21 replies to this topic

[Don Campbell]

A few days ago I bought my first Bolens Diesel 4x4 . I was told it had been sitting for a few years and a couple years outside. Today I pulled the head off and saw a broken rocker arm and inside the first piston wall a big chunk was missing . Going to cost big bucks to fix it or get a different block.
Not sure if I may just scrap it for parts , got to think about it a few days and get a price at the machine shop for a possible sleeve insert. Has anyone had anything like this happen or see this before ?

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[8tyman8]

Wow thats bad ! Id (Being cheap) find a way to Delete that Cyl and just run 2 cylinders and run the injector line to the tank ! I have never seen a Damaged engine like that ! i wounder if it Froze (like there was water in the cylinder ) at one point it in is life ! Best of luck as parts are Expensive !
Cheers
Ty

[KC9KAS]

Sorry to hear about your engine problem.

[MH81]

I know little to nothing about these engines, but is it a sleeve able situation? As in the cyl can be bored out and a sleeve put in? Or it has sleeves and you can replace one?

[Gtractor]

OUCH!! That block is toast for sure. You might get lucky and find a block or complete engine in a salvage yard. Check around for other machines that use the same Iseki engine and you might be able to find one on the cheap. I know this is a major setback but think long term and don't scrap the tractor. It'll all work out in the end.
Last year dad missed checking the antifreeze in one if his Kubotas. [approx 25 horsepower] It is a size that you think would be a three cylinder but is actually 4 cylinders. He found out that engine was rare in tractors but larger zero turn Kubotas used the same engine. While looking on Craigslist a couple of weeks later he found a good running correct engine from a zero turn that the hydro had given up on and he bought the complete engine on a stand and heard it run before purchase for $400.

[JDBrian]

Sorry to hear this Don. Those Iseki motors have a good reputation. That is an extremely odd looking bit of damage. The entire cylinder looks odd. Maybe it was run on 2 cylinders after the damage?

[8tyman8]

Sorry to hear this Don. Those Iseki motors have a good reputation. That is an extremely odd looking bit of damage. The entire cylinder looks odd. Maybe it was run on 2 cylinders after the damage?

thats why i say it froze as if water entered the Cylinder casing rust and expansion damage i can bet that it will run (judging that the bottom end is not junk pull the piston and rod out Stick weld (or braze ) that hole it will just shake odd and run funny i found a video from a member with a briggs twin with a blown rod running perfect

[wilberj]

Yep I say she had some water in her at one time.

[Oo-v-oO]

Oh, that's ugly.

Bummer...

[mjodrey]

Don,sorry to hear that news.

[Farmlife]

that's a crappy deal for sure....If nuthn else you can always do a swap. I know the whole point is to have the nice diesel however swapping is better than another GT going to parts or worse.....

[Don Campbell]

Thanks a bunch everyone, this is all new to me too . Thanks for all your input as i am new at this. I was wondering if a person could weld a metal patch in their and sand it back smooth again . If i scrap it I at least tried one last longshot , ha,ha. When I pulled the head off it had a 1/2 inch of a thick redish metal rusty mush on top of the piston . I actually wiped it out with my finger . So it was built up water sitting in their for over 4 years. No exhaust cover over the pipe probably did it. The oil pan drain nut had been rounded off so i drilled it out and drained the oil and water . It had over a full cup of water in the pan too. Then I pounded a socket on the rounded nut and touched it quickly with a small weld , cooled it , then did it twice more. Then that sucker came off . I'm actually having fun puttering with it. The crank would only turn over manually 80% because the rusty cylinder wall stopped it when it hit the rusty edge. I sanded it down smooth to see if that was the obstruction and it was. So now I can spin it all the way around so that feels like the bottom end is not set up with rust. I'm not going to give up quite yet as I really like that little tractor . It is a pretty heavy duty looking machine. I have a 14 hp Onan hydro that runs perfect , any chance of converting something like that to it ? I know it will need a pump and a rear type driveshaft too .

[skyrydr2]

First check the rest out , then get it sleeved . Those Mitsubishi engines are really good engines. Cat used them for years. If it has crank/rod damage..... Then a replacement engine may be far more $$$$ frugal. Good luck with it ???

[Cat385B]

Don, this is the supplier I found in the US: http://www.engnetglo...R017_mitsubishi

[Don Campbell]

Thanks again everyone , all your opinions are important to me, positive or negative. Taking the block to get it sleeved is sounding better today but I will wait a few more days to do anything . I put it all back together this morning just to keep the parts from getting lost in case it is spring before I get it fixed. I love the little tractor and it would be fun to get it running and a personal challange too.