TX Turf Gator Gasket leak repair

This season I had 2 of these engines start leaking crankcase gaskets . I've had similar issues with Vanguards in the past and really didn't have much luck finding a permanent fix. Not going to get into much detail about removal etc. Just about what I'm doing to resolve the problem .The cause I believe is from vibration from clutch when the machines working hard on take off . 

Model # etc . for ordering gaskets . You should also replace the crankshaft seal to while it's apart.

Easy to take out . Less than a half hour with a lift.

Clean the engine bay out before replacing engine .

Here is the leak . Yes those bolts have just back off from vibration 

I'm using a shaft of a grade 8 bolt with a fine thread 9/16" bolt to pop drive clutch off . After the second machine started to leak I ordered the proper puller from JD . If you can get one from somewhere else I would suggest doing so . JD doesn't really want to sell you the tool but would rather have you bring machine in for them to repair I was told??? Ah That's what I'm hired to do here at my course !! I like their gear but they needlessly make it hard for me to do my job .  Took quit a while to get one . But I wasn't in a hurry either.

Also one bolt vibrated in two. Busted section just threaded out so it wasn't cross threaded.

There was a discussion once about possibly the bolts were slightly longer than the bore .So I remembered and decided to look into this theory . 

In this case the bore was plenty deep . An after thought for me was maybe air gets trapped in the non through bores causing a false torques.

One of the techs was replacing the bolts with new zinc coated ones with excellent success. I took it one step further and trying these low torque double locking washers . Not cheap but If I'm not redoing this machine again will be well worth it . 

 Torqued them to JD spec and they where good all summer . I did notice one had a leak under it and thought for a minute …. here we go again . On closer inspection noticed the oil filter had loosened off . 

Next crankcase seal job I'll come back and redo this post with more details . 

Still vibrating loose !!!!

I'm going to try this suggestion next . 

By removing a half inch off this shield with a box knife and snap it off you can actually replace gasket in frame of TX . 

Area circled 

bottom 2 bolts and top 3 I'm replacing with studs and using lock washer and lock nut . 

report later if its a forever fix .

Held for a while but still no luck .Bolts are backing out from vibration .

After 6 months back to the drawing board .

purchased some wire tie pliers and products.

Last attempt. Hopefully this will work . Came with this little clamp for drill but found it hard on drill bits . 

Free hand on the vise work just fine .

Wired them in pairs . The idea is when one tries  to vibrate out it greats tension on wire tightening the other paired bolt . So technically they can not back out . I will report back at some point if this is in deed a fix .