[jpw1400]

I've got a Cub Cadet 1450 with most likely a broken connecting rod. (Haven't taken it totally apart yet, but heard a snap, and rotating the drive shaft has no effect on the piston.)

I like the heft of the old tractor, and would rather rebuild than buy something big box, even if the money ends up being about the same. What I'm unclear about is whether I should take this on myself (and I'll have to spend at least $100 in tools I figure, and that'll involve a lot of making do), or find someone in the area that has done this before and pay that person to do it for me.

To characterize my level of expertise... I've never rebuilt an engine before. I've done a fair amount of car repair with the likes of brakes and alternators, replaced head gaskets and stuff like that, but adjusting the valves on this cub cadet is the most "inside" of the engine I've been. I'm on the handy side of "Joe Homeowner" (which is what I am), not quite a shade-tree mechanic, and well below a full out mechanic with a shop and all the equipment.

When I say I'll need to buy some tools, I don't mean wrenches and the sort... I'm all set there. I have gear pullers that should be able to pull the flywheel, but I don't have stuff like I'd need to hone the cylinder walls, or micrometers/telescoping bore gauge to determine if I need to bore the cylinder or grind the crankshaft, engine stand, valve spring compressor (but can borrow from auto parts store), no hydraulic press, etc.

I'll pull the engine myself (have it almost out now). I live in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate NY. Is there some engine rebuilder nearby who does this all the time, and I should just bring the engine to them, pay $200 in labor (just guessing), parts another $200, but save $100 in tools, OR (as I would anticipate the response to this post would be given the forum I am posting to), regard any tool buying as an investment, leverage the vast expertise on this forum and youtube tutorials, and learn something in the process?