Garage find - O'l Red! Meet the Garden Tractor (GT)

[jeepman3071]

Update on this. I looked it over again, and it appears oil is gushing out of the governor shaft seal area when running.. it looks kind of involved to replace but I'm not against doing it I just need to make sure I have all the necessary gaskets when I tear this apart. Do I need to remove the engine from the tractor or can I just work on it inside the frame? I'll do the head gaskets also they were on my list because they are known to blow. I will have to dig a little further into it to really get a idea.. Thanks!

You don't have to remove the engine, but it will be MUCH easier to work on it. Removing the engine on these isn't bad, it's 4 bolts from the bottom, a wiring harness connector, and the drive belt for the transmission. You've removed the deck and deck belt, and IMO that is half the battle.

 

[AndyB]

I’d check the crankcase venting/breather also. High crankcase pressure will force oil out.

 

[1 SX]

a quick update on this, I finally got around to working on this and after some disassembly of the front area, no removal of engine, and the use of a couple very small screws to kinda pull on the seal it just slid right out. Almost too easy like it shrunk just a hair and was loose causing the leak? Also when removing the gov arm there was a locking type retainer behind the gov arm, a nylon waster, then this oil seal. The nylon washer disintegrated and I could not even remove it as it just broke into million little pieces and fell behind exhaust. next i will order the correct parts, and how would i go about installing the new oil seal just slide it back in place and press it in? Thanks!.

 

[jeepman3071]

For the new seal-

Slide it back in place (I usually put some grease on it and pack grease behind the spring on the backside to keep it in) and tap it back in with a pipe that is about the same diameter as the seal.

 

[The_Eric]

The pto seal? Remove all dirt and as much rust as practical from the shaft to prevent damage to the new seal

 

[1 SX]

Okay! Shes back up and running and without leaking! After i replaced the gov cross shaft oil seal, reassembled and started up and it was STILL leaking. The real problem was a "breather gasket" P/N: 24-041-67-S that was right next to the gov cross shaft. Because of a shield, the leak gave the appearance of coming out of the gov cross shaft, when really it was coming out of the breather gasket that blew the whole left side out. Also changed out the oil again then used a OEM Kohler filter, replaced the drive belt, added LED lights. Will install the new 3 in 1 blades soon, when i reinstall the deck. Thanks for the feedback! :-D

With the hood open

 

[1 SX]

To update this thread!
the GT is doing very well .
After all the initial issues, I have put an honest 30 plus hours on it in the last couple months and it’s been knock on wood smooth sailing.
The engine starts within 1second at any given time cold or hot, it uses zero Synthetic 10w30 HM oil and no smoke ever. It honestly runs as well well as a new tractor and has tq for weeks. Even at it modest 3180 rpm’s, it will mulch 2 foot high grass without ever breaking a sweat..
I added a new direct power connected multifunction computer and serviced the transmission - 3 quarts of 30 weight, plus picked up a mulch kit for the deck since I all ready installed the 3 in 1 gator blades.

EDIT: replaced both head gaskets with the upgraded revised oem head gasket kit p/n: 24 841 04-S 30 plus running hours ago. I would say they blew right around 62 hours of use and tractor has about 95 total house on it currently.