Yes! An R-Tek. Seemed to run strong after I cleaned all the ick out of it and put in a new plug.
What happened to Tecumseh snowblower engines?
- Thread starter old farmer
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Chonda engine if it's unmarked except for CC rating and OHV. Our craftsman has a 208cc OHV Chonda on it.
My views on techumseh:
Ever since my teens, I knew they would be the first to fail, and hated working on them. From lawn mowers to tractors, carburetors were an epic failure from the 70's till their demise. On kohlers, you set the carb and forget it, unless of course you mis-treat the fuel system. Techumseh, you set it, and set it, practically every month. Accidently store your snowblower over the summer without properly conditioning your fuel or draining every last drop, and you will be in for a total carb rebuild come winter. This will sour an end user and make them avoid the engine at all cost come next equipment purchase. It is a shame as the actual engine itself was very competitve and very robust.
I can;t remeber ever adjusting any of my kohlers and they just sit with fuel all winter. I just had to clean a carb on my generator, but it sat for a very long time with stale fuel and it varnished.
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
Ever since my teens, I knew they would be the first to fail, and hated working on them. From lawn mowers to tractors, carburetors were an epic failure from the 70's till their demise. On kohlers, you set the carb and forget it, unless of course you mis-treat the fuel system. Techumseh, you set it, and set it, practically every month. Accidently store your snowblower over the summer without properly conditioning your fuel or draining every last drop, and you will be in for a total carb rebuild come winter. This will sour an end user and make them avoid the engine at all cost come next equipment purchase. It is a shame as the actual engine itself was very competitve and very robust.
I can;t remeber ever adjusting any of my kohlers and they just sit with fuel all winter. I just had to clean a carb on my generator, but it sat for a very long time with stale fuel and it varnished.
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
Originally Posted By: Fordiesel69
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
I too, am left wondering this. Does anybody know?
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
I too, am left wondering this. Does anybody know?
Certainly you could put all sorts of carbs on a Tecumseh, but the problem is getting the governor/throttle linkage all hooked up correctly.
If it was something like a go kart where you are continuously controlling the throttle then it would be a lot easier.
If it was something like a go kart where you are continuously controlling the throttle then it would be a lot easier.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Tecumseh was a bit too late keeping up with the Jones's IMO. Of course it could blow up tomorrow, but I love the Tecumseh OHV 7hp on my 10yr/old snowblower. Starts 1st pull cold or hot and is super smooth and fuel efficient. I would agree that every old flat-head Tecumseh I had or dealt with was a sputtering, spitting, popping, coughing beast. Once they went OHV with diaphagm/float style carbs, things perked up. They even had a dual carb'd V-twin lawn tractor engine a few years back! Here's the only Tecumseh in my current fleet: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_362530_362530 Thing is, I'd go Chonda in a heart-beat before paying that much for one though.
Joel
Joel
Our old Techumseh Craftsman snow blower served us well. While the motor was rough and occasionally didn't like to idle after long periods of full throttle use was a great blower. But she finally started to rust. I went to look at a new Craftsman and saw a nice new one. But some no name engine on it. After a little research it was some Chinese Honda (Chonda) knock off. No thank you. So I bought a lightly used Ariens with a B&S. Never been happier!
Originally Posted By: sparkplug
Our old Techumseh Craftsman snow blower served us well. While the motor was rough and occasionally didn't like to idle after long periods of full throttle use was a great blower. But she finally started to rust. I went to look at a new Craftsman and saw a nice new one. But some no name engine on it. After a little research it was some Chinese Honda (Chonda) knock off. No thank you. So I bought a lightly used Ariens with a B&S. Never been happier!
I've heard and read here that chinese engines (gasoline, not diesel) have made strides in quality control lately. That being said, I'm still waiting for corporate bean counters to figure out that people here who lose their jobs due to outsourcing can't afford to buy your product, no matter where it's made. It's just baffling that private sector america and government can't figure out that saving a buck on a product is costing us in the long run, it's not exactly rocket science.
Our old Techumseh Craftsman snow blower served us well. While the motor was rough and occasionally didn't like to idle after long periods of full throttle use was a great blower. But she finally started to rust. I went to look at a new Craftsman and saw a nice new one. But some no name engine on it. After a little research it was some Chinese Honda (Chonda) knock off. No thank you. So I bought a lightly used Ariens with a B&S. Never been happier!
I've heard and read here that chinese engines (gasoline, not diesel) have made strides in quality control lately. That being said, I'm still waiting for corporate bean counters to figure out that people here who lose their jobs due to outsourcing can't afford to buy your product, no matter where it's made. It's just baffling that private sector america and government can't figure out that saving a buck on a product is costing us in the long run, it's not exactly rocket science.
