Identify these motors !

[Pyrotechnic]

These 2 motors came off Craftsman edgers. They appear to be identical in design, except one looks about a decade newer than the other. What I'm wanting to know is who made these and what model they are so I can get parts for them, like the head gasket, magneto, torque specs, etc. I'm hoping someone here might recognize the motor design and be able to point me in the right direction. Thanks.

Here are the pictures.

 

[Russ2251]

Tecumseh, should be a number such as 143.754052 or something. Get these numbers and I can get you specs.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Tecumseh, sears puts them on all their small stuff.

 

[Pyrotechnic]

Tecumseh, should be a number such as 143.754052 or something. Get these numbers and I can get you specs.

Thanks!

Here are the numbers:

Older motor: 143.641043
Newer motor: 143.661052

 

[Russ2251]

My cross reference only listed one of these engines but I did find this:
143.661052 is Tecumseh H30-35311M and is 3hp with points/magneto.
http://www.landscapepower.com/pdf/Tecumseh/H30-35311M.pdf

No entry for 143.641043. Double check this number.
I would suggest getting this manual (attached). Covers all info you will need such as torque specs, carb settings, magnetos, timing, points, etc.

 

[Jerryburger]

Although I'm sure I'm going to catch it for saying this, I have a soft spot for the old tecumsehs.... We had a 2.5hp on a little minibike when we were kids, and being Stupid Kids, we did horrible things to it, like "oh, I can see oil in it if I tip it way over this way, so there must be enough oil in it", and yanking the governer and getting it up to a little over 40mph down a long hill, clocked by a friend's car (works out to 6500 rpm) and when I pulled it off years later, it still ran- blowing LOTS of smoke out of the crankcase breather, but running....! Those motors you have are in the 3hp-ish family I think, and what's REALLY strange is, take a look at the intake manifolds on them. They're smashed down and tiny. If you can secure one of the older "not-smashed" manifolds, that might be an improvement. Either way, congrats on your collection. Pretty unique.

Oh as I final "Stupid Kid Thing" I once did, I unscrewed the front oil plug while it was running in my Dad's garage, to see if that little flinger thing really did fling the oil.... We had this HUGE oil-spatter stain along the wall that stretched about 7' until we sold the house years later!

This is the minibike in question, with a B/S 2hp and a Walbro Carb.

 

[Pyrotechnic]

Thanks for all the info guys ! Talk about quick response.

Last summer I was working at a machine shop and one of the guys who worked there brought these 2 Craftsman edgers in and said they were given to him but he didn't have the time to mess with them. There were headed for dumpster, but I went ahead and unbolted the motors and threw them in my truck and brought them home. These motors gave me a cheap a starting point for that go kart that I always wanted but never got as a kid which is why I'm here. Eventually I will get a HF 6.5HP but since I already have these I figure with a few dollars in parts I can have at least one of these running and get some use out of them.

I noticed today when I was taking those pictures about that really flat intake with really sharp bends in it. The intake and exhaust look like they could really be improved upon.

 

[Jerryburger]

If you can find one of the older intakes, it does the same "s-bend" but it maintains its diameter. I think you'd have to move the gas tank a bit further back to clear. I have one of those motors, I'll take a picture if what I did to it, if that helps any. What's kind of funny is, even with that intake, the motor did pretty well on my bike and my wife's minibike. I think it's cool that you got 'em for free. Same with mine. A landscaper (the same guy who gave me the B/S 2-stroke, said he didn't know how to work on it, compared to the B/S engines.

 

[Pyrotechnic]

Got one more question. What is the correct spark plug to use in these motors ? I got both of these without plugs. I found an old Champion J19LM plug for our Briggs powered lawn mower and it screws in and seems to be the right type but I'm not sure if it's actually the correct plug to use.

 

[Jerryburger]

Got this off a website...Autolite 458.

 

[Russ2251]

You have a choice between a resistor and a non-resistor plug.
RJ8C resistor or J8C non resistor manufactured by Champion is what is called for in factory specs. I always lean toward the non resistor types as they tend to produce a hotter spark.
The J19LM will work but is on the hot side and I would avoid using it under a load for extended periods.

 

[I like karts]

I have an engine like that, 3 hp off an edger. It's kind of the reason I dont like tecumsehs very much. It runs pretty well, but it leaks gas out of the carb because of the stupid gravity feed carb so you have to have it on an angle

 

[Russ2251]

Carburetor leaks are not caused by gravity feed or even by Tecumseh.
Look for bad hose connections, cracked throttle body, stuck or mal-adjusted float/needle, 'O' rings, gaskets, bowl drains, etc.
I've had a bunch of Tecumseh engines ranging in hp from 3 to 7. Had an occasional stuck float/needle or a clogged low speed jet but nothing that 15 minutes of troubleshooting can't cure.
It's my opinion/experience that Tecumseh's are (somewhat) underrated. They might require a little more tweaking than a Briggs but the payoff is a little more horsepower per pound as compared to any other stock configuration.
Just my 2¢.

 

[I like karts]

no, I mean it would leak out of the intake main hole of the carb when not running. It would just pool up in there if the tank was more than 1/2 full. Same exact thing happened to my friend's minibike with a tecumseh

 

[jr dragster T]

Same thing happened with my tecumseh lawnmower I had. Gas somtimes just dribbles out the intake, but I fixed the probelem now.

 

[Russ2251]

no, I mean it would leak out of the intake main hole of the carb when not running. It would just pool up in there if the tank was more than 1/2 full. Same exact thing happened to my friend's minibike with a tecumseh

Not specifically a Tecumseh fault. Sounds like leaking/sticking needle or faulty float. Pressure of fuel attempts to leak past needle. Proof is in statement "It would just pool up in there if the tank was more than 1/2 full". Get a carb kit and leaking/pooling problem will magically disappear. Viton rubber is breaking down due to increased volume of ethanol in gasoline.

 

[I like karts]

oh. ok. thanks


And this is completely unrelated, but where did you get the megaphone you have on your kart? Did you make it?

 

[Russ2251]

where did you get the megaphone you have on your kart? Did you make it?

fftopic:Got it here:
http://www.jcw.com/autoparts/ItemBr...0019267/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:10000015925310019267

 

[kibble]

I hate to be a copy cat, but I kinda like the way that megaphone looks. I may just get one myself.

 

[I like karts]

me too