Patch A Hole?

Yosemite Sam · #1 12-05-2009, 09:50 PM

A couple of months ago I bought several Cubs, messed around with one of them, got it running and have been using it pretty regular. Yesterday I decided (after getting a couple more this past week) that I'd better start getting these things running to find out what I've got (or not), so I pulled this 123 around that was missing a few parts and started gathering up what it needed to make the engine run.

While I was messing around with it, I noticed something bolted to the side of the block down under the S/G near the pto end, that I hadn't seen before, not on this one or any other Kohler engine for that matter. I haven't pulled the engine out yet so I can't say for sure, but it looks like someone has bolted a "patch" on the side of the motor.

It seems that I have heard of such things, but never actually seen it before. I can only guess this is where the grenade gears got out.

My question's are: Is it possible that my assumptions are correct? Could it be something else? Have any of you done this before? Is this reasonable? If it was done properly, will it hold up? Is this a fairly common practice? Or better yet (if you would) tell me what you know about such things.

Normally I wouldn't think twice about something like this, but as soon as I got fire and fuel to this little motor, it popped right over and sat there and ran so nice and smooth, it didn't smoke at all, not even on start-up. I really hate to tear such a good running motor down for parts...

For what it's worth, the engine was full of oil before and after I got it running, the best I can see the area around the "patch" is not oily, neither before or after it ran, and I let it run for about 20 minutes or so before I shut it off.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, I also started a 124 today that I had never messed with before. It also started right up, but it smoked when it ran and it runs like the timing is off a little. I didn't time either motor today.

cwmcbee · #2 12-05-2009, 10:45 PM

I haven't seen anything like that since back in the late 1960s. The old man I learned from said as long as the cast iron is not fractured it will be fine, apparently yours is just a hole and will be fine. You have little to lose by trying it. I had rather have it this way as to have most people I know, as well as myself try to weld it.

Matt G. · #3 12-06-2009, 10:32 AM

If that's the original engine in the 123, it wouldn't have had the balance gears in it. Can you take a picture?

Yosemite Sam · #4 12-06-2009, 11:47 AM

Yeah, I was wanting to take some (pictures) yesterday but the "patch" is partly hidden by the frame and is a little hard to see...

I'm going to try to get the motor out in a few days, and I'll take pictures then.

Leon renaud · #5 12-07-2009, 01:20 PM

I've heard of patching a block like this but have never seen it done an old time machineist told me that's how they used to fix blocks that were still solid but had a piece knocked out,Now I'm talking "Old Timer" here as in older than dirt pre model T ford kinds of guy!
I've repaired several engines and if properly done there is no reason that you should worry about a "patched" block remember there was a time when welding/brazing was an exotic fix!there was block "stitching" and bolt on patches back then.I stitched a cracked water jacket 18 inches long on a Cummims Diesel over 2 years ago for a friend and it's still running strong and hasn't leaked a drop!Never needed to pull the engine did the repair in about 4 hours in the truck.