Cracked 1450 K321 Air Cleaner Housing

[nutzboutoldies]

Any of you repaired a cracked air cleaner housing? I have repaired some of the cracked sheet metal but this I think is beyond repair.

[J-Mech]

As long as the gasket seals, I'd weld up the two cracks, and use a flat washer on the screws. Weld it from the filter side, and grind it back as flush as you can. That metal is pretty hard, it should weld fine if you are a good welder. Or you could torch weld it, or even braize it. I'd probably weld it with my mig. If I didn't have the mig, I'd torch weld it.

[nutzboutoldies]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

As long as the gasket seals, I'd weld up the two cracks, and use a flat washer on the screws. Weld it from the filter side, and grind it back as flush as you can. That metal is pretty hard, it should weld fine if you are a good welder. Or you could torch weld it, or even braize it. I'd probably weld it with my mig. If I didn't have the mig, I'd torch weld it.

Thanks for the advise Jonathan. I'll give it a shot, I have a Mig. I'm not a great welder but usually I'll practice on similar metal before I weld on the part I'm trying to repair. I'll let you know how it works out.

[ol'George]

I agree with Jon and have done that (Gas weld)
Also you can make a piece of metal and tack it on the element side that is larger than the crack diameter, of course drilling the 3 mounting holes and throat hole.
In other words a reinforcing plate, remember you don't want to weld it solid, Tack an inch, leave an inch and so on.
And the outside diameter of the reinforcing plate can be any shape, square,triangle, whatever.
14 or 16 Gauge would be enough.
No beer/soup cans.

[twoton]

Looks like there's an engine vibration problem.....

[nutzboutoldies]

Originally Posted by twoton

Looks like there's an engine vibration problem.....

Yes, the engine vibrates but I'm not sure it's abnormal. I don't have any thing to compare it to other than an old B&S 8HP vertical shaft that is a lot smoother than my K321. Any suggestions on what to look for to reduce the vibration would be appreciated.
I reinforced the engine cradle and replaced the rubber mounts with solid mounts. While the engine was out this time I noticed the pilot bushing in the drive plate was worn out allowing the drive shaft to run out of align. We'll see if that helps.

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by nutzboutoldies

Yes, the engine vibrates but I'm not sure it's abnormal. I don't have any thing to compare it to other than an old B&S 8HP vertical shaft that is a lot smoother than my K321. Any suggestions on what to look for to reduce the vibration would be appreciated.
I reinforced the engine cradle and replaced the rubber mounts with solid mounts. While the engine was out this time I noticed the pilot bushing in the drive plate was worn out allowing the drive shaft to run out of align. We'll see if that helps.

They vibrate a lot, especially the K301 and bigger ones. That's just the nature of single cylinder engines. Smaller the engine the less it's noticeable though. There's lots of things people do (and Kohler did) to try and make them vibrate less, but it'll never be a balanced design due to basic physics. That's the reason for iso mounts in the first place.

[ol'George]

I don't know about the iso mounts helping the air cleaner situation ----
I think while they prevent some vibration from going to the chassis,
the direct mount of the air cleaner to the carb allows all vibration to transmit to it, maybe more, because the engine is allowed to shake more than a solid mounted engine.
But the fact remains, the bigger the piston the more vibration produced as we know.
I like Deere's mounting system, as it allows the engine to rotate about the center line of the crankshaft rather than cubs idea where the vibration is like holding a Dandelion by the stem in a wind.
Poor description but I think most understand.
Just some of my thoughts, that's all.----

[J-Mech]

I agree George. Deere had a much better engine mounting system than did Cub.

[twoton]

Originally Posted by nutzboutoldies

..... Any suggestions on what to look for......

Have you timed the engine using the static method?