Kohler KT17 Series 2 on John Deere 317

Hi.

I am talking to a friend of a friend who has a John Deere 317 with a Kohler KT17 Series 2 that has developed a knock. He is willing to sell it to me cheap. I am wondering if there is a more modern upgrad bolt on engine if it is beyond repair? I am willing to rebuild it if that is feasible but bolting on a new engine seems like more fun.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Small Engine Warehouse lists an 18 hp OHV V-twin Briggs as a replacement for that tractor. The engine and installation kit is listed at $1400.00.

The KT series of motors bankrupted Kohler. The JD 317s engines where failing so fast that JD brought back the JD 316 with an Onan motor in it just to fill the size need.

The KT17 usually broke the connecting rods. That usually tore up the block internally when it happened. Short blocks and parts have been hard to get for 15 years. I would forget fixing the current motor as it has basic design issues. So your best choice is a repower with another motor. The trouble is that a GOOD JD 317 is only worth maybe $500-700 now. The "new" repower kits are over $1400.

If you want a good dependable mower then the repower is not that bad of a way to go. The trouble is the newer JD 325s and 345s can be bought for around the $1500-1700 mark. You get foot pedal hydro controls and a much better mower deck for about what you would have in the other mower.

So your friend of a friend is not really giving you much of a deal. That JD 317 with the knocking motor is worth maybe a few hundred at the best. The deck had better be good even for that. They had a solid metal top cover over the belts. This would get grass clipping under it. If the mower was washed or left out side the clipping would get wet. Then the decks would rust out from the top.

Here is a link to the page on Small Engine warehouse for the KIT. You are getting the motor, wiring, muffler, and instructions to make the new B & S motor work. I have installed their kits they are pretty complete.

The real mystery to me was why the KT engines failed so erratically. Two neighbors could have bought a JD 317 and treated the mower exactly the same and one might still be running 20 years later and the other blown up before it was two years old. We never could figure out what made the difference. I will tell you this. I think it has some thing to do with balancing. Any KT 317 motor that failed but was rebuildable usually failed after being rebuilt.
JD 317 repower Kit

The Kohler Series II KT17 was just as good as the later (nearly identical) Kohler Magnum 18. They are in par with an Onan. Trouble is when the engines of that era, whether a KT17 Series II, or a Magnum or an Onan fail repairing them or replacing them through normal channels costs more than the piece of equipment they are on is likely worth.

However, with the internet, there's lots of sources for used parts, or other solutions to keep them up and running without breaking the bank.

thanks for the quick and thorough responses.

I am buying the tractor for $400 and it comes with a rototiller on the back, a snow plow on the front, rear tire chains and wheel weights, and no mower deck.

I have no plans to use it as a mower. I was planning on buying a snow blower for the front for winter. In the summer I plan to pull a sprayer and trailer to service our small vineyard.

$1400 seems doable with a $400 purchase price with the two attachments. I'll probably sell the blade and tiller to fund the snow blower and trailer purchase.

You have definitely given me some food for thought.

Thanks,

Alan

I'd look around there are plenty of older garden tractor with Kohler Twin cylinder engines that will go in that 317,some of the old Craftsman and Yard Pro tractors used those engines.
What part of the country are you located I probably have a couple dozen of those engines around here.The Series II KT were fine but personally I'd be looking for a 18 or 20 HP Magnum engine.

The early KT17s had splash oiling for the rods. The Series II has pressurized oil to the rods.

Just for the record for the OP, installing a M18 or a M20 will require a different ignition switch, or wiring up a little relay, as the K-twins had battery ignition, and the (otherwise nearly identical) "M" series used self-powered electronic ignition, which will be "killed" if connected as the old engine was.

I have a JD 275 with a single cylinder Kawasaki. I bought it because it came with a 48 inch mower and a 30 inch tiller. Go to craigslist and see if you couldn't find a used JD with a KAW engine.

I would agree with most of what is said about the KT17. Lots of failures in the Cub Cadet 82 series too. While the Series II does have a pressurized oil system those engines are hardly known for their longevity - they were just better the original POS KT17 engine. You can get a Chevy small block rebuilt for about the same price it will take to get a knocking KT17 rebuilt. They were a huge step backwards after years of steady reliable performance by the K241/K301/K321/K341 engines.

The crank breather spring/gasket on right side of engine fails spilling oil
out on engine and the cooling fan blows this oil onto cylinder fins. Oil
gathers dirt so cylinder cannot cool and overheats. Piston sticks,rod snaps
and destroys block. Removing shields periodically to clean is essential.
Took a hacksaw to cut through dirt on running KT in a Cub Cadet once.
Good used Kohler twins are available cheap,especially in rotted out mowers
of multiple brands.

The hot setup for these lately is the $699 Harbor Freight V-twin.
23 hp, a clone of the Honda that comes from the same factory.
Bolt-in kits are available on several websites.

(quoted from post at 07:51:36 09/19/16) The hot setup for these lately is the $699 Harbor Freight V-twin.
23 hp, a clone of the Honda that comes from the same factory.
Bolt-in kits are available on several websites.

Click to expand...

Sorry for the ignorant question but what would I be looking for when I try to by the bolt in kit?

Roto tiller is worth maybe $800 or more. Has to have fan off of rear of trans and drive shaft. Blade is nearly $500 if it has angle
and lift cylinders. They will push a LOT of snow with rear chains and rear cantilevered weight.

Check out jims repair.

http://www.jimsrepairjimstractors.com/