Kohler instead of Briggs ? Please Help.

[EZDUZIT]

Hey. As you know,I like many others have not been able to find a 12hp Briggs for my 3212V.I have in fact come upon a 12hp Kohler K301S,that was built just a year ago.I have it running in an old tractor and it seems to be like new.Other then the looks of the head,it looks like it should bolt right up except for one thing that is obvious to me.The holes in the flywheel are smaller then the holes in the Briggs flywheel.I cannot ,after searching through a couple of thousand bolts find the right pitch or size.Can someone help me determine what size and pitch I have to buy?UUGGHHH!I have searched all over this puter and cant find the right information.I would appreciate any help.Thank You.

[SmilinSam]

You have to have the Kohler driveshaft adaptor. You can't use the Briggs one on it. The Kohler one fits on using 4 bolts unlike the Briggs that uses 2 bolts. If your K301 is an older one witha starter Generator I don't know if its flywheel has the 4 holes tapped into it or not.....

[HubbardRA]

I have a 14 Hp Kohler on my 61 Wards. There was nothing unique about the bolt threads. I don't know exactly, but they were either 5/16 or 3/8 standard coarse threads on mine. I used an adapter from a 10 Hp. I have also made my own adapters when I didn't have them. I have two B/S hooked up without the factory adapter.

[EZDUZIT]

Sam,Rod. Thank you both for your input,guess its never easy huh ?I stopped at a dealer today he tells me that adapter from Kohler is $89.00 !!!!,he gave me a part # for that adapter used to be 237373 now it is 25 029-04,sounds a little crazy to me,but what do I know ,I only see 2 holes,but there is a nut on the shaft and like a small plate covering the rest of the fan behind it. I was assuming this would be a 2 hole deal.Blaster is working on that nut as I type,Im hoping there are 2 more holes under that plate.Im gonna go try it now.Sam,Rod ,if so would either of you have an adapter around ? Or know of who may have a used one?Or Rod if you could give me the demensions of the adapter you put together,maybe I can have one made.$89.00 is out of the question right now. He also told me that it wouldnt bolt right up,I can see that the Kohler oil pan has the "dip" in it.He was saying the electrics are different too.I have the Kohler out on the bench with all electrics attached except the ignition switch.I think I can remove all of the same from the Simplicity as well.Yes they are both alternator,generator starters .Hope to hear from you or anyone else who may be able to help. Thanks again guys.

[EZDUZIT]

Hey. Well the Kohler only has 2 holes in the fan.Sam,Rod,does this mean that I cant use it at all?Please respond,Im half way through the swap and I dont want to pull the present engine if I cant complete it.Ill also post in "wanted" section for an adapter I guess.Thanks again.

[SmilinSam]

I have a older K301 like yours here in a Wheel Horse to look over. Won't get time for that till later this week. I also have adaptors here , so I can measure and look at things while i'm at it....

[EZDUZIT]

Thank You Sam. I will await your response. Pete.

[SmilinSam]

Well as fortune would have it , I pulled it out to the shop this evening and looked things over. I see what you are talking about having only two holes. Looks like a standard 3/8 -16 thread to me. Had to run my tap through them to clean the deris out of the threads. The older Briggs adaptor won't work at all. The Kohler 4 hole adaptor would bolt on but the issue there is that the bolt holes are on a shoul;der that drops off lower from the main part of the flywheel where the adaptor would sit. This means that one would have to shim the ledge up top the same height as the rest of the flywheel where the body of the adaptor is sitting. Otherwise you will bend the flange of the adaptor down when you tighten the two bolts. But, shim it too much and the adaptor won't seat against the flywheel creating problems too. Needs to be just right. I have a spare adaptor and I ask $35 for them + shipping. What I could do is once you got it if it does not look like it will work out for you , you could send it back(as long as its not damaged) and I'd send the purchase price back. I think if its shimmed properly it would work with the two bolts holding it seeing as how briggs only uses two. Whats everyone elsehere reading this think think??