David K - oh Great One of Knowledge - hey many thanks for the comments on gauges. Seems you're leaning my direction. There's already enough gauges, cept maybe adding a tach.
Jeff B and Art A - You guys never heard of my Special Products 169 Unit. Dang, if you study the pic in my profile you can see a few of the pre production post release differences. I already mentioned a few before. The front wheels are pre production (they were made along time before the 169 series). The steering wheel is a post release change (it was introduced mid QL series production so it was post release of the 169). It also came with the black 13 fin engine, which would normally be a re-power (but that's my own change). Sorry if I burst any bubbles, but it is IH thru and thru.
Kevin H - I can't see a plate like that on the side of my 169's 13fin. It could be for the oil fill tube as was mentioned, but seems to large for that to me. I believe one version used on the later 12fin blocks was a hole in the top of block next to the lower cylinder wall. We'll need some pics of other guys AQS engines to make a good determination. KRAIG Keeper of the Photos - have you got any K341AQS pics on the side of the block next to the starter???
For the spes on my engine and tractor, the 169 serial is 523760 which puts it at Sept 1974. The engine is a K341A, Serial No. 6272028, Spec 71154a. Can't be far off your's Kevin. One thing I do see on both yours and mine is that hole towards the front of the lower cylinder wall where the bottom fins are. That's when Kohler was getting ready to make the AQS and is used for the muffler box mounting I believe (someone needs to confirm this as well). Interesting and I wonder when Kohler actually introduced the AQS series.
Well, going back a littler further in time - no one seemed interested in my comment on the correct rubber foot pad for the early narrow fram units that 1st used the foot pad on the brake/clutch peddle. Well, I'll have to tell you anyway. The rubber pad mounting plate is slightly raised off the arm on the earlier units - SO the rubber pad doesn't really need the "cut out" area on the back for the arm itself. Later the mounting plate was welded right against the arm and the rubber pad has a small rectangular area cut away so it does NOT interfer with the arm. YOu guys with the early narrow frames need to run out and check your rubber pads to see if it is full on the back of pad which is original, or if it has that little cut out area where it contacts the mounting arm and would be a replacement pad. Let's go guys - let me know which you have with which tractor. The wide frames all have the little cut out.
Hydro Harry
Old Cubs Never Die (and if you never use the brake you might just have the original brake pad)