Recent content by marrt

I discovered a mouse nest in that spot, and their urine had rusted through the curved metal tube connecting one injector to the next—hard to believe. I sprayed the new tube with clear paint, hoping it will help next time. I’ve also switched to adjustable handles instead of bolts, making it...

I bought a Prusa before Covid. It's the original Prusa, by Joesph Prusa, from a company called Prusa (the dude really loves his name). Initially, I didn't have much use for it—I had stopped playing with dolls several years earlier—so it sat unassembled for about a year and a half. Eventually, a...

As to the gravel type, in VA, it's called "21A." It's 3/4" minus with fines (often including some clay as a binder). Great stuff. You could probably just add a couple loads of fines since it appears you may already have the 3/4" minus, but washed and no fines. The gravel pit or delivery guy...

What machining capabilities do you have? You could machine a proper keyway (not a half-moon) in a different location on the shaft. However, it appears the shaft was damaged when the key failed. In general, keys and keyways are not the most effective method for preventing shaft rotation. Since...

Fatigue. I don't know the age of your 1845, but my VDP, with accessory pumps, are attached to a plate that is then attached to the engine. All this weight is carried by just two 1/2" bolts connecting the VDP to the plate. Given the vibration of the diesel engine, that's way too much stress for...

Do you bait it? I notice they say you don't have to use bait. I have two miniature dachshunds who have their nose in everything. The sticky traps work pretty good but I don't use them in the garage due to the dogs. This trap looks safer and more humane.

Me neither. There's a nearly vertical drop from the side of the engine cover to the muffler opening. When I began working on the engine this morning, I removed the paper towel shown in the previous picture and shone a light down the hole where the fuel injector goes, to see if I could catch a...

You might consider asking Terry about this behavior. I had this happen on my 1845 and the pump needed a rebuild. I'm not trying to scare you and your pump is different than the one used on the 1845. But this doesn't sound normal for a variable displacement pump. The only time I experience a...

I shared this on the Kubota Forum, but I thought it would be beneficial to repost the picture here. This is from my Kubota ZD1211 mower. The engine would not turn over and I couldn't figure out why, since it ran perfectly when parked for the season. For a while now, I've been concerned about...

I think I may have identified the problem. Next, I need to determine if there was any damage. Given that seeds can compress somewhat, I'm hopeful for a positive outcome. My plan is to use a depth micrometer to measure the clearance between the pistons and the cylinder head deck. If the...

Thanks of the comments. I thought I'd share a picture for those who might be curious. I've covered the injector and glow plug holes with a paper towel to keep them protected. I suppose the logical step is to start from the top, so I plan to remove the valve cover first. Then, I'll see what's...

Update. I removed the glow plugs and injectors, then attempted to manually rotate the flywheel. It moved to a certain point and then stopped. Next, I reversed the direction, moving the flywheel backward until it reached a stopping point. Following that, I used a Power Probe to actuate the...

I have a Kubota D1105 engine in a ZD1211 mower. When I tried to start it for the first time this year, the starter made a clicking sound. I knew the battery was going bad as it was getting slow to start last year, so I replaced the battery. However, when I turned the key over, the engine still...

Regarding motor oil, Kohler oil has more anti-wear additives, such as Zinc. Many of these additives were removed from conventional motor oil for emissions related reasons. In theory, it should be a fantastic oil for engines with no catalytic convertor. Shell Rotella Diesel oil is very similar.

Regarding other alternatives, take a look at Avant Tecno. They're WAY more expensive than a PT but do have diesel engines in their smaller versions. And, I'd bet they are more sophisticated than a PT wrt design, hydraulic filtration, lift capacity, etc... They can be found used on equipment...