Old Kholer Compressor

[Boneill230]

Just looking for some help identifying this engine and compressor package. My work was getting rid of it for scrap, came off one of the old service trucks probably 10 years ago and had been in a conex box since. With the cost of the new one I figured I’d take it! Anyway from what I found I know it is a K series engine just not sure what model, and I cannot see anything on the compressor pump. There are tags but when I try to scrape the paint off the whole tag starts to come off. Everything turns over by hand so I’m confident it will work but I wanted to find model numbers to tune everything up or even do a rebuild.

 

[PoorUB]

Definitely a Kohler, but unsure of the HP as the 12, 14 and 16 HP engines looked similar so hard to tell with the pics. K301, k241, or K341 respectively.

About the only way to tell is to compare bolt patterns with head gaskets, or pull the head and measure the cylinder bore.

As for the compressor, no clue.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

The compressor is an FS Curtis.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I own a Kohler K241 (10 HP), built in 1968, that I rebuilt around 2010 after the engine had a couple thousand hours on it. It is a very stout, robust, engine, weighing 130 lbs, which is probably 4X what some of the other 10 HP engines weigh. It was easy and fairly inexpensive to get a rebuild kit for, with lots of you tube video's for help.
I also recently had a chance to get an 8 HP Kohler powered compressor real cheap, but passed only because I am up to my eyeballs in projects, but I seriously thought about it.

 

[joel_400]

Love the K series...it's like the small block Chevy of small engines. Very tough, cheap and easy to rebuild, and last a long time. Look on top of the belt pulley on the pto end of the block, it's usually cast right above the crank what engine it is. K241,k301,k321,k341. It should be one of those. Only thing I've ran into is some K241s used k301 blocks. Externally up to the k321 they're all the same. Dimensions of the 341 are the same, but they had a bigger exhaust port and an extra headbolt. Internally the 241 had a shorter stroke a small bore. The 301 has a longer stroke and larger bore. The 321-341 have the same stroke as 301, but bigger bores and larger diameter exhaust valve. All these engines are very robust and will run a long time. I've been playing with them for years with garden tractor pulling and they will definitely take abuse! If you have any questions about them feel free to ask as I'm sure I could help you out if needed!
Joel

 

[Boneill230]

Found it! K301 is cast on the block, going to search around for a kit for that as well as the compressor. Going to try and get it connected to a battery this week to see how it runs and if it has a bit of blowby then I have my winter project! Will be a good addition to my welding rig/trailer so I can run a plasma cutter

 

[joel_400]

I would try to get it running first. I will warn you though if it does need a rebuild pull the head off first and measure the bore and stroke as some k241s used k301 blocks. They had a smaller bore and stroke though. Just don't want you to end up getting the wrong kit based on that trick that Kohler pulled. The k241s, 10hp, uses a different rod as well due to the shorter stroke. The k241 is 2.875 stroke and 3.25 bore for roughly 24 cubic inches. The k301 is 3.25 stroke and 3.375 bore for roughly 30 cubic inches.
Joel

 

[Boneill230]

Always disassemble before ordering parts! Pretty much a set procedure at work lol. I will let you know how I make out this week if i can get smoke, fingers crossed!