exmark metro 36 fb-460v kawasaki engine leaking around crankcase gasket

[slash5bmw]

I noticed my fb-460v leaking about the crankcase gasket so I pulled the engine. I'm still wrestling with getting off the little pulley but I'm soaking it with pb-blaster.
I noticed when removing a couple of the 8 crankcase bolts that 2 of them were fairly loose. Not sure if I just tighten them, if that will stop the leak but since I have the engine off I'm going to use RTV to make another gasket since the gasket is no longer available.

I don't think the oil seal is leaking but I plan on replacing that also. I concern is what caused the crankcase gasket to leak? Could there be a problem with the crankcase breather? I've never removed the breather plate but I heard there are reed valves to make sure there in negative pressure in the crankcase.

I plan are looking closer into this. Not sure if those parts are available if needed.

Has anyone else noticed a leak around the crankcase? Any success with RTV and a new oil seal?

TIA

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[Scrubcadet10]

Most likely, given the age of that engine, the gasket finally failed. I've rarely seen breather issues on Kawasaki engines.

 

[StarTech]

Crankcase is considered a shim and usually a specified thickness. Using just RTV will not give this shim thickness and can cause binding of parts. And yes to replacement of PTO oil seal especially on an old engine.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Crankcase is considered a shim and usually a specified thickness. Using just RTV will not give this shim thickness and can cause binding of parts. And yes to replacement of PTO oil seal especially on an old engine.

View attachment 59679
View attachment 59681

FB460 uses shim washers

 

[StarTech]

Yes metal shims are also used but as said the crankcase is also a shim. I don't know the gasket thickness but engine like Briggs usually have gasket that are 0.015" and RTV usually installs with zero thickness.

According the one FB46v I looked up there is no shims for the camshaft.

But go ahead and install sump with RTV as far as I care. It not my work so I don't have to live the results.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Oookay, i gotcha now.

 

[slash5bmw]

Thanks for the info guys. This is the engine I'm working with.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/manufacturer/kawasaki/4-stroke-engine/fb460v/fb460v-ms14-4-stroke-engine-fb460v/cylinder-crankcase

I remember checking a year ago and I saw the gasket was no longer available but it now looks like I can buy it.
11060A

110602481
GASKET,CRANKCASE COVE

They also have the seal.
92049C

920492227
Oil Seal

I will measure the best I can with my feeler gauge before I remove the case to verify the .5mm recessed seal.
I'm not seeing any shims in the link above.
Any other thing that you think I should replace when I have the crankcase open?

TIA

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[StarTech]

Hopefully they have some in stock as Kawasaki is listing the crankcase as NLA.

 

[slash5bmw]

yeah, that's what I remember seeing it NLA before that's why I was thinking RTV. I'm going to give jacks a call and see if they can get it. Not sure what other option I have. I could maybe make a gasket with the sheet of gaskets they sell.

 

[slash5bmw]

You can see where the gasket is coming off the cover and that's exactly where the oil was leaking from.