M-18 running rough/missing

[john hall]

Originally Posted by Terry C

Looks like a good set-up to me.
Did you spin the stone as fast as the spindle would go?

Yeah, wound it up as fast as my little toy Clausing mill would go. That was the biggest OD stone I had (trying to get as much SFM as possible). To be honest, I didn't have a dresser to put in the vise and true the stone, so there was some slight runout--but its not like I'm building a NHRA dragster engine.

[bill682]

Originally Posted by john hall

Yes, that is it! I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to cross over the Kohler number, the number on the seal, and even looking by sizes--that really puzzled me. The one you listed, however, is not a "rubber covered" seal. Don't know if it makes a difference or not--maybe there is a difference in the sealing material?

I'm not a fan of those rubber coated NOK seals that Kohler uses. Maybe there's a reason but I don't know what it could be.
I kept blowing the rear seal and found a SKF replacement and haven't had a problem since. I think that's when I found an interchange for the front seal but I haven't needed to replace that one yet.

[john hall]

Finally some time to work on this. Pulled out the seal I drove in too deep--it also had a spot where the rubber peeled back. Got the little burrr out of the bore so it wouldn't happen again to the new seal--I should have checked after I got the first seal out, I'm the one that put it there. These seals are so dang narrow they are a real pain to remove. No idea why it wasn't designed around a much wider seal. Anyway, got the new seal in and gave it quick wipe down/mask/and paint job. Hopefully I can get the rest of the engine together soon, I'll paint the tins after they are installed. This is by no means a "restoration", I just happened to be at Lowes buying mower deck paint and there it was, $5 engine enamel.

[john hall]

Well, its back together with a rattle can paint job. I haven't cranked it up yet, I'll drop it in the mower first---feeling optimistic (hopefully not cocky).
To recap, new piston and rings, valve job, fuel pump, coil, carb kit, air filters, crank seals, face heads, new spark plugs.

[zippy1]

Holy Cow John, that looks great with the Lowes RustOleum black paint you got on sale for $5.00 a can. Couldn't resist...
Now you should fire it up on a bench, warm it up then cool it down to take the tins back off to retorque the heads. Easier then putting it back in the tractor, and taking it back out to remove the tins for retorque.
Last one I did, I left the tins off till after the retorque...

[J-Mech]

Pretty!!

[jkmola]

Originally Posted by zippy1

Now you should fire it up on a bench, warm it up then cool it down to take the tins back off to retorque the heads.

I've seen this mentioned a few time now. How do you guys do this? Bolt the engine to the bench? What about electrical (starting)? I'll be heading this route soon and I was just gonna throw it back on the tractor.

[ol'George]

I just set it on the bench, prime the carb bowl,
put a hose in a gas can, boat tank or what have you.
Then put jumper cables to the starter motor.
If it has point ignition, add a hot wire to the coil, gets er done.
it ain't rocket science or long lived, it's just for try out/heat cycle.
A "C" clamp or two it it tends to walk around.
Like a baby, don't leave it unattended while it eats.

[john hall]

Originally Posted by zippy1

Holy Cow John, that looks great with the Lowes RustOleum black paint you got on sale for $5.00 a can. Couldn't resist...

Actually thats the regular price

Yeah, I think there are a couple tin bolts that are going to be a challenge to get at in the machine. It may just as easy to set the engine in the machine, crank it, then pull it back out for a retorque, won't have to worry about rigging up fuel and electrical or clamping it down.

[zippy1]

Originally Posted by john hall

Yeah, I think there are a couple tin bolts that are going to be a challenge to get at in the machine..

That would be most of them along the bottom, cause everything is "tied" together.