Tecumseh HH120 Connecting Rod Won't Release

[radios1]

Hi!

Thanks for your note. Well, I think the older ones are pretty good engines and they seem to be in demand. I've sold some complete engines that were great runners. My favorites are the "Snow King" series for snowblowers as I have one now and have had two others (all have been Ariens) and they last a long time. Unfortunately, with Tecumseh out of business, parts are getting harder and harder to find. Good market out there for used, though.

you have to note they are much lighter than other comparable engines, and wonder, what was made lighter?. the lawnmowers I saw thrown out mostly had tecumseh engines, which threw a rod right out of the engine case!.. this was years ago..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Depending on the price, I could possible use the carb off that engine...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

you have to note they are much lighter than other comparable engines, and wonder, what was made lighter?. the lawnmowers I saw thrown out mostly had tecumseh engines, which threw a rod right out of the engine case!.. this was years ago..

Lighter isn't true for all models, some were industrial rated and held up pretty good.

Newer ones, were just like cheaper Briggs, not so good.

SR

 

[wolfden793]

Yup, I agree with you in that I have seen some that the rod came right out of the block big enough to drive a truck through! Not sure why they are lighter, but perhaps the alloy. The rod on the HH120 I'm disassembling now has the "Alcoa" name clearly stamped into it, so there you go! Aluminum. Not sure if pure or alloy.

 

[wolfden793]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the interest in my carb. I do have it on Ebay at the moment and it's very nice. Here is the link. Walbro Carburetor Sears SS12/Tecumseh HH12 Very Nice Original! | eBay. I do agree with you about the older industrial models as they were well built.

 

[tomplum]

Glad it is all apart. That SS 12 with the cast Tecumseh was a sturdy machine. In fact, that was the tractor I learned a tractor'n on. Curious was this a blue one or a gold one?

 

[goeduck]

Right, the HH series had cast iron cylinders and were good engines. I have an old HH60 on a Troybilt Horse, great runner. I always felt the HHs that failed were run low on oil. I do not have experience with any other Tecumsehs than the HH60.

 

[RandyT]

Low oil is the biggest killer of rods across all brands of engines. Tecumseh had issues with weak rods in the 80's but that issue was worked out and never was a problem after that point. Was a Tecumseh dealer for 15 years and I saw more rod failures on Briggs, Kohler and Kawasaki in one year that I did on Tecumseh for that 15 year period. I had 4 Kawasaki twins with broken number 1 rod in one week this summer.

 

[wolfden793]

Hi Tom,

This one is blue. Haven't seen many of the gold.

 

[wolfden793]

Wow! Well, that certainly means something. I learned to remove and replace points on Tecumseh. Always liked working on them as a teen and went on from there.