Kawasaki Crank bushings

[David Thompson]

I have a toro model 74179 serial 220000478
Kawasaki motor code fh601v-ds06
E/NO FH601VA33210
The bushing for the cranckshaft in the top half engine case is worn out and eating the oilk seals. I can see a bushing ,, I can feel a bushing,, But no one will sell me the dang bushing ? I have the engine completely torn apart and found out all the parts dealers want to do is sell me a new engine. The exploded view I have out of the J. Thomas catolog does not even show this bushing.
I am thinking about taking it to a machine shop and getting a new bushing pressed in and reamed to size and just see what happens.

[Restrorob]

If you want to repair that engine that's what you have to do, I know of no exact replacement bushing either. I have a unit in the shop right now with the same problem, But the unit is not worth putting all this work (re-bushing) into.


Good Luck

[David Thompson]

What happened to the good old days when people actually made things repairable? I have been a fan of the Kawasaki engines every since the first fb 460 I had way back when . That was one tough motor. But this bothers me having wearable items inside the motor that can not be replaced. I will be taking this into consideration with my next fleet of machines.
David

[mowermankevin]

David, A little frustrated? I have a whole garage full of blocks that need upper or lower engine case bushings, I'd love to beat kawa at this game, maybe a lucrative opportunity,somebody makes an insert but I'm still looking,let me know if you come on to an answer.

[David Thompson]

I have had to have parts made in situations like this before back when I was running the motorcycle shop. I was restoring old British bikes , the Triumph and Bsa and at the time some of the parts were just not available. So I am going to be calling some of my old machine shop guys and see just what it would cost to make a bunch of these. I know the original bushing , at least I was told by some guy from the Kawasaki tech line is made of some kind of lubrication impregnated material that is kind of a trade secret or some such nonsense. I am thinking about phosphour bronze bushings. Will keep you informed on the progress.
David

[jkason]

They are cast into the housings, and not considered "replacacble".

If they are gone that far, they're not worth fixing.

[David Thompson]

I just pressed out the old bushings today . they are not cast into the housing.

David

[Breezmister]

Hi David. When I come across a odd bearing or bushing, I've dealt with this place that is local to me, link to there site, and to local stores. Hope it is of some help to you

http://www.applied.com/

[David Thompson]

I found a bushing maker that is interested in making these case bushings for kawasaki motors. I have ordered them in both phosphor bronze and olite silicon impregnated with a steel backing so they wont distort the shape as bad when pressed in . The same supplier also said a caged needle bearing may be the best for wear in this situation so I ordered a set of those to. As I get the engines reassembled I will install new hour meters and log the maintenance of these so as to get a good picture of what will work the best.
David

[Skyking]

http://www.buykawpower.com

Check this out they have the bushing listed

Wayne

[David Thompson]

http://www.buykawpower.com

Check this out they have the bushing listed

Wayne

I must have missed it . I looked at all of the exploded diagrams of that engine series and none even show the part.
David

[Skyking]

Part # 92139

[ducky1]

Kaws seem to have a issue with top bushings and crank seals.

[Restrorob]

I took the number 92139 and punched it in my Dealer's site, It came up as a bushing for a air filter cap on a FJ series engine. Some bushing for a hand held product. Also a top crank bushing for FH381V thru FH531V engine then lastly a sump/side cover crank bushing on a FH601D-AS06.

There are no bushings listed for a FH601V-DS06.....

[rjxj]

At current shop rates most people cant get into repairs like that. An old guy that taught me stuff used to fix everything. He came through the depression and said they used to wrap leather around the cranksaht and put the rod back on and run it. What could ya do? No money and they needed to drive. I watched him bore a Briggs aluminum block in a four jaw lathe. He got it centered, bored it, made a sleeve, bored and honed it. This was all in an old 1 1/2 car garage. You can rebush it. Remember to time any oil feed holes when you press it in.

[mowermankevin]

David, please keep us updated on the bushing progress, if it works for you, please PM or call me @817 412-4110 I would very much like to beat Kawa @, this is ridiculous to have to buy a complete engine for a bushing, Know what I'm saying?

[David Thompson]

OK guys I now have 60 hours on the rebushed motor . I changed the oil and filter at 20 -40 and 60 hours for breaking in the new rings and ran 5 w 30 during the break period. The motor seems fine with the new bronze bushing. I dont expect another 2300 hours out of it like the original silicon impregnated self lubricating ones But I am into this for the bushings costing 65 bucks plus the cost of new rings and a gasket set still puts me under 250 for the rebuild.plus labor time. I hate to say I wont be able to follow the life of this machine as I am changing jobs and wont be around that particular machine. I am going to work for a local scag / kubota / stihl dealership. same money but I will save 4 tanks of gas on the ride to work every month.
David

[Skyking]

I found a bushing maker that is interested in making these case bushings for kawasaki motors. I have ordered them in both phosphor bronze and olite silicon impregnated with a steel backing so they wont distort the shape as bad when pressed in . The same supplier also said a caged needle bearing may be the best for wear in this situation so I ordered a set of those to. As I get the engines reassembled I will install new hour meters and log the maintenance of these so as to get a good picture of what will work the best.
David
Who is the supplier?? is their a web site??

[David Thompson]

Who is the supplier?? is their a web site??

Here is the web site . You will have to have the measurements inside diameter ,, outside diameter and length of the bushing to get the right ones. They dont really stock much other than standard sizes but will make whatever you want.
the 601 series motor I was building had a crank shaft diameter of 40 mm and the housing inside diameter was 44 mm so I ordered the bushing with the metric equivelant of .002 smaller inside bushing diameter for oil clearance. I really wasnt sure of how much clearance was needed but found a spec range of .002 to .005 in several air cooled motors of similar size and just went with that.
When I pressed the bushing in I took an old crankshaft out the same series engine and cut off the end that fit the side of the motor I was installing the bushing in and heated up a piece of key way stock and bent around the shaft and welded it in place to use as a collar to push the bushing in place with the shaft inside the bushing it didnt distort at all.
David

[David Thompson]

I guess I should have added the web site to that last post.
http://www.nationalbronze.com/

[kayeproperties]

Ya know you guys are real mechanics! This was an impressive thread to say the least. Its sad more people dont think and do instead of just taking no it cant be done for an answer. Hats of to you! I hope that motor lives 5000 hours!