Electrical failure on the B80

[sorekiwi 761]

Had a severe electrical failure on the B80 while cutting the grass on Sunday.

What happened was the rod came out and nailed the starter motor.

Here's the pictures:

Daylight from the iside of the motor:

Most of the connecting rod:

The jigsaw puzzle:

They always go really well right before they blow up...

Actually what really pi$$es me off is that with 5 tractors, I didnt have anything to finish cutting the grass! :whistle:

[Rollerman 290]

Mike thats a pretty big hole for a K181.

If it was an aluminium B&S or tucky I'd say thats normal....

Serious though....sorry about your engine failure & hope you can get the parts around for a repair.

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Bummer

Now, assuming you would rebuild it if there was no hole in the block.....

... this could be a real test of JB Weld!

So far my limited testing has shown it to be impressive. :whistle:

[sorekiwi 761]

Now, assuming you would rebuild it if there was no hole in the block.....

... this could be a real test of JB Weld!

So far my limited testing has shown it to be impressive.

Actually I am toying with the idea of welding it up...

Almost 20 years ago I repaired some engine blocks with arc welding (preheat and slow cool etc etc), but a few months ago I mig welded a broken cast iron bracket on the lathe at work and thats still holding up well. The Kohler block is pretty thin through there, I think it could work.

I have another block, but its one of the early small bore K161's and needs boring. I'm very tempted to weld all the pieces back in, polish the crank, put another rod in it and see how long it lasts. :WRS:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Gee.... wonder if that one needs a camshaft too?

If you were only closer, Mike..... I could fix you right up! :WRS:

[sorekiwi 761]

Gee.... wonder if that one needs a camshaft too?

I dont think the cam took a hit, not a mark on it.

I think the rod broke at the top first, then that poked the hole in the block, and then thats what broke the big end apart. If the big end of the rod had broken first I dont think the hole in the side would've been so big. There is one "punch mark" from the rod right in the middle of the pieces that broke out.

Its funny, I've been a race car mechanic for 20 years, have probably changed 1000 engines, and seen 100 blown up. But this is the first one I've been directly looking at when it popped. Kinda cool really, reminded me of those slow motion video's of a bullet hitting an apple or something.

[BairleaFarm 340]

Ive had my tractor completely apart the last few days painting it. I had a hole about that size in the same place at one time. Someone fixed it and it doesn't leak so not all is lost with that block.

[kj4kicks 154]

Yep, as electrical failures go, that was a bad one !

Hope you can get it all back together since you were able to find the pieces.

[illinilefttackle 399]

SOREKIWI-Years ago I repaired Automatic Transmission case by welding it in a stitch fashion-then sealing it with and epoxy that had aluminum particles it it-still on the road today-Good Luck!-AL :whistle:

[linen beige 15]

What happened was the rod came out and nailed the starter motor.

OK, somebody's gotta ask, Did you find the starter motor?

[Rollerman 290]

If you were only closer, Mike..... I could fix you right up!

Like wise TT...wait we are some what close....

OK, somebody's gotta ask, Did you find the starter motor?

Jim it should be landing soon. :WRS:

[DMESS 24]

You didn't take any shrapnel from that blast did you?

Can't say I've seen one go like that. Poor starter did its job and was just hanging out as an innocent bystander! :WRS:

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Go ahead and weld her up!

[sorekiwi 761]

You didn't take any shrapnel from that blast did you?

Imagine if it was an RJ or Suburban and it let go like that... be more than just a Ball Burner! :WRS:

[linen beige 15]

Jim it should be landing soon.

:WRS:

[Kelly 1,033]

I welded a car block with a mig, then coated it with JB weld to seal it. It was in the lifter valley on a SBC both sides full legnth of the block, and ran it as a derby motor for years, got VERY hot many times finally a rod let go.

I say weld it up, thats not a high stress area, normally.

[sorekiwi 761]

I say weld it up, thats not a high stress area, normally.

Yeah, thats what I'm going to do. I'll post pictures if I'm not too ashamed of it!

It may be a week or so - I've got way too many 1/2 finished projects lying round so have to organize my life a little before I pull the rest of the motor apart!

Hmmm.... I wonder if I could change the rod from the bottom, flush out the case with brake-clean, weld the case, and put it together. Then I wouldnt even need to buy a head gasket!! :whistle: