Kohler K301 Carburator

Jack345 · Jan 13, 2018

My Gravely with K301 carb has worn throttle shaft was planning on getting bushings/shaft & repair but cost was about $60+. Found new carb for $20 (made in China ?) Would like to rebuild but dollar wise thats not smart. Anyone use these aftermarket carbs? Thanks

MNGB · Jan 13, 2018

Hi I have install at least 6 of them on K321's and all work good made the engines run like new one engine has over 100 hrs now still good, only thing is the choke arm may not be the same as your original but easy enough to fix either use the old on or grind the riveted area and turn it 180 degrees and rivet it.
GB in MN

TomIn · Jan 13, 2018

I put one on a Gravely Professional 12 in late summer. It runs great, but I've only run it for a month or two.

My Gravely has a M12 rather than a K12 Kohler engine and originally had a Walbro carburetor. Apparently Gravely switched from the Kohler (Carter #26) carburetor to a Walbro in later years. I haven't found a clone of the Walbro.

There are a number of sellers of clones of Carter #26 carbs. The ones with the proper choke lever for my Gravely were about $30. My Walbro carb used a wire link between the throttle arm and governor. The clone if purchased used a ball joint to link the throttle arm with the governor (the ball joint link was included). I needed to use the ball joint link and bend (or cut off) a bit of the end of the throttle arm to keep it from catching on the back of the air cleaner housing.

You also need to make sure that the clone you purchase has the proper fuel inlet position. (on my Gravely the carb had a 90 degree elbow which pointed directly down to the fuel pump.

jeffcat · Jan 13, 2018

I own a couple of Gravely machines and have been very lucky not to have neede to rebuild any carbs on them. Other machines yes. It is crazy that on Ebay it is almost and or ,is cheaper to buy a Chinese knock off and they work perfectly with a quater of the OEM price. My mind just boggles. Just like those Briggs Vteck engines with the twin barrel NIKI carbs. Tell people to just buy a new one for 60. Bucks and change it. Run like magic with the new one.

Dave Sherburne, NY · Jan 14, 2018

Last bushings I got for a Carb came from the local hardware store , less than a dollar each. I'm carrying the package to remind me to pickup another.
Hillman 1/4 X 3/8 X 15/32 X1/2 Flange Bushing Bronze is what it says on the package.

MNGB · Jan 14, 2018

Hi Dave you are lucky to have a hardware store near that actually has hardware nothing like that around here for me most of our hardware stores are gone or have so little hardware anymore. I found the bushing on Amazon for about $5 each witch isn't to bad.
GB in MN

Jack345 · Jan 14, 2018

Dave, thanks for info that's what was looking for, but best price so far is about $5.00 ea ($20.00 pkg of 4). Is it only one is normally required for the top? Thanks.

Dave Sherburne, NY · Jan 14, 2018

I only did the top one,because the bottom did not show much wear

Jack345 · Jan 14, 2018

OK, one more question. Once the bushing is installed what about that flange that will be above the carb body, why not use a bushing w/o flange? It seems the alignment of butterfly will be off if the flange sits above carb body?

Dave Sherburne, NY · Jan 16, 2018

The metal disc/butterfly, holds the vertical shaft in position. Just take a file to the flange as much as you need to.

DoubleO7 · Jan 17, 2018

I have used the china carb and it worked good. I got it long enough ago it cost me $53 via ebay, now there are so many more competing for sales on ebay and Amazon they are as low as $18.
But be sure the choke plate and other features match your requirements.
On the carb I bought long ago, I had to take choke lever off and rotate it 180 degrees on the butterfly shaft. The shaft was "upset" on the end to hold the choke lever on.
I thought it would be an easy job to reinstall the choke lever with a tiny bit of tig weld.
Turned out the shaft is silicon bronze so that they could eliminate the shaft bushings.
So our "go to" welder at work brazed it back on with silicon bronze brazing rod.
And the carb does not like ethanol gas as it is not anodized inside to resist corrosion when water settles out of the gas.
So I do use ethanol gas for that reason.

Dave Sherburne, NY · Jan 17, 2018

Remembered to buy one today, $2.49 .

Butch(OH) · Jan 22, 2018

I have installed quite a few of the (now $20 delivered) China carburetors on K Kohlers and they work well. Matter of fact I stock them in the shop since a $20 carb and a 15 minute install is cheaper for the owner than a $4 bushing, a carb kit cleaning etc. Of course when dealing with your own stuff time isnt money, LOL. You do have to modify the choke lever for certain applications. The Hillman bushing has been a well known trick for some time, I used them myself and still do now and then when the right problem presents itself however another problem is the engines and carbs are getting old enough and worn enough that the shafts, bottom end hole are getting worn out too and the top bushing fixes none of that. Anyway,, Dont shy away from the $20 China carbs, they are OK.

Jack345 · Feb 8, 2018

I installed new $15.xx carb today & works very well.Direct fit to my 1980 Gravely all shafts were factory match. Also cleaned head & valves & noted that factory machine marks are still on cylinder walls (2551 hrs). Thanks for info on carburetor.

Kohler K301 Carburator

Jack345

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MNGB

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TomIn

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jeffcat

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Dave Sherburne, NY

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MNGB

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Jack345

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Dave Sherburne, NY

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