Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Mech
I own a mechanic shop....... So I do ALL my own work. (Imagine that.) With the exception of boring, and crank grinding, I can do it. Never was justifiable for the business to buy a boring bar.
As a mechanic, I don't like to see people rebuild engines if they don't think they are capable. Don't want to be the "Lone Ranger" on this advice, but I have seen too many times someone was "talked" into doing something that they had no business doing (either by someone else, or they "read on the internet" how easy it is) ..... Then had to pay me to fix it. There have been a few here, from this group, that did everything right on their rebuild, and it still failed. Personally, I say weigh the cost. If it works out for you great! If not, it comes out of your pocket. Everything we do here at my shop leaves with a warranty. So it's out of my pocket if it goes south. Sometimes, it's worth the dollars for the "insurance". If you feel comfortable, go for it! If not, let someone else do it. I will say, the only way that it is even remotely "affordable" to own and restore old tractors is if you do it yourself. Good luck whatever you decide! Sorry for the lengthy response!  |
I wanted to add to this. A lot of folks say a change of piston rings and a oil change is a rebuild. Not so at all. I was not quite old enough to understand rebuilding these small engines. And sure as heck was not going to learn on my own equipment. To start out with, and not knowing anything about a rebuild, I chose to have the rebuild done while the engine still ran good. Next, with the super help from OCC, I made a choice of who I thought would be able to do such a job. I was shown more about rebuilding a k241 than I ever thought imaginable. That is at least a base, and I will now try a k161 rebuild in the future. My warranty on this rebuild was one man's good word to another man's good word, and a handshake. That's how I do business.
About the tools, It would be easy to drop a large sum on quality tools. I bought a lot of Snap On, and you better believe I was making money with them. I had not one tool for a rebuild, and did not know apples from oranges. The measurements of the engine and components tell you what to do, not you tell the engine what to do. That has been my great experience. And I will be happy when I fully learn and understand myself one day!
{ no J-Mech, this is not at you or anyone}
The old IH, and Cub Cadets are well worth repairing. If someone is scared to work on these indestructible engines, then look elsewhere for engine service because that service shop is lacking serious knowledge!