John Deere 314 with bad engine question.

I have a John Deere 314 with a thrown rod in the 14 hp Kohler engine. I have a used 16hp that can be rebuilt. Has anyone out there ever converted one before and what are the pros and cons? If it a definite no, then I have to find another K321 14 hp engine, so I could use some help in tracking one of those down at a reasonable price. Thanks, Jack

Look under "Classified Ads" click on Garden tractors. Someone has several of those Kohlers for sale. I don't think any are running. I had a JD 140 with a blown engine and I installed a new short block. Call Jack's Small engines to see if he has a short block. You will need any numbers off the old engine. Hal

1-877-737-2787

Things to check, the diameter and length of the crank shaft, the "foot print" where it bolts to the tractor, and the output of the alternator.

I sent an email with address and phone of a parts yard in Howell, Mi. You pull your own engine so bring tools. Bring tools to check compression. They might let you bring a power source if you want to fire it up. Take your wish list with you. Over 100 parts tractors and cheap last time I was there. Examine closely because some were grabbed from scrap pile by cranes.

If they have it, you can probably get complete core engine for around $50.

They are not gauranteed to run but you might find a rebuildable engine.

I got lucky with a Briggs 19hp twin. The tractor frame had been resurrected several times with welding. The coil was bad. I installed engine and it smoked for about 30 minutes. I thought it ran out of oil! It was just oil in muffler from rolling around while powerwashing it. I made out like a bandit for $45.

The engine should fit just fine. you might experience problems with the wiring harness.
I changed- actually made one out to two had a bad frame in my lx178. found a good lx176 with a blown motor took less than an hour to change the motors over. took me three or four to get it running because the wiring harness was different. I am getting older and less smart so did it the hard way, trying to leave the seat and platform in place It was only four bolts and five minutes when I decided to take it off should have done it in the first place would have made it easy. In essence the old lx176 is now my new lx178
motor change over is not difficult. but check the wiring. good luck

If the pto end of the crankshaft is the same dimensions and the oil pan looks the same I think you'll be good.

I just put a 20 hp V twin BS in a Husqvarna that had a Kohler single 20. I found that the mounting bolt pattern(s) is based on a 10" diameter circle, the drive shafts are the same diameter and within a few tenths of an inch of being the same length. The drive pulley was easily removed from the old and fit the new perfectly......the retaining bolt screws into the bottom end of the crankshaft and comes out easily with an impact tool.

The mounting plate had two patterns of holes drilled. One fit the single and the other fit the V twin. The wiring to the starter was in the same place and the connectors fit with no problem. Really glad that there is some standardization out there between engine and OEM mfgrs. Makes sense since a certain platform may be equipped with several models/hps of engines from different mfgrs.

Only thing different was the length of the throttle cable since the single had the carb on the side and the V had it around on the end between the cylinders......needed to be longer. Swapping a single for a single shouldn't be a problem on that.

The muffler was different as there are 2 exhaust ports on the V. Your muffler should fit.

I noticed in my single Kohler service manual, for their Commander series engines, it covers the 15, 16, and 17.5 hp engines that I currently have in other machines. I doubt you will have a problem matching a 16 to a 14 Commander. I don't know if the 14 was included in my manual or not. Don't have one so it was of no interest to me.

HTH,
Mark