K-301 with no air cleaner- harmful?

DMartin9N-2N · May 2, 2018

As seen on another thread, I have replaced the carb on my Kohler K-301 with a "universal fit" unit. At this point, the engine runs well but I can't put the air cleaner back on until I modify the choke lever on the carb. If I leave the air cleaner off, the air flow from the flywheel housing that normally is directed into the carb's air cleaner will have unrestricted flow to the outdoors. I am afraid this may cause a reduction in the needed air flow from the flywheel housing into the cylinder/head area. [u:ccf532a76f]Should I avoid running the engine under full load until I restore the air cleaner to get the cooling effect for the cylinder area?[/u:ccf532a76f] I know a lot of knowledge is out there; any thoughtful suggestions?

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.

jeffcat · May 2, 2018

Air filters are your friend!!! The air always has some kind of dust,
dirt, or grit in it. Get the fikter mounted and proceed from there.

MNGB · May 2, 2018

Hi as posted get an airfliter in place before doing any serious work with the tractor, you can remove the choke shaft from the old carb an install it in the new carb and its ready to go if you do that be advise there is a small BB sized ball in the LH side that is the choke indent so what that it doesn't fly away (they never come back) or carefully grind off the peened area turn the lever 180 degrees and re-rivet the shaft.
GB in MN

DoubleO7 · May 3, 2018

A few years ago I bought one of those Chinese knockoff carbs for a Cub Cadet with K301 12hp.
Back when they were $55+ and only three vendors selling them on evilpay.
Anyways, you must have gotten a CC version choke lever.
I must have gotten the JD version.
As I too had to rotate the choke lever on the shaft.

First try to put the old carb shaft and lever into the new carb.
That will be the easiest. Making sure not to lose the tiny ball and spring. Put a hanky over the carb on a table as you pull the shaft out. Then carefully lift hanky and retrieve ball and spring before moving anything else.

I elected to re-clock the lever on mine.
There was not enough shaft to peen over to reset the lever.
It was not a steel shaft either, it was silicon-bronze.
Our go to welder at work gas welded the steel lever to the S-B shaft.

But beware, the aluminum casting on (most) Chinese knockoffs are not anodized like a real Kohler carb. And do not do well with ethanoled gasoline over time.
Do yourself a favor and only used ethanol free gasoline.

DMartin9N-2N · May 7, 2018

I modified the carb throttle arm to clear the back plate of the carb air cleaner, also added a thick gasket to get the air cleaner just a little farther away from throttle arm. I had already swapped in the original choke shaft/lever. Now engine items all back together and running right. Maybe tomorrow I will put the grill and hood parts back on! End of story, I hope.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.

K-301 with no air cleaner- harmful?

DMartin9N-2N

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jeffcat

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MNGB

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DoubleO7

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DMartin9N-2N

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