Originally Posted By: Fordiesel69
My views on techumseh:
Ever since my teens, I knew they would be the first to fail, and hated working on them. From lawn mowers to tractors, carburetors were an epic failure from the 70's till their demise. On kohlers, you set the carb and forget it, unless of course you mis-treat the fuel system. Techumseh, you set it, and set it, practically every month. Accidently store your snowblower over the summer without properly conditioning your fuel or draining every last drop, and you will be in for a total carb rebuild come winter. This will sour an end user and make them avoid the engine at all cost come next equipment purchase. It is a shame as the actual engine itself was very competitve and very robust.
I can;t remeber ever adjusting any of my kohlers and they just sit with fuel all winter. I just had to clean a carb on my generator, but it sat for a very long time with stale fuel and it varnished.
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
This is the same reason I didn't buy a Toro push mower in 2004. I had too many bad experiences working on Tecumseh when I worked at a lawn and garden shop during the summers.
My views on techumseh:
Ever since my teens, I knew they would be the first to fail, and hated working on them. From lawn mowers to tractors, carburetors were an epic failure from the 70's till their demise. On kohlers, you set the carb and forget it, unless of course you mis-treat the fuel system. Techumseh, you set it, and set it, practically every month. Accidently store your snowblower over the summer without properly conditioning your fuel or draining every last drop, and you will be in for a total carb rebuild come winter. This will sour an end user and make them avoid the engine at all cost come next equipment purchase. It is a shame as the actual engine itself was very competitve and very robust.
I can;t remeber ever adjusting any of my kohlers and they just sit with fuel all winter. I just had to clean a carb on my generator, but it sat for a very long time with stale fuel and it varnished.
I wonder if you could get an adaptor to put a differnt carb on the techumseh.
This is the same reason I didn't buy a Toro push mower in 2004. I had too many bad experiences working on Tecumseh when I worked at a lawn and garden shop during the summers.
Originally Posted By: turbodieselfreak
Originally Posted By: sparkplug
Our old Techumseh Craftsman snow blower served us well. While the motor was rough and occasionally didn't like to idle after long periods of full throttle use was a great blower. But she finally started to rust. I went to look at a new Craftsman and saw a nice new one. But some no name engine on it. After a little research it was some Chinese Honda (Chonda) knock off. No thank you. So I bought a lightly used Ariens with a B&S. Never been happier!
I've heard and read here that chinese engines (gasoline, not diesel) have made strides in quality control lately. That being said, I'm still waiting for corporate bean counters to figure out that people here who lose their jobs due to outsourcing can't afford to buy your product, no matter where it's made. It's just baffling that private sector america and government can't figure out that saving a buck on a product is costing us in the long run, it's not exactly rocket science.
+1. It's really just a get rich(er) quick(er) scheme. Then after they pumped all the money away from their consumer base they wonder why they can't keep selling the volume they did in the past at any price. Dur they've pumped the well dry.
Originally Posted By: sparkplug
Our old Techumseh Craftsman snow blower served us well. While the motor was rough and occasionally didn't like to idle after long periods of full throttle use was a great blower. But she finally started to rust. I went to look at a new Craftsman and saw a nice new one. But some no name engine on it. After a little research it was some Chinese Honda (Chonda) knock off. No thank you. So I bought a lightly used Ariens with a B&S. Never been happier!
I've heard and read here that chinese engines (gasoline, not diesel) have made strides in quality control lately. That being said, I'm still waiting for corporate bean counters to figure out that people here who lose their jobs due to outsourcing can't afford to buy your product, no matter where it's made. It's just baffling that private sector america and government can't figure out that saving a buck on a product is costing us in the long run, it's not exactly rocket science.
+1. It's really just a get rich(er) quick(er) scheme. Then after they pumped all the money away from their consumer base they wonder why they can't keep selling the volume they did in the past at any price. Dur they've pumped the well dry.
I bought a (2) stage snow blower from Tractor Supply 13 years ago this month, with a Tecumseh engine.
Just changed the oil with synthetic 0w-30 (german castrol) or 5w-30 mobil/pennzoil every year, run the gas tank empty at end of the snow season, and changed the plug every (2 to 3) years. Put a little carb. cleaner, through it now and then .
Not one hiccup in 13 years. I heard that the Tecumseh motor excelled in the snowblower application. I personally believe that theory through experience. I will miss the Tecumseh engines for that reason.
I use Briggs for now, in mowing applications.
Just changed the oil with synthetic 0w-30 (german castrol) or 5w-30 mobil/pennzoil every year, run the gas tank empty at end of the snow season, and changed the plug every (2 to 3) years. Put a little carb. cleaner, through it now and then .
