a list of any other parts you may need, and we will contact you when the cam (and parts) are ready to be sent back to you. Please send to: A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises, 12091 N Route B, Hallsville, MO (Missouri) 65255-9604 USA.


High Performance (Red) Single Valve Spring Set for Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. These are more aggressive than the blue valve springs listed above È. Suitable for competition pulling engines that run at very high RPM or open RPM. Best to use the extreme duty valve spring compressor tool. Designed for cast or steel cams with up to .400" lift in Hot-Stock or Stock-Altered competition pulling engines that run at open RPM for quicker valve closing to prevent valve float. (Newton's third law of motion.) Valve float allows the engine to momentarily lose compression, cause fuel to spray out the carburetor and the engine will make a "hunt, hunt" sound at high RPM. As a result, the engine will lose power, and as the weight box on the sled moves forward upon on the tractor, the engine may not be able to recover. These springs can be used with stock size or oversize valves, OEM Kohler stamped steel/non-rotator retainers and keepers/locks/collets. Do not use with OEM Kohler valve rotators with these springs! Rotators are thicker, and being these performance springs are much longer (and much stiffer) than stock springs that require rotators, coil bind may result at full valve lift, which could break the cam. Sold as a matched set. One spring is no stiffer than the other. Same diameter as OEM Kohler springs. Dimensions: .697" I.D.; .953" O.D.; 2" uncompressed height. specifications: Seat load: 55 @ 1.500"; Open load: 127 @ 1.000"; Coil bind: .950"; Spring rate (lbs/inch): 144. Made by Comp Cams.

  • New. $12.00 per set of two, plus shipping & handling.
OEM Kohler Stamped Steel Valve Spring Isolator. Prevents engine operating heat from collapsing or weakening valve springs. For general yard and garden engines. Not required for competition pulling engines. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, MV20, K482, K532 and K582. For 5/8" O.D. valve guides. OEM Kohler part # 235011-S.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $2.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $4.25 each, plus shipping & handling.
FYI: The OEM valve springs in various models of Kohler cast iron block engines are not the same. They are not like the OEM springs that's used in a stock small block Chevy V8's, which are the same. For some reason, Kohler installed a specific valve spring in a certain model engine to match the cam profile (lobe lift and duration) so the engine will perform best. And used valve springs rarely lose adequate pressure. They can be reused as long as they're not rusted or have been overheated. The rust-pitted areas is a weak spot and when in operation and under pressure, the spring could break.


OEM Kohler Valve Springs designed specially for Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181 and M8. Each have no dampening end. Recommended for general lawn and garden use. Suitable for up to 3,600± RPM with cam having stock lift.

  • 1-9/16" uncompressed height; use only with valve rotator. Use with rotator (listed below) on exhaust valve to scrape away any carbon deposits lodged between valve face and seat to prevent valve from burning. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 230168-S. Used, in excellent condition and rust-free. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • 1-11/16" uncompressed height; use only with stamped steel valve retainer. Suitable for intake valve. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 230010-S. Used and in excellent condition, and rust-free. $9.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


OEM Kohler Valve Springs for Kohler K-series and Magnum engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, K482, K532 and K582. Each have dampening end to lessen harmonic vibrations at higher RPM. Recommended for general lawn and garden use. Suitable for up to 3,600± RPM with cam having stock lift.

  • 1-9/16" uncompressed height; use only with valve rotator in models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K482, K532 and K582. Do not use this spring on model K361, even with a rotator. Use with rotator (listed below) on exhaust valve to scrape away any carbon deposits lodged between valve face and seat to prevent valve from burning. Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 235168-S. $5.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • 1-3/4" uncompressed height; use only with stamped steel valve retainer in models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K482, K532 and K582, and with rotator on model K361. Suitable for intake valve in models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 and M16, and for both valves on model K361. Used and in excellent condition, and rust-free. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 235010-S. $10.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


OEM Kohler Valve Spring designed specially for Kohler KT-series and Magnum engine models MV16, KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. Has no dampening end. Recommended for general lawn and garden use. Suitable for up to 3,600± RPM with cam having stock lift. 1-9/16" uncompressed height; use only with valve rotator. Rotator recommended for exhaust valve to scrape away any carbon deposits lodged between valve face and seat to prevent valve from burning.

