oldpilgrim
Elite Member
I'd take off the bottom to see the rod/crank.
Blown engine; rebuild or replace with new
- Thread starter apctjb
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ultrarunner
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 23,792
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
If I even need a replacement small engine... TBN will be my first post.
Around here the decks rust away long before the engines.
Bought my first power mower in 1980 from Sears... mowed rental property from sun up to sun down 1 day each week... never did anything special except oil changes and maybe a plug... still runs good... the deck is tin foil!
Got a 18hp craftsman with a Briggs... good unit... let my brother borrow it for an area at his ranch... might as well give it to him because the ruts and squirrel mounds sure have beat it...
Don't think these were ever made to cut grass up to 30" tall!
Around here the decks rust away long before the engines.
Bought my first power mower in 1980 from Sears... mowed rental property from sun up to sun down 1 day each week... never did anything special except oil changes and maybe a plug... still runs good... the deck is tin foil!
Got a 18hp craftsman with a Briggs... good unit... let my brother borrow it for an area at his ranch... might as well give it to him because the ruts and squirrel mounds sure have beat it...
Don't think these were ever made to cut grass up to 30" tall!
buickanddeere
Super Member
smallenginewarehouse.com
RandyT
Elite Member
All of the engines listed will require a exhaust rebuild, All of the engines listed have the exhaust come out the right side of the head if sitting on the tractor seat, where yours comes out the bottom on your existing engine. There is also a 75% chance that you will have to modify the electrical system for any of the engines listed. I would go with a higher HP rating, mostly do to the newer engines just don't seem to have the same HP as the older engines.
RandyT: Great advice; much appreciated. Would you anticipate that there are new mufflers that I could purchase that would work (attach to the side yet exhaust is in the same place on the bottom) or better off taking it to a welding shop modify the existing muffler to work with side exhaust port? I like the idea of having the added HP. What about going to a twin? Are they more reliable or twice the number of things to go wrong?
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
That 26 hp kawi has a muffler in the right location. Not sure if it will fit stock. You can buy a new pulley or have your old one machined out if the new shaft is too big.
KubotainNH
Veteran Member
I posted your picture with some edits. Pull all the bolts that have a red line pointing to them, I'm sure there some I missed because I couldn't see them in the picture just remove them all around the circumference. Remove any rust/crud on the fatter part of the crank so the base of the motor will slide off. Then take a rubber mallet and tap the base off the motor so it slides off the crankshaft. The only thing I'm unsure of is if anything needs to be disconnected before the cover comes off. I see there's a small cover with 3 bolts, I don't know what it's for.
RandyT
Elite Member
If you can get the right size pipe and have it bent correctly, Kohler does offer bare exhaust mounting flanges that you can weld pipe to. You may also be able to start with say a MTD exhaust pipe and then have it adapted to your existing muffler. Husqvarna exhaust pipes may be an option also. Just have to look around at existing mowers at dealers, etc and see what you thing will fit the best and go from their.
Single versus twin is not really a reliability issue as much as what engine you can fit under the hood, and take into account with a twin you will have to come up with two exhaust manifolds.
Thanks to all for the post. Opened the case (see photos) and found a broken rod just above where it joins the crankshaft. No holes in the case and gears all look good. There is a 1/2" semi circle broken off the bottom of the cylinder sleeve (see pictures) which appears to be below the lowest point that the piston travels so perhaps not an issue. The crankshaft where the rod attaches seems moderately scored. cylinder, head, valves, piston, rings etc. all look very clean and not damaged.
So should I trash this engine and buy new or is it worth the time and $$$ in parts to rebuild??
So should I trash this engine and buy new or is it worth the time and $$$ in parts to rebuild??