I have a GF1800 front deck, anti-freeze in the oil

[jrsavoie]

I have a GF1800 front deck, anti-freeze in the oil.

I rebuilt the 54" deck. The mower is ugly paint wise but was still running and functioning fine.

It overheated the last outing and now there is anti-freeze in the oil.

Should I sell it as is for whatever I can get out of it?

Are there engines available? Does anybody have a link to an engine that will fit and be an easy swap?

Any advice or offers would be appreciated.

 

[ShaunRH]

I have a GF1800 front deck, anti-freeze in the oil.
...
It overheated the last outing and now there is anti-freeze in the oil.
...
Any advice or offers would be appreciated.

Sounds like a blown gasket, likely head gasket. They usually aren't that hard to change, normally the older the engine, the easier to change.

If you aren't mechanically inclined, an offer of a case of beer or other favorite item to a friend who is will get the gasket replaced...

Do not run the motor with mixed fluids in the oil!

 

[jrsavoie]

Sounds like a blown gasket, likely head gasket. They usually aren't that hard to change, normally the older the engine, the easier to change.

If you aren't mechanically inclined, an offer of a case of beer or other favorite item to a friend who is will get the gasket replaced...

Do not run the motor with mixed fluids in the oil!

I ran the engine from the tool shed to the fuel tank. I checked the oil there and drove it back to the shed. I am not planning to start it again.

Does anybody have any advice on where to find a head, thermostat and gaskets?

I wonder why I didn't get any notification to the reply? I just came back to the forum to check

Would anybody be interested in buying it as is?

Can I find a repair manual online?

What steps are involved in swapping the head?

How much money am I looking at spending?

 

[Daren Todd]

www.kubotabooks.com has a parts manual for a g1800. You can find your part numbers off that and check with kubota for the parts you need. Or one of the online kubota parts dealers


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[Daren Todd]

I'll have to check my computer at home and see if I can find the site where I got my service manual from was the cheapest I could find, got it go 10$


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[ShaunRH]

Majority of cost would likely be in labor but you're going to be in for at least $100 in parts but it depends on what you find when you get in there.

Standard protocol for a head gasket is to have the head ground flat and the motor at least lapped to check for low spots.

If you didn't run it long after the event that caused the failure, then there is likely little damage to those surfaces. If it has gone on for some time, then the mating surfaces will need some work and that puts a huge cost increase on it.

If you just go for a new gasket and clean the surfaces then you may end up just blowing that gasket as the problem may still exist in the engine.

Sometimes a head gasket is an easy thing, sometimes it's a PITA.

Selling the unit to a mechanically inclined person isn't a horrible idea, but I'd probably have such a person check out the tractor first, get an informed opinion and then approach a solution.

It can be other things causing the issue, a head gasket is just the most common so that's what I'm tossing out there.

 

[jrsavoie]

Thanks. I'm always a little skittish about parts changing or rebuilds. I've never had the greatest longevity with either.

Any further advice would be appreciated. Is there anybody close that wouldn't gouge me horribly. I realize there will be machine shop costs and such.

Not many small engine guys around here work on diesels

 

[Daren Todd]

The link for a service manual for your tractor is www.kubota.servicemanualvault.com price is 9.95$ per manual. Hope this is a help for whomever you get to fix your tractor


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