K3M Mitsubishi Engine or Block

Short Game · Mar 3, 2012

I appreciate the help though those are old links for me, as I am a veteran of this search. There are no short-blocks from what I can find. I can get everything except a block. I posted this thread because it seems about the only chance I have. I missed one on Ebay once, and it went off at a very reasonable price. I am on a small pension with nothing much for reserves. I will need a good deal to make it work out. I sure would like to have that Cub Cadet working for me again, as it was better in many ways than the 41 HP I have now, and far better on fuel. I have a bizillion hours in fixing that old machine and have learned pretty much how not to break it. I hate to see it sitting there.

If I can't fix it, I will put it back together and run it with the crack. It only gets water in the oil when it sits, so I can run it and drain the block and radiator every time. It gets lube oil in the water when it runs, so that will be the cost of doing business. Obviously, the crack is between the oil pump output and the water jacket, and apparently it is a small crack. The main oil gallery in the casting runs the length of the block along the right outer bottom corner of the water jacket, with a small line forward to the timing gears, and larger one to the rear. I don't know where else in the block there are pressure lines near the water jacket, so I assume that line in the casting is where the problem is. Water pumps should last well, running it that way.

IH3444 · Mar 3, 2012

Is it possible to post a few pictures of the cub cadet with the engine removed so that maybe someone might come up with a good idea of a possible engine replacement other than the K3M engine. Are there any other forums devoted to your Cub Cadet that others have encountered the same situation, and subsituted another engine? What model and year Cub Cadet is it?

Is it at all possible to weld, or braze the crack? Any pictures of the crack in the block?

Kernopelli · Mar 3, 2012

Here's a listing for a parts machine kind of close to you in Tangent OR. CASE IH 275 Parts, CASE IH 275 Machine Salvage, CASE IH 275 Dismantled Machines At TractorHouse.com. No idea what shape the block is in, what you are wanting to spend or what $$$ they would ask but thought I would mention it.

Ever considered an engine swap as IH3444 mentioned? You could lookfor a cheap running engine from a slightly different series that might (likely would) work. Something like a K3H or even an S3L2 that was used in the Cub 7260/5 tractors and Toro 5300 ReelMaster( spec'ed out at 32 HP in the Toro :thumbsup

....just a thought and a way to expand your options/something to keep your eyes out for.

Short Game · Mar 4, 2012

Kernopelli said:
Here's a listing for a parts machine kind of close to you in Tangent OR. CASE IH 275 Parts, CASE IH 275 Machine Salvage, CASE IH 275 Dismantled Machines At TractorHouse.com. No idea what shape the block is in, what you are wanting to spend or what $$$ they would ask but thought I would mention it.

Ever considered an engine swap as IH3444 mentioned? You could lookfor a cheap running engine from a slightly different series that might (likely would) work. Something like a K3H or even an S3L2 that was used in the Cub 7260/5 tractors and Toro 5300 ReelMaster( spec'ed out at 32 HP in the Toro :thumbsup....just a thought and a way to expand your options/something to keep your eyes out for.

I could not determine which engine that Case IH has.

Short Game · Mar 4, 2012

IH3444 said:
Is it possible to post a few pictures of the cub cadet with the engine removed so that maybe someone might come up with a good idea of a possible engine replacement other than the K3M engine. Are there any other forums devoted to your Cub Cadet that others have encountered the same situation, and subsituted another engine? What model and year Cub Cadet is it?

Is it at all possible to weld, or braze the crack? Any pictures of the crack in the block?

The crack is somewhere internal. Can only guess where it might be. As far as another block design, there has to be steering and hydraulic pumps, the forward frame would have to be made to fit the block. There is mating to the clutch and drive gear. To change engine types brings in huge complication. Later models of this Mitsubishi build used physically smaller block engines. One of these engines would surely mate to the transmission, but everything forward would have to be refitted, or replaced with later model parts that would probably cast half a tractor's worth.

Short Game · Mar 5, 2012

I've been looking at that Case IH 275 at tractordata.com and it does look like it might be the same block. So, thanks for that lead.

On edit, have one source that says the 275 has the K3M engine.

Off to the salvage yard sites.