4231 Engine
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BKBrown
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Good Pictures !
If the freeze plugs did what they were supposed to do - as long as it wasn't run dry - most of it should be OK !
With 2 engines you should be able to put together one perfect one. :biggrin: :thumbsup:
Is that carbon on one cylinder with only 21 hours or is that one that was used more ?
Both of my 4231s have been Gas - and the main reason I traded up was because I found out that Ventrac would not be using the Gas engine in future models because of EPA restrictions. I got one of the last Gas models that they produced. :biggrin:
If the freeze plugs did what they were supposed to do - as long as it wasn't run dry - most of it should be OK !
With 2 engines you should be able to put together one perfect one. :biggrin: :thumbsup:
Is that carbon on one cylinder with only 21 hours or is that one that was used more ?
Both of my 4231s have been Gas - and the main reason I traded up was because I found out that Ventrac would not be using the Gas engine in future models because of EPA restrictions. I got one of the last Gas models that they produced. :biggrin:
That was actually the newer engine....Ive got things ready to go together now,just waiting on my head gasket and new aluminum upgraded radiator kit...it looks like i may have it running just in time..
To repair this engine was a hard decision for me.Im a diesel guy.I seriously thought about just going diesel but the briggs/diahatsu diesel is nothing next to the gas engine as far as power or reliability...the 31hp turbo has little torque which is odd,you would think it would be the opposite,the diesel would have more,esp down low,but thats not the case here...and these engines arent lasting,Ive seen cracked heads,and thrown rods well under 1000hrs...seen them more than i would like to admit....if i had to go diesel the 26.5HP is the engine to have,its much more reliable than the 31 turbo...The 2 engines i would have swapped in dont fit in the sizes i wanted,those are Kubota D1105,and Yanmar 3TN82 or 84. I could fit smaller engines in but who wants a 21hp "peak" diesel in one of these...i might have well bought a Steiner with a D722 or worse yet a D600! D722 is an honest 16hp engine continous...not enough.
.Ill put a few more pics up here....I am going to tear into the parts engine,its got a lower end knock....probably toasted a rod bearing...when im done ill sell off what i dont need to recoup some of my investment...parts are rare for the gas version since they never fail,there arent many old parts egnines laying around.I guess you run one with no oil and mow for half a day and they will eventually develope a knock,but it still ran...most engines would have seized in 20 minutes tops,it ran for several hours.
To repair this engine was a hard decision for me.Im a diesel guy.I seriously thought about just going diesel but the briggs/diahatsu diesel is nothing next to the gas engine as far as power or reliability...the 31hp turbo has little torque which is odd,you would think it would be the opposite,the diesel would have more,esp down low,but thats not the case here...and these engines arent lasting,Ive seen cracked heads,and thrown rods well under 1000hrs...seen them more than i would like to admit....if i had to go diesel the 26.5HP is the engine to have,its much more reliable than the 31 turbo...The 2 engines i would have swapped in dont fit in the sizes i wanted,those are Kubota D1105,and Yanmar 3TN82 or 84. I could fit smaller engines in but who wants a 21hp "peak" diesel in one of these...i might have well bought a Steiner with a D722 or worse yet a D600! D722 is an honest 16hp engine continous...not enough.
.Ill put a few more pics up here....I am going to tear into the parts engine,its got a lower end knock....probably toasted a rod bearing...when im done ill sell off what i dont need to recoup some of my investment...parts are rare for the gas version since they never fail,there arent many old parts egnines laying around.I guess you run one with no oil and mow for half a day and they will eventually develope a knock,but it still ran...most engines would have seized in 20 minutes tops,it ran for several hours.
BKBrown
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Everything you say makes me glad I went with the Gas engine (my reason was that I have nothing else that is diesel and did not want to mess with finding and getting diesel when gas is more available).
Even people that work with all kinds of equipment all the time are impressed with the Ventrac when they see it work. :thumbsup:
I keep their brochures on the tractor and in both of my vehicles to hand out when anyone is interested. Gave out two yesterday when I was picking up lime and fertilizer.
Even people that work with all kinds of equipment all the time are impressed with the Ventrac when they see it work. :thumbsup:
I keep their brochures on the tractor and in both of my vehicles to hand out when anyone is interested. Gave out two yesterday when I was picking up lime and fertilizer.
Parts came in today.....it lives! What a great running engine....fired up and purrs like a kitten,she runs great from idle to 3600 and everywhere in between...I like mowing best between 2800-3000rpm...seems to be a sweet spot with it...I used it on and off about 45 minutes...time will tell if everything is good,so far so good no coolant loss and no leaks of any kind..Im going to drop the oil and filter in a few hours just because i had it apart,and same with coolant,going to flush it once i get a few hrs on it...compared to my steiners the ventrac seems smoother probably because it only has 516hrs on it,as opposed to 2200-12000 on the old steiners and the fact that its liquid cooled 3 cylinder...I like the controls on the ventrac better..just easier to operate.IMO.
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BKBrown
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Looks Good !
Always a good idea to flush and change oil and coolant after any rebuild !
I usually put some new oil in before I replace the drain plug (just to flush out most of the old oil left in the bottom of the oil pan). I don't understand why most drain pans don't have the plug positioned so ALL the old oil will drain !!! ??? I also usually place a good strong magnet on the pan near the plug and pull it off as it starts to drain.
Always a good idea to flush and change oil and coolant after any rebuild !
I usually put some new oil in before I replace the drain plug (just to flush out most of the old oil left in the bottom of the oil pan). I don't understand why most drain pans don't have the plug positioned so ALL the old oil will drain !!! ??? I also usually place a good strong magnet on the pan near the plug and pull it off as it starts to drain.
BKBrown
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Just for those that have the 4231 - FYI - if you don't use factory or Ventrac oil filters ---- make sure they are not longer (taller) than the factory filter. The lift arm for the front attachments will contact the filter when raised and cut or shear it and you will drop all your oil.
Thank you for the tip....I'm.using the factory filter because my dealer says its worth the money ....I usually use wix in everything I own except my Dodge /Cummins ...I use fleet guard.