I had a Sears push mower from about 1990, it was my moms for a few years until she got a rider, so I inhereted it, and used it up until 2004 when I sold it. I had always thought Craftsman equipment was junk but that little mower proved me wrong. Every spring it would start with 2 pulls no matterhow old and stale the gas was. I kind of miss that mower, if I see another one I'd like to get my hands on it.

Yes, there are a certain bunch of folks out there who consider Tecumseh engines to be on the lower end of the scale, but i don't think so!
I, too, pick up curbside mowers, with Tec engines on them, and as you say, most of the problems stem from old gas, and dirty air filters! I refresh those mowers, and usually get $35 to $50 for them when i sell them.Most folks around here know they can get a good dependable used mower from me, and they also know, if it turns out to be not what they expected, they can get a refund! Or another machine!
I've had a whole bunch of used Craftsman mowers with Tec. engines on them, and they seem to be ok for cutting grass, etc! Poor care ruins any motor!

I also have a snowblower with a Tecumseh Snow King engine.

It is an 'off-brand' blower made in Canada, called "Brute". It is 10hp, 26" auger width.

That engine ALWAYS starts on the first pull. I got the machine used, about 8 years ago, and that engine is perfect. I always keep 'stabil' in the gas, and use Mobil 1 full synthetic oil (since it does not get as thick when cold).

I choke it, prime it a few times, then pull, and it has never failed, even once, to start and run perfectly.

It does better than the Kawasaki in my JD tractor (though the JD only has trouble on 90 degree days, or hotter - gets overheated).

Rusty says
bunch of folks out there who consider Tecumseh engines to be on the lower end of the scale, but i don't think so!"

Push or self propelled mowers. I will take Tecumseh every time.

Can you even get a Tec in a lawn tractor anymore?

I always felt that the Snow Kings were the S/B engines to beat. Summer equipment, give me a Briggs or Honda anyday. Especially models of late. They seem more finicky and cold blooded than the older ones. The older ones with the soft primer seem better on the wpms. Maybe that makes me an under-rater....

Had a 1978 Bolens mulching mower w/ front wheel drive powered by a 5hp Tecumseh. Used as my primary mower until 1991 when I moved to a larger propery and switched to riders. My father-in-law used it until about'98 when I got it back and used it as a trim mower. It finally lost compression about 2 years ago. Valves I suspect, but I didn't want to fool with it. It still looked good, so when I put it out at the curb, I included the owner's manual. When the trash guys came, they looked at it, then loaded into the front of the truck....not the back! It may still be cutting grass somewhere. Never was an easer starter though....kept my right arm in shape from pulling that rope. ;~)

t

I have a Deere TRS24 with the Tecumseh engine. Good machine. But, snowblowers here run about 10 hours a year.
The Tecumseh may be a good snowblower engine, as we have very few choices if we want a Deere, but in a lawn tractor, I wouldn't have one. I have the Kawasaki in my Deere mower. I would not own a mower with a Tecumseh engine. The old mechanics sayings were " A worn out Briggs is better than a new Tecumseh". Or " Tocomesee the hole in my engine block where the connecting rod went through".

My Toro 824 snowthrower has an 8 horse Tecumseh and the smaller used 524 I had for 9 years had a 5 horse , never a single problem with either. My dad's rebadged Murray 1976 Craftsman 8 horse Tecumsuh lawn tractor never had a problem in 8 seasons of use either , although the mower deck was a different story the last few years of ownership . The last lawn tractor I've seen the Tecumseh engine in was Murray a couple years back , don't know how well they're holding up . Maybe some owners of those machines could shed some light on that ?

I think a lot of complaints on Tecumseh relate to engines built in the 60s and 70s. By the 1980s they were building some good products.

Some White outdoor equipment LT's made by MTD may still have Tecumseh engines. I know they did a couple years ago but I can't tell from the current listing.

GREAT STORY, BIG FELLA!!!

Ken

I bought a new GT in 1968 with a 10 HP TEC engine, an it
has been mowing grass and blowing snow for almost 40 years
now, it also plowed and disc-ed for a few years as well..
The engine is still as strong as it ever was, does
use a little bit of oil now, but not bad.. Its been the
most reliable starting engine I've ever owned, my neighbor
was so impressed that he bought one just like it in 1971,
an it out lived him, his son has been mowing with it for
about 17 years now, he did have to replace the ign module
in it though, I treated mine to a new spark plug about 5
years ago, it gets its oil changed every year and thats
been it.. Recently bought a hi-dollar ZTR to reduce the
hand mowing I have to do, wonder if its Honda engine will
still be mowing after 40 years... The old TEC will still
be called on to blow snow as it enters its 5 th decade
of service... The real kicker is that I picked up a new
engine for it about 30 years ago, figuring that the original
would eventually have to be replaced !!!
Paul R...

"Can you even get a Tec in a lawn tractor anymore?"

