setting point gap Tecumseh HM6

17 years ago

I used to use a matchbook cover to gap old B+S mowers. Will that work on the Tecumseh? Will an electronic setup from a later Tec swap in? I have a few options from 3 snowblowers and a few mowers for a parts source.

My latest old Ariens started fine but wouldnt rev up when loaded and finally chugged to a halt and wouldnt re-start. Plenty gas, no spark with the plug grounded to the head. Funny thing ,though, I get a spark when the throttle closes the contacts on the kill. Swapped in a known good plug, no spark. Points/ condenser ? A bad wire? The unit is prolly 30 yrs old and well used, so it could be anything. TIA.

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Comments (4)

tomplum
17 years ago
The old and new coils won't swap like a Briggs to give to electronic ignition. .020 is the point gap. Maybe you should unhook the ground lead to the points and see what happens then. You could try cleaning the breakers- steel nail file from the misses. You could also nip the condenser wire for a try.
andyma_gw
Original Author
17 years ago
Well I got it running. It popped on a shot of carb cleaner but wouldnt stay running. I dropped the fuel bowl and noticed the float didnt fall. I diddled it a bit and put the bowl back on. It lit right off.
Today, after work, it started on the 1st pull in 17f temps. I'm glad it wasnt the points, the job is a lot more difficult on a Tecumseh than the old B+S I am familiar with.
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rcmoser
17 years ago
You need to spray the carb. with the bowl off the next time this happens. try to get all the passages and holes good and clean out the carb. bowl. If you let it set for long periods of time you need to treat the gas run it and try to drain it. The gas gums up the carb and causes the float to stick closed along with plugging up the metered jets. After a year or two of occassional use the tarnish build up will only take few months to repeat the process.

IMO read the instructions on the can of carb cleaner and clean it and the tank after long term storage, remove the plug clean it with carb cleaner, squirt a three or four second blast down the spark plug hole pull the rope a couple of times, install the spark plug. Now with fresh gas it is now ready for starting.

If it don't stay running gas is not getting through the carb yet. Try priming it again several times by spraying a two or three second blast of carb. down the carb venturi with the air filter removed before you go into the carb again. Most of the time it only takes priming through the carb. and then a short burst of carb. cleaner to keep it caught until it warms up some. You can also push the primer button (if it has one) to keep the gas flowing till it runs on its own.
andyma_gw
Original Author
17 years ago
Heh Heh, I went to the local fixit shop and bought 2 carb kits and a couple of gaskets. Put on a new exhaust gasket. Test ran the engine. It was running really nice, then BANG. I slipped the belt of and spun the pulley by hand. The shaft only turns 3/4 in either direction before it jams. No compression. I'll be spending my spare time swapping in an HM 8 long block. :)