Andy Jorgensen said: I'd call Repower Specialists first to find a Kubota alternative.
If that doesn't pan out, let me know. I have a few 3250Ds that were retired last year that are just sitting under a tarp behind the shop. May be able to get you what you need for free. You pay shipping.
That is extremely awesome of you. I may take you up on it if I can't figure out an engine swap to something more reliable.
Sean Donnelly said: Could you go into a little more detail on what to look out for on these Briggs/diatsu diesel engines. I have 2 of them in older workman's with over 3k hrs that were not maintained well by the previous mechanic. What do you feel is the fail point?
This engine is the DM850D. It runs fine for about 30-60 minutes, and then starts blowing coolant out the overflow. I've tried throwing a head gasket at it to no avail. If the radiator is not kept clean, it'll crack the head. Even maintained properly, they can crack a head. I just see it as a generally poor design with local overheating, and poor amount of deck sealing surface area for a diesel. I've also seen the gas version crack heads. These were also installed on those loaders that piggyback on trucks, leading to a lot of people looking for engines.