K301 Found this in Oil

[I-H73]

Hello Everyone I hope you all are doing well.
Yesterday while changing oil in the K301 I found this laying on top the oil drain pan.
I was hoping one of you Kohler gurus would recognize it.
The engine is running fine & I just mowed 5 acres with it after the oil change.
The old oil was 10w30 & it was black, it now has straight Heavy Duty 30 weight in it.
I put my finger in one of the pics to reference the size of what looks like a piece of cast gear tooth.
Thanks for your input.

[ol'George]

Gazing into my Chrystal ball. I see a dentist in your future to replace the missing tooth with a full set of teeth on that gear.
I also suggest you purchase a lottery ticket because your luck of averting
a disaster was great.
I also see internal engine surgery in the near future.

[I-H73]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Gazing into my Chrystal ball. I see a dentist in your future to replace the missing tooth with a full set of teeth on that gear.
I also suggest you purchase a lottery ticket because your luck of averting
a disaster was great.
I also see internal engine surgery in the near future.

Well IF I win the Lottery I will definitely purchase a new engine for this this ole 73.
In the meantime it has work to do & will hopefully get through this season.
IDK if that's a tooth off a cam gear or balance gear or even when it came off. I suppose I should stick a telescoping magnet in the oil drain pan to see if any more teeth are in there.

[Ambush]

You’ve been lucky up till now, but myself, I’d quit running the engine and pull it apart before some of the internals try to become externals. Right now it may be a simple matter of removing the balance gears.

Could it be a tooth from the governor gear?

Measured exactly how long it is.

Edit: It looks like only part of the tooth lengthwise? Definitely get a magnet in there. Better yet, get the pan off.

[ol'George]

As small as it is, I'd guess gov gear.
No balance gears in a small kohler.
You can try snaking a borescope in the drain plug opening,
if more break off, you will have a big window in the block to look into.

[finsruskw]

Fix it NOW!
Before it's too late.

[I-H73]

Originally Posted by Ambush

You’ve been lucky up till now,

Edit: It looks like only part of the tooth lengthwise? Definitely get a magnet in there. Better yet, get the pan off.

Yea good idea.

[I-H73]

Originally Posted by ol'George

As small as it is, I'd guess gov gear.
No balance gears in a small kohler.
You can try snaking a borescope in the drain plug opening,
if more break off, you will have a big window in the block to look into.

I thought the 12hp K301 had 2 balance gears in it.
This appears to be a very small piece of a tooth off a tiny gear.
I will look in the oil drain pan & see what I can find in there with a magnet the oil is black.

[Ozcub]

Originally Posted by finsruskw

Fix it NOW!
Before it's too late.

"X2" !!!!
Oz

[I-H73]

Here's a pic of a governor gear which is plastic.
And a pic of a balance gear then a Camshaft gear.
To me it looks like a tooth off a cam gear.