  • Used and in excellent condition, and rust-free. $4.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. OEM Kohler part # 25 089 01-S. $7.00 each, plus shipping & handling.
OEM Kohler Stamped Steel Valve Retainers. Used mainly for intake valve. Not recommended for exhaust valve in general yard and garden equipment engines due to its inability to rotate valve, which would allow carbon deposits to become lodged between face and seat, causing a warped or burnt valve, resulting in loss of compression. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, MV20, K482, K532 and K582. Use only with longer (1-3/4" uncompressed length) OEM Kohler or high-performance valve springs listed above È. If used with the shorter (1-9/16" uncompressed length) OEM Kohler valve spring, may cause lifter chatter at higher RPM, valve float and/or engine misfire, and could possibly wear the locking tang inside the keepers. For 5/16" diameter valve stems. Accepts 7º keepers/locks/collets listed below Ê. .998" outside diameter. Made of lightweight, heat-treated, hardened stamped steel. OEM Kohler part # 230011-S.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $4.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $6.30 each, plus shipping & handling.


OEM Kohler Valve Rotators. Used mainly for exhaust valve in general yard and garden equipment engines. Rotates valve slightly as it opens to scrape away any carbon deposits from the face and seat to prevent a warped or burnt valve, which would result in loss of compression. Not needed for intake valve. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, MV20, K482, K532 and K582. Also fits 6hp-18hp single and opposed twin cylinder Briggs & Stratton engines. Use only with shorter (1-9/16" uncompressed length) valve spring listed above È. If used with longer 1-3/4" OEM Kohler or high performance valve spring, coil bind may occur, resulting in possible cam breakage. For 5/16" diameter valve stems. Accepts 7º keepers/locks/collets listed below Ê. OEM Kohler part # 52 413 01-S. Replaces Briggs & Stratton part # 691939.
  • Used and in excellent condition. $12.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $23.75 each, plus shipping & handling.


High Performance Valve Spring Retainers. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II, KT21, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, MV20, K482, K532 and K582. To be used with our BLUE medium performance valve springs or our RED high performance valve springs, or when used with OEM Kohler valve springs, the [longer] 1-11/16" or 1-3/4" uncompressed height spring must be used. NOTE: The OEM Kohler stamped steel retainers will work just as well with the blue or red springs. Made of lightweight, hardened 4140 chrome-moly thick steel. Not made of stamped steel. Accepts 7º keepers/locks/collets listed below Ê. Replaces OEM Kohler part # 230011-S.
  • New. $10.00 per set of two, plus shipping & handling.
5/16" Valve Keepers/Locks/Collets for all Kohler K-series and Magnum K141-K361 cast iron engines, and KT series and Magnum opposed twin cylinder flathead engines, including K482, K532 and K582. Also fits 6hp-18hp single- and opposed twin-cylinder Briggs & Stratton exhaust valves. Can be used with 8mm valve stems and high performance valve springs listed above È. NOTE: Valve keepers usually don't wear or get damaged because they don't rotate on the valve stem. To check yours, with a valve out of the engine, install a valve retainer or rotator on the valve, then the keepers, and then pull back hard on the retainer or rotator. If the retainer or rotator holds or squeezes the keepers tight in the groove, then they can be reused. Replaces Briggs & Stratton part # 494553.
  • Race quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 41 755 10-S. $3.00 per set (two keepers for one valve), plus shipping & handling.
  • OEM Kohler part # 41 755 10-S. $6.35 per set (two keepers for one valve), plus shipping & handling. [Return To Previous Paragraph, Section or Website]
Valve Lifters/Tappets. Replace worn lifter(s) to prevent erratic valve action and/or premature cam lobe wear. Non-adjustable; grind end of valve stems with piston positioned at TDC on compression stroke to set valve clearances.
  • New Old Stock or used and in excellent condition. Fits older Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161 and L160/L161 with the two-piece camshaft with automatic timing advance in K141 engines prior to specification suffix "C" and in K161 and L160/L161 engines prior to specification suffix "J", or use for intake valve only with one-piece camshaft with automatic compression release (ACR). Dimensions: 2.020" overall length x 1.115" base diameter x .308" stem diameter. Discontinued Kohler part # 230013-S. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New Old Stock or used and in excellent condition. Fits later Kohler engine models K141, K160/K161, K181, L181 and M8. For use for exhaust valve only with one-piece camshaft with automatic compression release (ACR). Dimensions: 1.964" overall length x 1.115" base diameter x .308" stem diameter. Discontinued Kohler part # 232777-S. $16.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)


