How big a job is engine overhaul on a 129?
 

Just wondering...being that mine goes through alot of oil. I do know that the flange that holds the dipstick has been loose for a long time. When I take out the stick I also have to hold the bottom portion or else the whole thing wants to lift out. Could this be contributing to oil loss?

Having recently had off the ACR cover (which also appears to be part of the whole dipstick assembly), might it be worth it to replace that whole thing?

The engine was overhauled once - probably well over 20 years ago. I'm assuming it's a substantial job (?)

Thanks for any advice...

A lot can depend on where your oil is going. Since you've just been up close and personal with it, do you notice any areas that are filthy? If the lower front of the engine (behind and around the pulley) is really messy, maybe a bad front crank seal. If it's oily up top by the head, maybe a blown head gasket/bad rings, or in my case, a bad rear crank seal with the flywheel blowing oil up and out across the top of the motor (actually, both my crank seals are toast.) if you're seeing blue/white smoke a lot, you're burning it and your rings are shot. Look over the engine, find your bad spots, and use that info to decide what to do next.

Overhauling a K series Kohler will cost you about $100 for a gasket, rod, piston and rings kit (bakt4kids sells them on ebay). Figure another $250 to $300 for machine shop work to bore the block and do the valve seats.

Then it's just a matter of putting it back together. Figure a little more cash for some supplies and maybe paint.

The Kohler manual gives good instructions. If you have basic mechanic tools and some experience you can do it yourself. If you can't or don't want to do it, contact J-Mech, he does them as a business. A local CC dealer might charge you $1000 to do it for you.