78kitty Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 I've been looking for a old Simplicity for a while now to tinker with and also mow my lawn. I found a '79 Simplicity 7018 with the Kohler K361 overhead valve which isn't currently running. It looks nice other than the motor being apart. The guy said it has a loose valve seat which seems to be a common problem on that motor. My friend that worked at a shop that sells Simplicity's said those motors are famous for that and replacing the valve seat usually doesn't work. I like to work on stuff, but I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble of getting this and then trying to find a new head for it (Kohler discontinued them). Or maybe there's some other option to get it back together. I'd appeaciate thoughts, suggestions, & opionions!
Kent Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 I tend to agree with your friend -- I'm not sure how much money I'd continue to invest in the OHV engine, given their spotty reliability record... IMO, at the right price, it would be a great machine to transplant another engine into, since it is likely a Sundstrand hydrostat transmission and perhaps even has hydraulic implement lift. There are several other varieties of new or used engines that could be installed, though the other minor mods/parts required differ from engine to engine... 1. Single cylinder Briggs and Kohlers, up to 16HP 2. Modern V-twins such as the Kohler Command or Briggs Vanguard, available all the way up to 25+ HP 3. Flat twins, such as Kohler KTs, Series II (Series I is not recommended) in the 17 or 18 HP range.
PeppyDan Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 I had one of those engines that I repaired 15-17 years ago. It had a loose seat (exhaust if I remember correctly)and after discussing it with a local engine shop We came up with an answer that has the engine still running today. The main problem is that the seat is made of a metal that expands at a different rate than the head, this can loosen the seat over time. To add to this, most homeowners don't realize the importance of keeping and air cooled engine clean so it can cool as designed. What we did was to simply "stake the seat". What this means is that we used a center punch and punched a series of deep marks all around the seat to push the metal from the head tighter against the seat. There are other ways to fix it but this is what worked for me. I seem to remember someone telling me about a newer seat on the market for other applications that has similar expansion properties of aluminum. One of these seats may work in this head with a little modification. Dan
HubbardRA Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 My Brother-in-law had an 18 Kohler that had the same problem. His seat came loose twice. The press-in seats just never seem to stay. He was told to re-power because it could not be fixed. He went to an automotive machine shop and they installed a screw in seat and then staked it so it would not screw out. This worked for years till that tractor washed away in a flood.
78kitty Posted August 11, 2008 Author Posted August 11, 2008 Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I'll see about getting it and then try one of things suggested above!
Simpleton7016 Posted August 11, 2008 Posted August 11, 2008 quote:till that tractor washed away in a flood ...probably saved your brother-in-law a few headaches. :O
JeffNemes Posted August 11, 2008 Posted August 11, 2008 Seems to me it would make a nice collectable being that is was the largest single cylinder and an OHV!
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