Wide Base LiftersStock Base Adjustable Valve Lifters/Tappets. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 and M16. Dimensions: 1.060" base diameter x .6225" stem diameter x 2.750"-3.000" overall (adjustable) length. Use for OEM Kohler stock or performance cams with up to .340" lift. Set valve clearances with piston positioned at TDC on compression stroke.

  • Used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # D-235327-S. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)

Wide Base Adjustable Valve Lifters/Tappets. Fits Kohler engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341 and M16. Dimensions: 1.280" base diameter x .6225" stem diameter x 2.750"-3.000" overall (adjustable) length. For competition pulling engines with a high-performance cam with .400"-.575" lift. Set valve clearances with piston positioned at TDC on compression stroke. May need to reuse 7/16" adjusters from OEM Kohler lifters with these wide base lifters. (These are NOT Jeep lifters! Jeep lifters are too long and will not fit Kohler engines.)

  • Used and in excellent condition. $15.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • New. $23.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


Valve Lifters/Tappets. Replace worn lifter(s) to prevent erratic valve action and/or premature cam lobe wear. Non-adjustable; grind end of valve stems with piston positioned at TDC on compression stroke to set valve clearances.

  • Fits Kohler engine models KT17 (first design), KT17 Series II, KT19 (first design), KT19 Series II and KT21. New Old Stock or used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 52 019 02-S. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
  • Fits Kohler engine models MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20. New Old Stock or used and in excellent condition. Discontinued Kohler part # 52 019 03-S. $20.00 each, plus shipping & handling. (When available.)
Camshaft Pin. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16 and K361. Made of 1144 Stress Proof Steel Pin. 1/2" diameter x 7" length. A-1 Miller's part. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 235053-S (K-series; 7" length) and discontinued 47 380 09-S (Magnum; 6-3/4" length). $12.00 each, plus shipping & handling.


New 1/2" Diameter Expansion Cup Plugs for Cam Pin Hole on Flywheel End of Engine. Each fits Kohler Magnum engine models M10-M16.

  • Tapered Expansion Cup Plug. High quality aftermarket. Replaces Kohler part # 25 139 50-S. $1.00 each, plus handing & handling.
  • Shallow Expansion Cup Plug. OEM Kohler part # 25 139 50-S. $2.10 each, plus handing & handling.


Camshaft End Plugs and Rubber O-Ring. Each fits Opposed Twin Cylinder Kohler KT-series and Magnum engine models KT17, KT17 Series II, KT19, KT19 Series II, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20.

