301k rebuild

[woodbywallace]

I truly love the International Cub Cadet. I have two 129's and one 128. I got the one 129 for parts. It was complete and runs, but runs very badly and smokes alot.
My original 129 was working and running great but I put it away after using it one day and the next time I tried to start it the motor just spins the generator turns over and the front shaft spins and also the shaft coming out of the Kohler spins, not sure of the problem.....
My 128 is fine and is in very good shape.
My question which might be unable to be answered with this limited info is......I would like to try and rebuild the two 301's myself. My buddy said the one that smokes quite badly might just need new rings but the one that just spins probably needs a complete rebuild.
Can a pretty handy person who is quite mechanically inclined do a rebuild if he has never attempted one before? Is putting in new rings very hard?
Lastly everyone I have talked to say that the rebuild kits you can buy off of ebay are junk, is this true? And if so, where would be a great place to buy a rebuild kit and a set of rings?
Thanks for any help and advice, all the shops in my neck off the woods want an arm and a leg to do this work, I am on a military pension and retired so I would like to attempt this work myself and save a bunch of money.
Sorry for the very long thread but I hope I can get some answers

Thanks Big John from Western Pennsylvania

[PaulS]

I also am retired Mil and pension. I would say that doing everything yourself may be ok except unless you have a machine shop you will most likely have to get some work done for you. Then again it all depends on what will be needed once you get it torn down. Things like boring the cylinder and or the crank will need to be done by those that have the machines to do it. Other repairs need some specialized tools that most of us do not have like a valve tool, ring tool etc. If you have a friend that is or was a mechanic that can be a godsend.

[CADplans]

If you are careful, and are from western PA (I grew up in Pittsburgh!! I am biased) you can do it!!

The machine work needed is relatively inexpensive, less than $60 to bore the engine, less than $40 to grind the crank.

Ebay kits get great and bad reviews. I would bet the quality of the end product has more to do with the care that goes into the engine build than the parts selected.

Somebody using cheap parts might be more willing to cut corners when rebuilding, and end up with poor results.

BUT, there are so many Cubs in PA for sale, picking up one with a great engine might be the easiest solution. That might be much more cost effective than any rebuild.

[Methos]

Big John, I'm not a fan of just doing rings with out replacing the piston and rod. Have a good machine shop to do the machine work for you. I paid an extra $30 and had the machine shop install the piston and ron and set the bearing end play for me. To me it was well worth the money. I've heard a lot of good things about the Sten's kits and would use one to help keep cost down if a Kohler kit is out of the budget. Keep us posted.

[mrcubcadet]

I agree with Duke...You should just about ALWAYS replace a rod, once they get a lot of age on them, they could go anytime.






I have bought a lot of kits from these guys... http://www.ebay.com/itm/MASTER-REBUI...item1c28c4bf09



They use Stens and Rotary parts..

[samiam44]

I think a single cylinder engine is the ideal place to do your first rebuild.

I'd go with a stein's kit. You just need the machine shop to measure before buying the kit(rod and piston size). The new valves in the kit will save you in having the old ones ground- now only the seats in the block will be done.


If you have problems.. take pictures and ask questions. Once it's running nicely it will be good for a long long time. I rebuilding to gambling with used stuff. But everyone is different.

[MrGitrdone41]

I was not sure about rebuilding my 128's motor if i could do it. As soon as i started on it it was super basic. Make sure you download the service manual and if you follow it step by step you will be ok. I bought a stens kit off ebay and they are a good kit for the money. Just the piston from Kohler is 180$!(I work at a Kohler dealer) A kohler rod is 80$!!

[Alvy]

I'm redoing a K301 now as well so I will be right there with you. Was thinking about the ebay kits and what they offer too. I need a .020" undersized rod with mine and they seem to be the only ones that offer it so far. X2 on the service manual, the devil is in the details when it comes to engine work.

[samiam44]

Rods can be machined to accept inserts(like car engines have).

They are 10,20 and 30 thousands I believe.

Michael