Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

[TFB1]

After seeing me rebuild the '83 Snapper with a '04 Honda engine, one of my neighbors brought me a freebee mower yesterday... It's a cheap MTD with a Tecumseh that had no doubt been setting outside for a year or more(someone gave it to him)... First I noticed the red primer bulb on the carb was white with oxidation(long time outside), next the oil fill was buried under a 1/4" of crud and finally the dead man cable is broken, I'm thinking no way it can still run...

First off I cleaned the oil plug area and as I suspected, it had almost no oil, added approx 10 oz and it's still prob 4oz low... The lever on the engine the dead man cable operates has a small hole which allows a pin to be inserted to basically defeat the feature, a small Allen Wrench took care of that... Fuel tank was dry with no debris so why not give it a shot... A half dozen pumps on the primer and it chugged a few times and died, more primer but no life on the next few pulls... Removed the plug and it's soaked, so I pull the air filter and it's totally plugged... Stick another plug in it, she fires first pull and runs great, cuts a few strips of grass with no issue... I ran it approx 15 minutes to get it hot and the engine sounds fine, no noise, no smoke... Who woulda thunk?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

For sale sign being prepared.

 

[eljefino]

This story needs mmore MMO.

 

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
This story needs mmore MMO.
+1 lol.

I wouldn't have ran any that engine in that condition without some extra lube

Especially down here in the south......high humidity + low gas level = possible water vapors in the possible stale fuel

Great success story none the less.

So, after he saw your 83 snapper, he thought he'd drop off his old mower he didn't want as his "admission ticket"? Not bad of a deal lol......unless in the coming weeks he asks for it back

 

[chubbs1]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
This story needs mmore MMO.


I had to laugh, thanks jefino that was good.


Gladd you got 'er running...good luck!

 

[440Magnum]

Not surprised. Tecumsehs were built like the proverbial brick outhouse.

 

[car54]

Tecumseh is an Indian word, that translates to "one that throws rods"

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: car54
Tecumseh is an Indian word, that translates to "one that throws rods"


I often read BITOG and Facebook simultaneously, and this is one of those comments that I want to click the like button on.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn

I wouldn't have ran any that engine in that condition without some extra lube

Especially down here in the south......high humidity + low gas level = possible water vapors in the possible stale fuel

I added enough oil till no doubt it was safe to run, apparently was running for some time with almost no oil before the dead man cable busted...

The tank was clean and dry(it's only virtue), I added fresh fuel prior to trying to start it, guess I wasn't real clear on that point...

I tried it today, started first pull with no issues...

I wouldn't try to sell it without replacing the dead man cable, dunno if it's really worth messing with, prob put as much in it as I could sell it for...

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: car54
Tecumseh is an Indian word, that translates to "one that throws rods"


Don't know about that.
In my Indian to English translator, Tecumseh translates as "one who endures the hardship of no oil"
I've got two of them, and they are the equal of any small Briggs.

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: car54
Tecumseh is an Indian word, that translates to "one that throws rods"


Good One!

The one in my snowblower did after I changed the oil. Ouch!

 

[car54]

every Tecumseh ive had was perfect and a total workhorse right up until it failed spectacularly. They haven't all failed, but the three that did made me swear I'd never buy one. As kids, we mowed 6 acres of wooded waterfront property with a bunch of old freebie riding mowers (anything heavier would sink in the mud)... good classic ones, Montgomery ward MTD's, Lawn Artists, Snappers, etc.. We ran those things till oil use exceeded fuel consumption. The briggs ran forever, and I re-ringed two of them in highschool shop class. The Tecumseh engines didn't seem to burn as much oil, but they really failed when the time came.

 

[440Magnum]

I thought Tecumseh was the chief who sold all his tribe's best lands to two european guys (one was named Stratton, I forget the other ;-)

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I thought Tecumseh was the chief who sold all his tribe's best lands to two european guys (one was named Stratton, I forget the other ;-)


LOL, another good one...

 

[lexus114]

Tecumseh`s were very good motors. I just didnt like their finicky carbs.

 

[SOHCman]

The Tecumseh company was actually started by 2 indian brothers, but Squatting dog & Tecumseh was a no go with the investors.

 

[brainpause]

My dad had a snapper rider when I was a kid. Pull start.

By the time he got that thing started, he was too tired to mow.

Larry

 

[hemitom]

The tecumseh has a smaller connecting rod compared to a similar sized briggs.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: hemitom
The tecumseh has a smaller connecting rod compared to a similar sized briggs.


Less mass means it'll rev better and I suppose likely go BOOM quicker as well...

 

[steve20]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Originally Posted By: eljefino
This story needs mmore MMO.
+1 lol.

I wouldn't have ran any that engine in that condition without some extra lube

Especially down here in the south......high humidity + low gas level = possible water vapors in the possible stale fuel

Great success story none the less.

So, after he saw your 83 snapper, he thought he'd drop off his old mower he didn't want as his "admission ticket"? Not bad of a deal lol......unless in the coming weeks he asks for it back



Water doesn't turn to vapor until it's boiling ---at sea level that would be 212 degrees