[nicksorg]

I finally got the deck rebuilt on my 300 and mowed this morning. I noticed an oil leak and traced it back to the air filter housing where there were drops on the bottom. When I pulled the air filter, there was oil inside and on the base plate. I ran the engine and felt air and oil blowing out of the breather tube. I pulled the breather cover off and found this:

According to jdparts, looks like the filter is missing and the PO reversed the order of the deflector and valve. I cleaned the drain hole and will pickup a filter and install everything correctly. I'm wondering if this will fix the problem, or if its something else like rings. Maybe a silly question, but can someone explain how the breather works?
Thanks
Nick in CT

 

[Highwayman1]

Thanks Nick for asking as I just overlooked this after installing my engine yesterday. I will check to make sure mine has the filter. Let me know what the price was and part number for this.
Thanks Michael

 

[gordonbradbury]

I hate to sound like an idiot, but where exactly on my k341 do I find this breather? Thanks.

 

[nicksorg]

Gordon,
The breather is right behind the carb. There is a cover on it with a nut that holds it on.
Nick

 

[gordonbradbury]

Thanks Nick, that helps. I do know where the carb is!!

 

[nicksorg]

Update. The reed looked straight so I installed it correctly along with a new filter. I let the engine run for a few minutes. Air was blowing out of the breather, but no oil in it. I buttoned it up and ran it for awhile. No oil drips yet from the air cleaner housing.

Just for kicks, I pulled the dipstick while she was running. A little smoke came out and it was blowing air out vs. any vacumn. I've read some posts that mention it could be the rings. I pulled the plug and have plenty of compression. I'm going to make a manometer as described in the kohler manual and see what it measures. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Nick in CT

 

[Robertg]

Nick,

I just did the manometer thing on my 300. Make sure you use a clamp especially before you shut the engine down. I didn't and it suck the dyed water right into the engine. Had to change the oil and it only had an hour on the oil change.

Book says, along with rings, it could be other gaskets, seals, valves and/or guides, loose or improperly torqued fasteners or restricted muffler could cause this. I would check the other things first.

Bob