Not one hiccup in 13 years. I heard that the Tecumseh motor excelled in the snowblower application. I personally believe that theory through experience. I will miss the Tecumseh engines for that reason.
I use Briggs for now, in mowing applications.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: warchildindy
.. I heard that the Tecumseh motor excelled in the snowblower application. I personally believe that theory through experience. I will miss the Tecumseh engines for that reason..
I agree they were good, but that's pretty much all you'll find on a snowblower anyway. Tecumseh had the market cornered for snowblower applications for 30-40yrs. Probably around 90% of all snowblowers used Tecumseh engines. There was an odd-ball oldie here and there that used a Briggs engine, but they were very far and few between.
.. I heard that the Tecumseh motor excelled in the snowblower application. I personally believe that theory through experience. I will miss the Tecumseh engines for that reason..
I agree they were good, but that's pretty much all you'll find on a snowblower anyway. Tecumseh had the market cornered for snowblower applications for 30-40yrs. Probably around 90% of all snowblowers used Tecumseh engines. There was an odd-ball oldie here and there that used a Briggs engine, but they were very far and few between.
I like the Tecunseh flat head Sno kings. The carbs resond well to just a cleaning as needed. Adding MMO to the gas helps out a lot I have found. I have combined 5 Ariens Sno Thros into 2 runners. I have spent a few bucks on carb kits and belts, but the main parts are pushing 40 yrs old. Every yr, they get a little better.
Sucks Tecumseh went belly up. to this day I am still using a 1974 Beaumark Snowblower with a 8HP Tecumseh engine on it, the [censored] thing will never die, it sits outside all summer and winter, and all I have to do is just add a bit of gas and pull twice and she turns over everytime! Unfortunately the Tecumseh engines as of late don't even come close to that quality and that is why they went under. Their larger engines for snowblowers were great , but they're lawnmower engines were absolute POS, brand new craftsman 6hp only lasted me one season before i gave up on it and so did teh sears mechanics.
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The Tecumseh L head engines that I had on two 10 h.p. Craftsman snow throwers over a twenty year period were very reliable. They outlasted the machines they came on. The trick to keeping them alive was to never let the oil level get low. They do not tolerate low oil conditions.
I presently have a 2006 Simplicity snow thrower with a B&S engines rated somewhere between 9 and 11 h.p. From the way it throws snow, I'd say it's closer to 11 h.p. than 9. The B&S engine is smoother, quieter and more fuel efficient than the Tecumseh L head engine. If it holds up as well as the Tecumseh, I will be impressed.
I have had some exposure to a couple Chinese small engines. I own a Mitsubishi 7 h.p. and a 6.5 h.p. Champion (CPE) engine. As much as I hate to admit it, they're both very nicely built and run like Swiss watches. I cannot find any fault in them whatsoever. When I did the initial oil change after five hours of operation, I ran the hot oil through a paper coffee filter. The oil had no glitter in it at all.
Only time will tell how long they will last. However, from the smooth, quiet operation of these two engines I, I'm confident they'll hold up well.
I presently have a 2006 Simplicity snow thrower with a B&S engines rated somewhere between 9 and 11 h.p. From the way it throws snow, I'd say it's closer to 11 h.p. than 9. The B&S engine is smoother, quieter and more fuel efficient than the Tecumseh L head engine. If it holds up as well as the Tecumseh, I will be impressed.
I have had some exposure to a couple Chinese small engines. I own a Mitsubishi 7 h.p. and a 6.5 h.p. Champion (CPE) engine. As much as I hate to admit it, they're both very nicely built and run like Swiss watches. I cannot find any fault in them whatsoever. When I did the initial oil change after five hours of operation, I ran the hot oil through a paper coffee filter. The oil had no glitter in it at all.
Only time will tell how long they will last. However, from the smooth, quiet operation of these two engines I, I'm confident they'll hold up well.
Originally Posted By: Andyge
I was just at Sears and I was talking to one of the salesman in the lawn and garden department he said that he had heard that someone had just bought all the dies and equipment from Tecumseh and may reopen the factory.
Andy
Have not heard that. They are relatively local to me and it would be a great thing locally if they reopened.
I have always been a Briggs mower but Tecumseh snow thinker. Fortunately when I bought my new Ariens 926Pro I was able to find one that just happened to be a leftover OHV Tecumseh. I love it and it loves the leftover 100:1 mix from the summer. Wink.......
I was just at Sears and I was talking to one of the salesman in the lawn and garden department he said that he had heard that someone had just bought all the dies and equipment from Tecumseh and may reopen the factory.