I noticed at the end of last cutting season that Walmart had MTD Yard Machine riders with Tecumseh twins. I thought that may be a reaction to B&S buying into Murray.

networker

I have had several Tec. engines self destruct, but both had another problem! Seemed the carburetor float was leaking, or the needle valve was, which allowed gasoline to fill the crank-case and dilute the oil, which in turn led to the self-destruct mode! And, of course, i had failed to check the oil before starting them! My bad!
And, i have gotten some B&S engines with the same problem!
So now, every engine gets a fuel shut-off valve installed on it! And gets the oil checked before starting.
So, if your engine seems to be making oil, if the oil on the dipstick gets higher rather than lower, or if you can smell gas in the oil, better install a fuel shut-off valve! and install new oil! Good insurance!

I agree, they are under-rated. Better valves, guides, carburetion and you can really get some rpm's out of them.
I still have a early 70's LAV. Toro whirl-wind. Push button oil filler and everything. Does it work?...Yes. Is that "S" blade scary when it's cranked up?.. Yes. Heck of a trimmer mower. I think it weighs 18 lbs or so.
I've owned the above LAV, the TNT, a TVXL and now a TVS. Got a HSS king on the snow thrower and a CVS on the tractor..

"A worn out Briggs is better than a new Tecumseh"

I do not agree.

All I have ever had on push mowers was Tec's. My Craftsman had a broken flywheel key and I gave it to my Mom after it got fixed. It is now 8 years old and still kicking. My Toro 20017 has about the same engine (although it says 6.5 hp instead of 6.75 hp) and has run flawlessly for the past 4 years.

A really good friend of mine has 1968 Massey Ferguson with a 10 hp Tecumseh on it. That thing runs like a champ and many of you Massey owners would drool if you saw it. He plows snow with it and mows his 1/2 acre with it. The engine has never been torn apart and fires up with no problems every time.

I am a Wheel Horse man through and through.....but wouldn't mind having that Old Massey sitting in my garage.

w3nzl,

When ever you buy a replacement engine for one that is still running, it will "never" die (something like Strokers Law). I think the engines talk to one another when no one is around (O;

-gh

I am really glad you guys all seem to have good luck with Tecumseh engines. One co-worker of mine brags about his snowblower always starting on the first pull. The rest of us (about 5) would be in big trouble w/out electric start. We compare notes and all concluded these just can't be started by pulling. (seem to get flooded)

Same story with my old Toro lawn mower. (would be unuseable if it didn't have a key start) My neighbor and my dad can't get their mowers to start consistently. Almost always resort to starter fluid. On the other hand, I have never ever had trouble getting a Honda or B&S engine to start. And yes, we all use Stabil in the gas.

We must have gotten the rejects or something.

Greenhobby,
Yeah, thats the same one as buying something to replace
the one U lost.. Guarantees U'll find the one U lost
the next day !!! Bought the engine in a big sale deal,
too good to turn down, $125 NIB... Figured I'd need it in
a few years, mine was about 10 years old, but that was
almost 30 years ago, an its still in the box... My old Murray
trimmer mower, over 20 years old has a TEC engine
also, and it still works fine and starts easy too...
Paul R...

Glad to hear the TEC is a good engine. I have a DR mower with a B&S 6.5 hp engine. I would like to replace it with the Ariens ST622 string mower with the TEC engine. Is this a wise move? A new DR is $700.00 and the Ariens is $399.00.

I bought a scotts 22" self propelled mower with a 6.5 Tecumseh engine about 7 years ago.It cant be killed!Used to cut 1 acre of land for the first 5 years till i got a Rider.I use it now to cut areas that my deere wont get to.Does Tecumseh have any engines for tractors?i think it would be a nice match.

The 5hp Tecumseh replacement engine I put on my walk behind Snapper is getting tired-smokes some- but still starts on the first pull every darn time! I change oil and sharpen the blade every spring, put that motor on in 1993, the original Briggs had came unglued. My MF10 has a Tecumseh cast iron motor, I rebiult it in 1978, it's a 1966 model. I gave up trying to wear it out, gave the tractor to my oldest son in 04 and he's still useing it! I've had good luck with the Tecumseh motors.

"Yes, there are a certain bunch of folks out there who consider Tecumseh engines to be on the lower end of the scale, but i don't think so!"

Me neither, they make great boat anchors!

Walt Conner

Walt....I'm surprised. Disappointed...but surprised,
too. I thought I'd taught you better ???

T-Man

they make great boat anchors!

Walt Conner

I'm with Walt on the Tecumsuks. Two self destructed on me. A
7 year old built in 1978 and a 5 year old built around 1985.
Given their cheap prices, if they were any good they'd have
taken over the whole market by now. They disappeared for a good reason.

"I have a Deere TRS24 with the Tecumseh engine. Good machine. But, snowblowers here run about 10 hours a year.
The Tecumseh may be a good snowblower engine, as we have very few choices if we want a Deere, but in a lawn tractor, I wouldn't have one. I have the Kawasaki in my Deere mower. I would not own a mower with a Tecumseh engine. The old mechanics sayings were " A worn out Briggs is better than a new Tecumseh". Or " Tocomesee the hole in my engine block where the connecting rod went through".

Don't know about that but I have a 14 year old 13 hp Tecumseh on my Ariens LT that has been 100% utterly and absolutely trouble free. I have changed the oil every season, changed the plug a few times and that is ALL that has ever been done. It has seen 14 years of hard use, was parked outside for several years and has never had any kind of adjustment or maintenance other than oil and plugs. It may blow tomorrow but I doubt it