425 front cover gasket blown

[weathda]

Was mulching leaves Saturday and coolant started blowing out of the front cover gasket near the right head water port. I have it apart. Anything else I need to replace while in there? Should I replace the plastic governor gear while I'm in it? Are those prone to break like the plastic cam gear? This is a 99 model so it has the steel cam gear.

 

[beenthere]

Looks like you are doing well with the repair.. how does the water pump look?

 

[Richard001]

I can see why that would happen. There is only one bolt near the gasket, there should be two, like there is for the exhaust. Poor design in my opinion.

I would wager that this is a common problem with this engine.

Richard

 

[weathda]

Looks like you are doing well with the repair.. how does the water pump look?

Looks good. No play in the propeller. The hardest part of this job so far has been enduring the smell of dog poo in the tires. I think I ran over every...well, you get my drift

I can see why that would happen. There is only one bolt near the gasket, there should be two, like there is for the exhaust. Poor design in my opinion.

I would wager that this is a common problem with this engine.

Richard

Agreed. The very spot of the leak is was at the bottom of the port where it should have another bolt.

 

[beenthere]

The hardest part of this job so far has been enduring the smell of dog poo in the tires. I think I ran over every...well, you get my drift

I do get your drift (pew!!).. have a neighbor with dog that knows just where our lot line is at, and he keeps their yard clean. Not mine!!
If I see the piles, I mow around them until they dry off. Don't think there is a more disgusting smell.. and that includes cow, pig, horse, sheep, chicken, etc. farm animals. Cat boxes are a close 2nd, but that doesn't end up stuck on the tires.

I had my 425 Kawasaki torn down a year ago, chasing the plastic gear, coming to find out it had already been changed. Apparently when the water pump went bad on this '66 engine.. If I remember right, it was Richard001 who saved my bacon when a picture I posted looked to him like it was steel. A magnet led me quick to the same conclusion.. so stopped tearing it down and re-assembled. Put a new water pump in, and now have what looks like a perfectly good water pump sitting on my bench.. needing a good home (free with shipping paid ). Hate to throw it away.

 

[weathda]

Thanks for the offer on the water pump beenthere. Let me double check mine. I'm waiting on my gasket kit to come in and it's been in the 30s here the last day or so. Not too excited about getting back out to work on it in those temps. Glad this happened at the end of the season!

 

[oldnslo]

Yes the plastic governor gears can and do fail so would replace while you have the engine apart. What does the water pump look and feel like? 425 I fixed it was pretty sloppy on the bearings so replaced it while tore apart. From memory when the water pump fails they can leak into the oil Vs external.

 

[weathda]

Yes the plastic governor gears can and do fail so would replace while you have the engine apart. What does the water pump look and feel like? 425 I fixed it was pretty sloppy on the bearings so replaced it while tore apart. From memory when the water pump fails they can leak into the oil Vs external.

I went out tonight and double checked the play on the water pump propeller and gear. It's nice and tight. I'll just throw it back on.

Thanks for confirmation on the governor gear. It looks awfully discolored from the oil. They're cheap enough, I'll plan to replace it.

It's always something with this mower. I bought it used about 3 years ago and it was tired when I bought it. I keep saying if I can get one more season out of it.

 

[om21braz]

I went out tonight and double checked the play on the water pump propeller and gear. It's nice and tight. I'll just throw it back on.

Thanks for confirmation on the governor gear. It looks awfully discolored from the oil. They're cheap enough, I'll plan to replace it.

It's always something with this mower. I bought it used about 3 years ago and it was tired when I bought it. I keep saying if I can get one more season out of it.

Being you're able and can work on it, I don't know that I would want to write it off for some of the newer machines.

 

[weathda]

Yeah, I think that's why the widow lady who owned this sold it. It was nickle and diming her to the point she was just going to hire a mower.
The power steering and all wheel steer is nice! My mouth is watering for a 72" zero turn, but I just can't stand to spend the money on what they cost. Figure I'll keep throwing a few bucks at this mower if the deck will last - that seems to be the weakest link. Either way, I'm planning to keep the 425 even if I get something else. It'll make a good spare and give something my boys can use to help with mowing duties.