Fixing a cracked block with a clamp?

[Billy-O]

Originally Posted by EternalArianne

Is that a design flaw with the courage engine, like he says?

I tend to think anything Kohler made after the K series is a design flaw.

[Leadslingingdaddy]

Courage with 1500hrs???? Really???

[guyina4x4]

Yes quite a few of them actually between 1k and 1500hrs.

not a fair comparison to a k series engine really.
But even the k engines didn't get to be 40-50 years old without basic maintenance and a few repairs and not all of them made it.

[EternalArianne]

So I didn’t see the ad on CL anymore so I thought either some poor sucker bought it, or he decided to keep it…

But nope, he’s reposted the mower for $800 now lol. This guy is nuts! I’m tempted to reply to the ad but I don’t wanna start something lol

[jtw37]

I bought this LT1042 (used) this summer with 130 hrs on the clock. Nice and clean everywhere. I have six acres to care for and the wife started mowing. After about 1 1/2 hrs mowing, I seen it smoking like crazy. Yep, the block cracked and the oil was getting on the muffler. Had her stop mowing so I could check it out. After doing some to late research I learned that the single cylinder Courage was prone to doing this. To cut to the chase, I had to take the cover plate (the cover under the flywheel) off to correct the problem. What I found on Youtube just didn't sit to well with me, so I got a fella that does aluminum Tig welding and had him weld the crack. Now to get this done, I had to completely drain the oil and do a really good job of cleaning the oil from the crack or the weld won't stay. So I used the spray Brake parts cleaner (non-flammable) and did this repeatedly until there was no oil residue coming from the crack. Spray from the inside and outside. It has to be really clean and you have to remove the cam and gear to get it out of the way. Anyway, we have mowed with it and so far the weld did the job. MAke sure to Loctite all your bolts, especially the front four and pull the flywheel cover from time to time to check that he bolts are still tight. Sorry for the long post.
Cracked Kohler Engine Block 2021-05-19 (1).jpgRepaired cracked block_20210624.jpg

[Leadslingingdaddy]

130 hrs seems more like the norm than 1500! lol

[EternalArianne]

I just saw another dude on CL selling another tractor with a Courage that cracked and he repaired with a clamp! Are these engines really that bad? It's got me wanting to not even consider anything below a Command level Kohler...