Andy
Have not heard that. They are relatively local to me and it would be a great thing locally if they reopened.
I have always been a Briggs mower but Tecumseh snow thinker. Fortunately when I bought my new Ariens 926Pro I was able to find one that just happened to be a leftover OHV Tecumseh. I love it and it loves the leftover 100:1 mix from the summer. Wink.......
Figure they'll reopen on the corner of chow mein and chop suey in China. These Chinese folks will buy up anything they can mass produce very cheaply in their homeland. No rules = more money. I admire their forward-thinking, but am afraid it continues to eat away at America's manufacturing base. I wonder when we'll outsource the manufacture of our war toys...oops, already being done to some countries in Europe.
I make light of China's manufacturing capability, but can you imagine the cancer rates and ecological disasters they will face after their very, very dirty industrial revolution? Not to mention surounding countries and the places that are selling their coal, oil, and different ores to China at a rate that will bankrupt their natural resources in the next 25 years?
What a whiner, huh?!?
I make light of China's manufacturing capability, but can you imagine the cancer rates and ecological disasters they will face after their very, very dirty industrial revolution? Not to mention surounding countries and the places that are selling their coal, oil, and different ores to China at a rate that will bankrupt their natural resources in the next 25 years?
What a whiner, huh?!?
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Tecumseh sucks. They are most finicky, hard to start, gas hog, LOUD, weezy engines I've ever had the displeasure to use. They went out of business because they suck. The Snow King had a big pull handle so you could get a mighty good grip on it as you pull it four hundred fifty times to get it started in February. Hate em. Absolutely hate em. Chonda? The patent ran out on the GX200 eons ago. They're fair game to copy. The GX200 is the perfect design for general purpose horizontal engines. The Champion, LCT, and Predator engines are absolutely stellar. They start with one pull and run like a dream. I have repowered five different machines with Predator (2 snowblowers, a push mower, a sidewalk edger, and a mini bike). All have been flawless from the start. I have a Champion generator with a 196cc engine that has given gawd knows how many hours of boringly reliable trouble free service. Can't beat em? Join em. Tecumseh refused to do so. Late 1990s Tecumseh engines were using technology that was outdated in 1950. BuT wHy Did tHeY Go oUt oF bUsiNesS??? Duh. Throw em in a lake.
Originally Posted by Clayslayer
Tecumseh sucks. They are most finicky, hard to start, gas hog, LOUD, weezy engines I've ever had the displeasure to use. They went out of business because they suck. The Snow King had a big pull handle so you could get a mighty good grip on it as you pull it four hundred fifty times to get it started in February. Hate em. Absolutely hate em. Chonda? The patent ran out on the GX200 eons ago. They're fair game to copy. The GX200 is the perfect design for general purpose horizontal engines. The Champion, LCT, and Predator engines are absolutely stellar. They start with one pull and run like a dream. I have repowered five different machines with Predator (2 snowblowers, a push mower, a sidewalk edger, and a mini bike). All have been flawless from the start. I have a Champion generator with a 196cc engine that has given gawd knows how many hours of boringly reliable trouble free service. Can't beat em? Join em. Tecumseh refused to do so. Late 1990s Tecumseh engines were using technology that was outdated in 1950. BuT wHy Did tHeY Go oUt oF bUsiNesS??? Duh. Throw em in a lake.
Resurrecting a 10 year old thread to express your useless thoughts on Tecumseh probably because you do not have the knowledge to understand how they work and keep one running.
Tecumseh sucks. They are most finicky, hard to start, gas hog, LOUD, weezy engines I've ever had the displeasure to use. They went out of business because they suck. The Snow King had a big pull handle so you could get a mighty good grip on it as you pull it four hundred fifty times to get it started in February. Hate em. Absolutely hate em. Chonda? The patent ran out on the GX200 eons ago. They're fair game to copy. The GX200 is the perfect design for general purpose horizontal engines. The Champion, LCT, and Predator engines are absolutely stellar. They start with one pull and run like a dream. I have repowered five different machines with Predator (2 snowblowers, a push mower, a sidewalk edger, and a mini bike). All have been flawless from the start. I have a Champion generator with a 196cc engine that has given gawd knows how many hours of boringly reliable trouble free service. Can't beat em? Join em. Tecumseh refused to do so. Late 1990s Tecumseh engines were using technology that was outdated in 1950. BuT wHy Did tHeY Go oUt oF bUsiNesS??? Duh. Throw em in a lake.
Resurrecting a 10 year old thread to express your useless thoughts on Tecumseh probably because you do not have the knowledge to understand how they work and keep one running.
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