home owner

my mech tells me the pan gasket is leaking oil on my 23hp kawasaki, how do i repair this after i pull the engine from the mower.

Before you take the engine out remover the PTO and drive pulleys from the crank,
A lot easier to do this engine in frame.
Proper way
Drain the oil. stand the engine on its bum , cylinders upwards.
Clean the crankshaft of all rust undo the bolts and pull the pan off.
remove all traces of the old gasket from each side.
Apply a thin coating of your favourite non hardening gasket gunk on the engine side of the gasket & high temp bentonite grease to the other
Button up the engine
Some times you have to back off the valves as they can push on the cam shaft,
Not sure if Kwakas cams will allow but pull off the rocker boxes and rotate the engine to see if there is a spot where all valves are closed.

Cheap & nasty method separate the pan & crankcase about 1/4"
apply a thin bead of silicon between the two halves then tighten the bolts finger tight.
leave overnight for silicon to ste then undo and red the crankcase bolts to the prescribed torque, about 7 ft/lb from memory.