Overheated Kawasaki damage

[Opelman]

Today's public service announcement, make sure your blower housing isn't full of cooling air blocking rodent nest. A customer got a great deal on a super clean JD 185 hydro. No start so it came to me. Found a dropped exhaust valve seat from overheating. A new head is unavailable, luckily we have a fantastic machine shop nearby who can make incredible repairs on aluminum heads. I'll be getting a new valve seat and the intake touched up for a very reasonable price. I'm looking forward to hearing this machine run. Kawasaki FC 540V.

 

[jeepman3071]

Such a shame, but glad it is getting fixed. Those older John Deeres are worth fixing, they beat anything that is out there today. I have a 2000 John Deere 345 I mow weekly with, it has 1300 hours on the Kawasaki FD611V. Definitely post some pics of the mower once it is back up and running.

 

[repairman54]

I make it a habit when starting my mowers every time to start it with hood open after being parked overnight if not longer to see if anything blows out of the motors on start up.
Sure sign of a rats nest inside of it. I've caught it a few times over the years doing it that way keeping my nineties engines in the game for the long haul.

 

[Opelman]

Such a shame, but glad it is getting fixed. Those older John Deeres are worth fixing, they beat anything that is out there today. I have a 2000 John Deere 345 I mow weekly with, it has 1300 hours on the Kawasaki FD611V. Definitely post some pics of the mower once it is back up and running.

I really like those water cooled Kawasakis. Make sure that the fuel line from the pump to carb is in good shape. I have dealt with a few that failed and burned.

 

[wavinwayne]

...A new head is unavailable, luckily we have a fantastic machine shop nearby who can make incredible repairs on aluminum heads...

Having worked with machinists for most of my career I can say a great machinist is worth their weight in gold!

 

[oldcodger]

Had something similar happen to my B&S Intek. A mouse started a nest on top of the fly wheel in the plastic cooling fins. I went to start it one morning and a stick the mouse had placed jammed and stripped all of the plastic fins off the flywheel fan. Made a terrible racket. I was lucky the replacement fan was cheap.

 

[jeepman3071]

I really like those water cooled Kawasakis. Make sure that the fuel line from the pump to carb is in good shape. I have dealt with a few that failed and burned.View attachment 338486

Yes they are also known for the fuel pump dumping fuel directly onto the muffler. When I first bought mine I upgraded the fuel lines and fuel pump to the new design. I love how quiet the machine is, and the power steering is a feature you don't think you need on a garden tractor until you have it.

 

[Opelman]

Well, the head is back and the necessary gaskets and a new air filter should be here tomorrow.

 

[asker123]

I checked my FR 730V cooling system after removing the top plastic cover last year and I agree it should be checked once a while. More so if the mower is sitting outside.
What I dont get is why some people have garages and sheds but use those as storage and park their equipment and vehicles outside in open.

 

[Opelman]

Well, here it is almost back in fighting trim. The engine runs beautifully, the hydro is smooth and quiet too. It has a noisy bearing on the deck somewhere and the steering is a bit stiff still. A little more work and this will be a nice mower. Serial dates it to 1988 with a Sunstrand hydro.

 

[andyd]

My OPE has a storage tent that is open at both ends. A few summers ago, the Kohler on my 2000 Craftsman started dying after a 1/2 hrs use. BIL, my brother from another mother, tells me " you got a mouse nest, take the shroud off" Yup. Another item for spring checkup. No nest this yr, it was a squirrel's stash all kinds of seeds stuck in the fins instead

 

[Slick]

Well, here it is almost back in fighting trim. The engine runs beautifully, the hydro is smooth and quiet too. It has a noisy bearing on the deck somewhere and the steering is a bit stiff still. A little more work and this will be a nice mower. Serial dates it to 1988 with a Sunstrand hydro.

View attachment 339942

Nice to rescue a solid older mower. Nice to see the engine is back together and running well.

The picture of the re-worked head looked nice. If you don't mind sharing what did the machine shop charge for their work on the head?

 

[Opelman]

Nice to rescue a solid older mower. Nice to see the engine is back together and running well.

The picture of the re-worked head looked nice. If you don't mind sharing what did the machine shop charge for their work on the head?

The machine shop charged me $100.00 for the repair. Super cool people and high quality work.

 

[Slick]

The machine shop charged me $100.00 for the repair. Super cool people and high quality work.

Seems like a great price for good work. Money well spent.

Thanks