fhiggenbottom
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2015
- Messages
- 35
- displayname
- Fred Higgenbottom
Our Cub Cadet 1330 lawn tractor with the Kohler Command 12.5 vertical shaft engine started shaking violently and then shredded the PTO belt while my wife was using it. Diagnosing the problem, I discovered that three of the four engine mounting bolts were missing and assumed they had vibrated out somewhere in the yard. In attempting to find the correct mounting bolts so I could replace them I hit a dead end. The internet and even YouTube were uncharacteristically absent that information. Even Cub Cadet 4x4 Country & Cub Cadet in Hendersonville, NC couldn't find the correct size in diagrams that were available to them.
Reluctantly, I removed the remaining engine mounting bolt and took it to Cub Cadet 4x4 Country & Cub Cadet who with a pitch gauge discovered that it was a Hex Cap Screw, M8-1.25 x 25. They didn't carry that size, so I found and purchased four of them with lock washers at the local Home Depot. In attempting to install them I learned how incredibly difficult that task proved. Aligning the blind holes in the engine block to the holes in the frame of my Cub Cadet was a nightmare and after many attempts I could only get two bolts in. To my dismay I discovered the reason for that. The alignment problem was due to the fact that the other two engine mounting bolts had sheared off in the aluminum block. Panic! I learned that the Kohler engines on some John Deere lawn tractors were secured with only two bolts and not wanting to go through the hassle of removing the engine and drilling out the sheared bolts I'm running mine the same way. The mower runs and cuts the grass well, now, but my hope is that it will continue working without damaging the block or frame. Anyone else have successful experience with only two mounting bolts?
Reluctantly, I removed the remaining engine mounting bolt and took it to Cub Cadet 4x4 Country & Cub Cadet who with a pitch gauge discovered that it was a Hex Cap Screw, M8-1.25 x 25. They didn't carry that size, so I found and purchased four of them with lock washers at the local Home Depot. In attempting to install them I learned how incredibly difficult that task proved. Aligning the blind holes in the engine block to the holes in the frame of my Cub Cadet was a nightmare and after many attempts I could only get two bolts in. To my dismay I discovered the reason for that. The alignment problem was due to the fact that the other two engine mounting bolts had sheared off in the aluminum block. Panic! I learned that the Kohler engines on some John Deere lawn tractors were secured with only two bolts and not wanting to go through the hassle of removing the engine and drilling out the sheared bolts I'm running mine the same way. The mower runs and cuts the grass well, now, but my hope is that it will continue working without damaging the block or frame. Anyone else have successful experience with only two mounting bolts?
