Exmark 46 w/ 19kaw motor replacement

[TUG]

First Id like to thank you all in advance for any assistance you can provide.

My brother owns his own lawn care biz here in jacksonville, but isnt exactly internet savvy so I am helping him out here if possible.

He uses an Exmark 46" with the 19kawi motor in it, and it is back in the shop yet again with a blown motor after major engine repair just a week ago (same dealer).

The dealer diagnosed the motor with a seized motor (piston) which was repaired last week.

It is now back in the shop less than 7 days later with a "blown motor" which they are now claiming requires total replacement to the tune of 2300+ dollars.

My brother is not mechanically inclined (with small engines anyway) and I am heading to the dealer tomorrow morning to sort all of this nonsense out, but I was doing some research on the model/etc to have as much info as possible when meeting with the service manager tomorrow.

I already think its ridiculous that he paid hundreds of dollars to have them "repair" the engine a week ago from the siezed motor...only to have them now claim the entire motor requires replacement for even more money a week later.

According to my brother the actual warranty on the mower expired last month (imagine that)...it was purchased new at this same dealer.

Is this common with these motors?

Is $2300 for a motor replacement a reasonable quote? or is this ridiculous? I cannot believe that any solution is to buy a brand new motor and put it in vs replacing the internals...id laugh at a dealer who told me they needed to replace my entire motor at my cost if we were talking about a car or motorcycle etc.

Thanks in advance

-B

[MowerMedic77]

Could you post the exact model# and spec# for this motor?

[TUG]

wish I knew...i can obtain this information after visiting the dealer where it is sitting tomorrow.

Was hoping this was a pretty common lawnmower...but apparently it has more options than my truck!

[MowerMedic77]

Remember I would need the numbers on the engine not the mower.

[TUG]

Remember I would need the numbers on the engine not the mower.

thank you for the assistance, I will get this tomorrow morning.

[LarryF]

Mine is a similar mower but with a 52" deck and a 23HP engine, so I'm more than just a little bit curious about this. I'd appreciate answers to the following questions if you would be good enough to oblige me. How many hours are on the mower? What was the nature of the "major engine repair" the dealer did the week before the engine seized which therefore required it to be replaced? It almost sounds like the dealer's mechanic should have seen that coming or maybe he did something wrong to cause it to seize. Is it possible the dealer is at fault? Sounds to me like he might be. Maybe he neglected to put oil in it after doing that major engine repair. And how much did your brother pay for that repair?

I also wonder if a short block would be an alternative possibility and one that might be less expensive than $2300.

[BigFish]

I'm thinkin' Kaw. doesn't supply short blocks.
As far as replacement costs go, ya hafta figure the shop labor rate/time, parts, misc, vs a new motor. If ya can't DIY then ya gotta pay to play.

[mowerknower]

No shortblock available for kawis, price sounds a little high, I believe the kai engine is 1800 plus shipping, should only be an hour job depending if clutch and pulley come off.