Montana

[Michael Wehrman]

Hey all,
Quick introduction, I'm Michael and I live in nw Montana.
I have a cub cadet 122 that hasn't ran in years, it has a tiller, mower, and front blade with it.
Last year when looked into getting it running I found the crank turns and the piston doesn't move.
I'm hoping to learn a lot here about these great pieces of equipment.
Thanks

 

[dschwandt]

Do you have the head off?

 

[wh cc guy]

Welcome. sounds like trouble with the rod.

 

[Michael Wehrman]

Do you have the head off?

I did take it off to look, I put it back on snug.

 

[dschwandt]

Well, in that case, if you are sure the piston is not moving, then it sounds like rebuild time.
May as well take it apart and find a machine shop willing to check it out, or look for a replacement engine. In either case, be ready to spend some money.
Has to be a reason the rod broke.
Low on oil, or over-revved due to failed governor gear.
I'd start by downloading the K-series service manual.
It's available in a PDF format
Good luck!.

 

[mgwin]

Welcome Michael!
You will have to take the motor out of the tractor. When you do, drain the oil and take the bottom pan off and look up in there and see what is going on. Be sure to catch the oil in a clean container to examine it for debris. That will tell you a lot.
Like David said, read up on the manual too.

 

[Michael Wehrman]

Thanks all. Summer time is short here and I don't have a heated shop but that's the direction I'm headed is to rebuild myself or buy another tractor and use this one for parts.

 

[rfunk]

If you HADN'T had the head off, I'd say to check that the piston didn't move, because looking through the spark plug hole has fooled more than one of us. The plug is not over the piston. You can only see part of the block, or the exhaust valve through the spark plug hole. Ask me how I know . . . but, since you've done that, I agree, disassembly time.

 

[mgwin]

Use it for parts? Check it out first. It may not be all that hard to fix.

 

[Michael Wehrman]

Thanks, yep I fell for the spark plug hole issue as well. I'm clearing a spot in one of my sheds to start tearing it down, with everything I have going on here it could be a year before I get it back together. Hopefully I find it's not that hard to fix.

 

[gloughery]

It helps me on long term projects if I take pictures of what it looks like as I disassemble. That way I know if something was done differently when I try to remember how it was when I took it apart. Right or wrong I will have a photo of before and it helps me understand as I put things back where I think I remember they went. Sometimes I can't remember stuff!

 

[rfunk]

It helps me on long term projects if I take pictures of what it looks like as I disassemble. That way I know if something was done differently when I try to remember how it was when I took it apart. Right or wrong I will have a photo of before and it helps me understand as I put things back where I think I remember they went. Sometimes I can't remember stuff!

AMEN. Can't Agee more!!!

 

[mgwin]

Before you take it all apart, take the head off again, and turn the crank with your hand to see if the piston moves. If it does, look in the cylinder and see if you have any scarring. If the piston moves and you have no serious scarring, put a new head gasket on and button it back up. "If it aint' broke, don't fix it." Put a new plug in, change the oil, and clean the carb. Now you're done with the engine.
Then you can take the tractor apart for sanding, priming, and painting.

 

[kzintner]

I did the same thing on my rebuild of my 70.

 

[dschwandt]

So, the piston does move when the crank is turned?
If you had the head off, and then reinstalled it, I hope you used a new gasket!??
Also, you should have checked it for flatness and cleaned it up a bit on a flat surface on some fine grit sandpaper.

 

[Michael Wehrman]

I'm in Iowa right now. I will have to look at it again when I get home. Thanks for the Xtra tips I will definitely be taking pictures!!