Having problems mounting engine in 1450
 

:bash2: Hey guys I need some help getting my 321 to bolt up in my 1450. I can get 3 bolts started and screwed in but the 4th one will not line up. Looking through the hole in the cradle It seems to be maybe 1/8 off the best I can tell. before I mounted the cradle I made sure the bolt holes lined up with the oil pan by bolting it on while engine was on the bench. Any tricks or advice would be welcomed.

Good morning!

You mentioned, while the k321 was on your service bench, you made sure the cradle fit to the engine oil pan, and thus had no problem with the four bolts going through the cradle into the pan.

This is exactly how I install all my AQS engines into my Quiet Line, with the cradle all ready mounted to the engine oil pan! The cradle and engine together might seem tricky trying to stuff it all into the engine bay, but it will work with out fail! Then, I go about installing the lower engine cradle ( iso ) mounts, making sure those mounts are properly seated into the cradle.

If you preformed an engine cradle modification, then a chance could be that your cradle holes do not properly align to the engine oil pan.

Good luck, and lets us know how you made out with the install!

Did you do the cradle stiffener mod while you had it out?
If so, the weld process will have a tendency to "tweak" or pull the far ends of the rails together a bit. That may be your issue here.

Make sure the 3 bolts you already have in the pan are loose enough to allow a little "wiggle" room while you are fitting the final bolt. A line up or center punch should help some.

I have never had much luck fitting the engine in w/the rails attached. Too much stuff in the way and don't want to scratch paint.

X2. But I assume you didn't tighten any of the 3 bolts?

Yes I did the cradle mod. And like you suggested I did think about the weld process "tweaking" the rails. I have tried the center punch idea but cant get to move.
I have an idea i'm thinking of, and that is to take a step bit and enlarge the mounting holes in the rails enough to give me a little more wiggle room. would this be advisable?

Just put them in tight enough so they wouldn't fall out

Then you probably should spread the rails a hair a the long end.
I always double check them once they cool off and make an adjustment in the vise to make sure they will fit.

You may be able to do this if your vise is large enough and firmly affixed to your work bench with a large pipe wrench. My vise has a tapped hole in the ends of the jaws so it is a simple job to bolt the welded rail to the jaws and just "jack them apart a bit. Just be sure they ae parallel when adjusted.

Enlarging the hole would be an option but these holes have a tendency to wallow out on their own if the bolts become loose.


In any case, make sure the bolts are not too long. The parts look up calls for 3/8" x 1" coarse thread.

Good luck

If the cradle fit the pan on the bench (after welding) then it will fit while in the tractor.

Set the cradle in the frame, put the rubbers, bolts and nuts where they belong, screw the nuts on just enough that the bolts won't fall out of their holes. Set the engine, screw each pan bolt in just enough that they don't fall out. After all 4 pan bolts are started tighten them first, then tighten the cradle bolts.

If there is one pan bolt that seemingly won't line up, put it in first, then do the others. A number 2 phillips screw driver works well to help line the rear holes up.

Be sure the front of the tractor is supported well when putting in the front pan bolts, you wouldn't want to end up leaving a finger in there.

[QUOTE=Yosemite Sam;398113]
Set the cradle in the frame, put the rubbers, bolts and nuts where they belong, screw the nuts on just enough that the bolts won't fall out of their holes. Set the engine, screw each pan bolt in just enough that they don't fall out. After all 4 pan bolts are started tighten them first, then tighten the cradle bolts.

What sam said I losened the cradle bolts where the cradle would move slightly side to side and front to back. I then used a pry bar and lines the hole up. Thanks to all you guys for your input.