  • 11/16" Diameter Expansion Cup Plug. More secure fit than the OEM plug listed below - less prone to pop-out, resulting in leaking oil. Listed for the KT17 and KT19 engines, but will also fit the KT17 Series II, KT19 Series II, MV16, M18, MV18, M20 and MV20 engines. Apply with RTV silicone sealant. High quality aftermarket. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # X-702-S. $1.00 each, plus handing & handling.
  • OEM Plug; includes new neoprene rubber O-ring (listed below). Listed for the KT17 Series II, KT19 Series II, MV16, M18, MV18, M20, engines, but will also fit the KT17 and KT19 engines. OEM Kohler part # 52 139 08-S. $7.50 each, plus handing & handling.
  • Neoprene Rubber O-Ring. Fits OEM Plug (listed above). Dimensions: 11/16" O.D. x 9/16" I.D. High quality aftermarket. Replaces discontinued Kohler part # 52 141 02-S. $1.00 each, plus handing & handling.
Camshaft Shims/Spacers/Thrust Washers. Fits Kohler engine models K141, K161, K181, L161, L181, M8, and Engine Control on Kohler Command Single Cylinder CV11-16, CV460-465, CV490-495. NOTE: Being the OEM camshaft shims/thrust washers for these model engines are discontinued from Kohler, the aftermarket shims listed below are the only ones I can find that closely match the dimensions of the OEM shims. And being the .010" thickness shim (part # 230294-S) is also discontinued from Kohler, if desired, order two each of the OEM .005" shims listed below to make one .010" shim.
  • .004" (0.1mm) Thickness x 12mm I.D. x 18mm O.D. High quality aftermarket. 1074-1095 Spring Steel Material; Rockwell B85 Hardness. .50¢ each, plus shipping & handling.
  • .008" (0.2mm) Thickness x 12mm I.D. x 18mm O.D. High quality aftermarket. 1074-1095 Spring Steel Material; Rockwell B85 Hardness. .50¢ each, plus shipping & handling.
  • .012" (0.3mm) Thickness x 12mm I.D. x 18mm O.D. High quality aftermarket. 1074-1095 Spring Steel Material; Rockwell B85 Hardness. .50¢ each, plus shipping & handling.
  • .005" Thickness x 7/16" i.d x 3/4" O.D. Discontinued OEM Kohler part # 230293-S. $4.35 each, plus shipping & handling.


Camshaft Shims/Spacers/Thrust Washers. Fits Kohler K-series and Magnum engine models K241, M10, K301, M12, K321, M14, K341, M16, K361, and inside crankcase for Kohler Command V-Twin models CH18, CH20, CH22, CH23, CH25, CH620, CH621, CH640, CH641, CH670, CH680, CH730, CH740, CH750 and certain TH18. Aftermarket shims can also be used as an indexing washer for flat seat spark plugs.

  • .005" Thickness -
    • High quality aftermarket. 1/2" I.D. x 3/4" O.D. 1074-1095 Spring Steel Material; Rockwell B85 Hardness. Replaces Kohler part # 275066-S. .75¢ each, plus shipping & handling.
    • OEM Kohler part # 275066-S. 1/2" I.D. x 1" O.D. $6.65 each, plus shipping & handling.
  • .010" Thickness -
    • High quality aftermarket. 1/2" I.D. x 3/4" O.D. 1074-1095 Spring Steel Material; Rockwell B85 Hardness. Replaces Kohler part # 275067-S. .75¢ each, plus shipping & handling.
    • OEM Kohler part # 275067-S. 1/2" I.D. x 1" O.D. $6.65 each, plus shipping & handling.

And if you're wondering, all of Kohler's stock camshafts are removed by driving out the steel pin that it rides on from the PTO end of the block (opposite flywheel end) with a hammer and long steel pin that's slightly smaller than 1/2" in diameter. Also, there should be one or two shims on the pin. Be sure not to loose them. You'll need them when you reinstall the cam.

NOTE: Use stock OEM valve springs with a stock OEM or K361 cam if an engine is going to turn 4,000 RPM or below. And use Stock-Altered (single) valve springs for above 4,000 RPM. Because cast iron is brittle, do not use double (Super-Stock) valve springs with the K361 or any [welded up] OEM camshaft! Also, with double springs, the compression release lever on the cam could break off. And be gentle when handling a cast iron camshaft! If the cam is mishandled, the lightweight spring that controls the compression release mechanism could come off the levers when installed in the engine. If this happens, the engine would crank over under full compression, making it very hard or impossible to start.

IMPORTANT! When having a camshaft reground, trust only places that use a specialized precision cam grinding machine. Because if the lobes are "hand ground" or if ground any other method, the cam may not work as well.

The cast iron camshaft that originally came in the Kohler model K361 engine is no longer available from Kohler. If you're lucky, you might find a new cam from old stock. The part number for this cam is 45 010 05S. They fit the K241-K341 flathead engines, too. Good for up to 4,000 RPM.) They work great in a stock engine!

