149 broken

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

Your just lucky.

Maybe but there is a big difference between being lucky and knowing what you can do and what you can't/shouldn't. That difference is making some mistakes and having to do things over from time/time and that changes luck to experience.

Some of the trips around the block I rode for free, some I had to pay. But, I would say that if I was working on someone else's machine, I wouldn't do this simply because if anything went wrong, the customer would be squealing that I cut a corner and that's what caused whatever the latest real or imagined problem was.

[Alvy]

Originally Posted by Mike McKown

Maybe but there is a big difference between being lucky and knowing what you can do and what you can't/shouldn't. That difference is making some mistakes and having to do things over from time/time and that changes luck to experience.

Some of the trips around the block I rode for free, some I had to pay. But, I would say that if I was working on someone else's machine, I wouldn't do this simply because if anything went wrong, the customer would be squealing that I cut a corner and that's what caused whatever the latest real or imagined problem was.

Well said Mike, well said.

I picked up a commercial grade pressure washer for free a few years ago with a cat pump, looked to be older, single Wisconsin on it. Guy kept yanking the hose using it one day because he needed more slack, didn't realize he flipped it on it's side, then it siezed. I popped off the pan, polished up the rod journal and crank, put it back together and it's ran now for countless hours. Same scenario, only did it because it was mine but got a killer deal none the less.

[ab147]

It's been 2 months, and I haven't done anything to the cub except park it in the barn. We're into the slush and mud season here in michigan, and I'm thinking about gardening. I need the cub for the rototiller. Took the head off today, turned the engine over by hand, everything turns, valves go up and down, piston stays in one place. What next? do I need to pull the engine to replace what's broke, haven't done a cub before so this is new to me. Not afraid to do anything or get dirty, so lay it on me.

[J-Mech]

If the piston doesn't move, then everything is not "turning".

Complete overhaul. Take it out and tear it down.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

If the piston doesn't move, then everything is not "turning".

Complete overhaul. Take it out and tear it down.

Yep, something important that makes it run broke. My unprofessional opinion is you now have a 2 piece rod.

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by ab147

It's been 2 months, and I haven't done anything to the cub except park it in the barn. We're into the slush and mud season here in michigan, and I'm thinking about gardening. I need the cub for the rototiller. Took the head off today, turned the engine over by hand, everything turns, valves go up and down, piston stays in one place. What next? do I need to pull the engine to replace what's broke, haven't done a cub before so this is new to me. Not afraid to do anything or get dirty, so lay it on me.

Sorry about your engine. I'm sure you have downloaded the engine manual from the tech section by now. Read thru it and decide if it's something you feel comfortable doing. Otherwise j-mech's engine rebuild/exchange is a good deal if you ask me.

Terry

[ab147]

I know this is old, but it's time to rebuild the engine. I took it out the other day, and will attack it this week. cleaned the barn so I've got room to work, added some new lighting so I can see, and will get at it.

[Cub Cadet 123]

Originally Posted by ab147

I know this is old, but it's time to rebuild the engine. I took it out the other day, and will attack it this week. cleaned the barn so I've got room to work, added some new lighting so I can see, and will get at it.

Sounds like a good plan. Looks if it is already broke, you can't do any harm in making it not run. After removing the S/G to lighten it up and removing it from the cub, drain the oil and remove the oil pan to check the rod. While you are in there, I would advise you to remove the balance gears, too. To me, they are a ticking time bomb. I did on my 149 and it shakes and shimmies a little bit more, but nothing outrageous or that noticeable.

Cub Cadet 123

[ab147]

thanks cc123, that's the first thing I was going to do. supposed to rain the next couple of days, that will keep me busy

[ab147]

I know this is old but I did take the pan off and found many pieces of connecting rod, and the crank is scored bad. I'll take pics later today.