NOTE: The K361 cam works great for more power in a K241 and K301 engines, but it won't do quite as much as the cubic inches increases. Although it will work great in the K321 and K341 engines, but it creates less noticeable power increase in the K321 and especially the K341 engine. However, it does help in the power increase in a K341, it's just less noticeable because of the bigger cubic inch displacement. A "mild-performance" cam, such as the K361 cam, works better in engines with smaller cubic inches. A somewhat bigger cam is required as the cubic inches are increased. Because bigger engines needs to draw in and expel more air (at 4,000 RPM with stock valves), and the K361 cam has it's limits when used in the bigger engines. And because of it's short lift and duration, it makes it's most power up to around 4,000 RPM.

FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshape to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller


Setting the Valve Timing For Cast Iron Kohler Cams Without a Machined Adjustable Gear -

If you're planning to use a factory stock cast iron cam (such as a reground Kohler cam or the K361 Kohler cam), or if the cam grinder person ground your high-performance cast cam "right on the specifications," it shouldn't need to be degreed in. Just install it in the engine, usually along with a thin and thick shim (.005" and .010", respectively) toward the flywheel end, and it should be set pretty close to specs, if not right on it. But steel cams with an adjustable gear will probably need to be degreed in according to the provided specs sheet. Install shim(s) with a steel cam only to prevent wear on both the camshaft and engine block. To accurately set the valve timing on a Kohler or virtually any 4-cycle engine, simply align the punch [timing] mark on the camshaft gear, which is located between two gear teeth, with the groove or [timing] mark on or next to the crankshaft gear, which is located at one gear tooth.

If there's no timing marks on the crank or cam gears or if there's multiple marks on either gear (these can be confusing), or if the crankshaft gear is pressed-on, (most crankshafts have a pin or key that keeps the gear from moving), to set the correct crank to cam timing on virtually any engine, automotive or small, with the crankshaft installed in the block, position the piston at true Top Dead Center (TDC). (True TDC is when the piston is at the very top of the cylinder.) If it's a multi-cylinder engine, use the #1 cylinder only for the piston and valves described in this paragraph. Install the camshaft and valves (or lifters if the engine is OHV), and then check for correct crank to cam gear teeth alignment by rotating the crankshaft so the piston is at true TDC on the exhaust stroke. Now slightly rotate the crankshaft back and forth by hand. When one valve opens (or lifter raises) slightly and the other valve closes (or lifter lowers) slightly, and vice-versa, and when the piston is either slightly before or after TDC while rocking the crankshaft, this is when the valve timing is set correctly. On the exhaust stroke, neither valve (or lifter) should be fully closed (or lifter resting on the base circle of the cam lobe) when the piston is at the TDC position. (This is called valve overlap.) With a pressed-on gear having no pin or key to secure it in place, after the timing is correctly set, place a small bead of weld on the gear and crankshaft or braze the gear to the crankshaft to prevent it from moving again.

On a multiple cylinder engine, align the cam and crank gears with the piston in the #1 cylinder positioned at TDC on the compression stroke. On a V-twin or opposed twin cylinder engine, the #1 cylinder is the one closest to the flywheel. On an automotive engine, the #1 cylinder is the one closest to the front of the engine, or harmonic balancer. Align the cam gear tooth with the crank gear, and to check for correct cam to crankshaft alignment, rotate the crankshaft 180º so the #1 piston is at true TDC on the exhaust stroke. Then slightly rock the crankshaft back and forth by hand. One valve on the #1 cylinder should slightly open and the other valve on the same cylinder should slightly close. The piston should be either slightly after or before TDC while rocking the crankshaft, this is when the valve timing is set correctly.


Why Engines Need the Automatic Compression Release (ACR) Mechanism -

The reason automatic compression release (ACR) is installed on small engines nowadays is because the engine has fixed (non-adjustable) advanced ignition timing. If it didn't have an ACR, under full compression, with fixed advanced timing, and at cranking speed, the engine would "kick back" when attempting to start it. "Kick back" occurs when the flywheel/crankshaft suddenly and violently rebounds or momentarily rotates in the opposite direction, which is could bend or break the starter armature shaft or the aluminum starter housing. By relieving about half the compression pressure in the combustion chamber, this allows the engine to crank over easier and start much quicker. A smaller starter motor and battery can be used.

FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshape to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller

When advancing the ignition timing past 24º± BTDC, and if the camshaft has a working automatic compression release mechanism, the compression release will need to be disabled (tied down) with a nylon zip tie or baling wire, or removed entirely. The reason being, with the excessive advanced timing, the compression release will open the exhaust valve when spark occurs, and the engine will pop out the exhaust, not be able to start, or be hard to start. Without a compression release, to make the engine easier to crank over and start under full compression, a high torque starter motor with separate starter and ignition switches will need to be used to prevent engine "kick back." If the engine "kicks back" too many times when attempting to start it, this could bend or break the starter motor armature shaft, or break the aluminum casing!

On certain older Kohler K-series engines and virtually older automotive engines with the ignition distributor, at cranking speed, the ignition timing is positioned at or close to 0º TDC, and with a mechanically-controlled flyweight timing advance built into the distributor, the engine starts easily under full compression, and when the engine starts, centrifugal force automatically advances the timing to where it needs to be so the engine will produce full power. These engines require a high-torque starter motor and bigger battery.

An Easy Way to Start an Engine under Full Compression and with Advanced Ignition Timing with No Automatic Compression Release to Prevent "Kick Back":

With the timing permanently set in the advanced position, two separate electric switches will need to be used - one being a push button to crank the engine (with a gear starter), and the other being an ordinary OFF/ON toggle switch to power the ignition. To make this work, first crank the engine to get it spinning over (if the starter motor is strong enough), choke it, and then flip the ignition (toggle) switch to "put the spark to it." Doing this will allow the engine to start easily every time. Because the energy stored in the spinning weight of the heavy flywheel makes it impossible for the engine to momentarily "kick back" under full compression with no [advanced] spark. This starting method is also recommended for pulling engines (with points or crank trigger ignition) having a high-performance camshaft and no compression release.

How the Mechanical Automatic Compression Release (ACR) Operates -

The ACR mechanism consist of two flyweights and a small [hair-like] spring attached to the gear on the camshaft. When the engine is rotating at low cranking speeds (600 RPM or lower), the flyweights are held inward by the small spring in the position shown in the 1st drawing to the right ->, resulting in an effective compression ratio loss of about 2:1 during cranking.

After the engine speed increases above 600 RPM (engine starts and runs), centrifugal force automatically moves the flyweights outward (in the position shown in the 2nd drawing to the right ->). In this position, the tab on the larger flyweight drops into a recess in the exhaust cam lobe. When in the recess, the tab has no effect on the exhaust valve and the engine operates at full compression to produce full power. Kohler revealed their Automatic Compression Release (ACR) in 1965.

If an engine fails to crank over past the compression stroke, and the battery is fully charged and in good condition, and the starter motor is also in good condition, then chances are, the ACR spring on the camshaft is placing insufficient pressure on the flyweights to retain or hold them inward. To fix this, remove the spring and carefully bend it inward by hand until it forms a closer V-shape to about a 60º angle, and then reinstall the spring on the cam. Then hand test the flyweights to make sure they return and stay inward. Sometimes I have to do this on some of the engines that I rebuild so my customers will not have any problems when starting the engine. It's another small detail to pay attention to when rebuilding an older Kohler engine.

FYI - If you have a Kohler 7-16hp ACR camshaft that was broke in two by a thrown connecting rod, save the spring off of it. It can be used on another good cam that may not have one. Or if your ACR spring places little or weak pressure against the flyweights/levers, it can be re-bent or reshaped to its original condition to place sufficient tension against the flyweights/levers. I do this all the time with my customer's engine rebuilds and it works great. It's became regular practice with me. - Brian Miller


Performing a Compression Test on an Air-Cooled Gas Engine -

The compression relief is a mechanical swing arm on the cam. At cranking speeds, it holds the exhaust valve open about .050" to relief about half the compression so the engine will start easier. Because no engine can start under full compression with advanced ignition timing. When the engine starts, the increased RPM or centrifugal weight opens the swing arm so the exhaust valve will have 100% contact with the seat, allowing the engine to run under full compression.

The compression relief mechanism on the camshaft relieves about half of the compression pressure in the combustion chamber at cranking speeds. When the engine starts, the compression builds up to 100%. On OEM camshafts with a working compression relief mechanism and if the valves are adjusted to specs, the compression relief relieves about half the compression from the combustion chamber at cranking speeds. So when performing a compression test (with a gauge) on an air-cooled engine, keep in mind that, depending on how the engine is built, the compression ratio or the compression pressure can vary a lot from one engine to another. It depends on the size of the bore and stroke, if the head is milled flat or milled out for high lift valve clearance, if the camshaft has a compression relief or not, how much duration the cam has and the valve head diameters. When performing a compression test on a K241 Kohler engine, it can range anywhere from 98 to 150 psi. On a K301, it can be from 112 to 170 psi. On a K321, it can range from 120 to 190 psi. And on a K341, it can be from 127 up to 192 psi. But as an engine wears, the compression will become less.

And cranking speeds, a long duration cam will relieve some of the combustion chamber pressure, resulting in a lower than normal reading. The more the duration, the lower the reading. To obtain an accurate compression pressure reading, perform the test with a fully charged battery and the throttle in the wide open position. Now perform the test. Then calculate the reading with the duration of the cam in the engine against the duration of a stock OEM cam. Example: If the compression pressure is 100 psi, I multiple 100 by 285 (duration of cam that's in the engine) and then I divide the answer by 223º (duration of a stock OEM cam), which gives A-1 Miller's 128 psi. And if a cam has a compression relief mechanism, the compression reading will be cut in half.


NOTE - Cam technology is always advancing! What works for one engine won't necessarily work for another. Therefore, if you're wondering which cam profile will work best for your particular engine, it really depends on how many RPM the engine is going to turn. If it's going be governed at 4,000 RPM, then perhaps an K361 cam will work fine. But if it's going to turn faster, then a cam that's designed for a Stock-Altered or Super-Stock engine should be used. It's best to talk to a professional cam grinder person to determine which cam would benefit your engine best so it'll produce maximum RPM, power and torque.


Available Soon - Detailed Illustrated Plans on How to Construct a Professional Pull-Back Garden Tractor Pulling Sled and a Self-Propelled Garden Tractor/Small Wheel Mini Rod Pulling Sled (Weight Transfer Machines) - (Updated 7/16/24) [Top of Page]

FYI - I'm getting closer to completing my sled plans. But being I have lots of work to do in my shop, I work on designing my sled plans in my spare time. As soon as my plans with an inventory list of parts to use and with illustrations are perfected, I'll post the announcement in my websites. And as for prices of the pull-back sled and self-propelled sled plans, I'm not sure yet. Make me an offer and I'll consider it. And remember - Perfection takes time. If it's worth having, it's worth waiting for. It'll be money well spent. - Brian Miller If interested, please contact me below.

Quality-Built and Nice-Appearing Garden Tractor & Mini Rod Self-Propelled Tractor Pulling Sleds (Weight Transfer Machines) For Sale - (Updated 8/17/24) [Top of Page]

Sleds will be built as orders are placed. A minimum 50% deposit is required for all sled purchases. Buyer/purchaser can test sled with their pulling tractors or vehicles on our 200 ft. dirt track, and then can tow it on the road (like a trailer) or haul it on a large, sturdy trailer. Sleds are designed with style and made beautiful to admire, and painted metallic or color of your choice. Also, sleds are designed to start easy, pull smoothly and sure to stop with grouser bar. They will also have a safety release lever up front so when the weight box tops out and trips it, it will automatically disengage the clutch to prevent major damage to the drive mechanism for the weight box. And it will have another safety release lever at the rear in case the clutch (for the weight box) is engaged when backing up the sled. The self-propelled sleds will have a variable speed mechanical drive system with hydraulics to lower the two front steering wheels/tires, and the bigger sled will use hydraulics to bring the weight box back to its starting position. By the way - the self-propelled garden tractor pulling sled that I built in 1995 (and sold in 2021) is such an excellent design, I realized later that I made something very special when other people copied it. It's still in use today; click or tap photo of it to the right for a larger view.


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: Brian Miller of 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. (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 Route 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.


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