Full Service: Tecumseh Engine on Older Craftsman Mower
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- Learn how to service this older Craftsman mower, with a Tecumseh engine; including a few unexpected surprises. These Tecumseh engines were popular on many older brands like Murray, Toro, Sears, Troy-Bilt, MTD and others.
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00:00 I'm not Norm
00:58 Drain oil
01:59 Pull spark plug and check blade
02:57 Check for bent crankshaft
03:42 Pull shroud to check flywheel key
05:03 Inspect and lubricate recoil starter pawls
05:58 Inspect flywheel and key
08:13 Refill engine oil and replace RJ19LM spark plug
10:03 Remove and replace blade and blade adapter
10:25 Check oil level
11:18 Replace air filter
12:53 Check fuel and carburettor main jet
15:04 How to determine correct carb bowl orientation
15:53 Lubricate cables and wheels
16:38 The Money shot
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Wear your safety glasses, or you'll shoot your eye out. Try on some gloves. Take off that spark plug boot. Clean your room. Open the windows, those fumes are nasty. Just 'cause I do it, don't think it's the end all, be all solution. There's plenty more ideas out there, I can't take responsibility if you slice off a few fingers after watching my videos. And don't just pour that toxic stuff down the sewer or in the ditch, dispose of waste responsibly. Just be safe, OK?
Follow along with me elsewhere:
/ thelawnmowerlady
the-lawnmower-lady.blogspot.com/
Titles, opening graphics, and music by AbleVFX.
Any links to products are likely affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (Thank You!), with no additional costs to you.
Disclaimer: The content of this video is purely for my entertainment, and is available to you for informational and educational purposes only. It's not substitute advice from small engine mechanics with professional training and certifications, nor does it create any kind of relationship between the The Lawnmower Lady and you. Your situation may be different, and the The Lawnmower Lady makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the fit, accuracy, or applicability of the information shown in this video, and implies no guarantee of results. The Lawnmower Lady and any sponsors of this video are not liable for any damages of personal injury, property damage or loss of any kind that may result from the use or reliance on this video and/or any parts and procedures represented in this video. You are using the information presented in this video solely at your own risk.
#lawnmower #smallenginerepair #DIY
If this video helped you, please consider clicking the "Thanks" button above. 🙌 Watch this video next for more info on that cross hair laser: czcams.com/video/NLRlfH5kXH4/video.html
These Tecumseh vertical shaft L heads are some of the best mower engines I’ve ever owned.
When taken care of, they do last. Thanks for watching!
I'm also a Tecumseh fan. When you give them a bit of maintenance, they run great. Thanks for the video, Stella
Yes they are! I appreciate you watching.Cheers!
All the tecumseh motors I have worked on and did not know about the F on the bowl. Thanks
Hola Mr Bruce! I kind of figured that out on my own. I've scoured many a service manual, and never saw mention of that. I can't figure what else it would mean? On the older brass floats, you could see a witness mark from that divot to determine the orientation, not on the plastic floats. Cheers.
Good video, thank you Mrs Lawn Mower Lady.
Cheers! I appreciate you watching.
Great job there . The first mower I fixed was that exact model of Tecumseh Engine.
Cool, thanks for watching. Cheers!
Great Vid Stella, I learned something from you today
Gee, thanks! Cheers!
Stella I like the laser great work
Cheers Mr Hank! That little laser is great. I almost didn't link to that video. It was my first published, LOL. Lots of changes since then.
Good find on the loose blade. Good to see you Stella.
Thanks Mr Jim. Cheers!
You just earned MAJOR kudo's!! You are the third person in the world I ever saw uses TriFlow! There's ME, a bicycle mechanic that turned me on to that stuff years ago, and now YOU! Pricey, but it works where others fail. I recommend it to anyone who'll listen to me.
Ha! Thanks, I use it cause the bicycle guys use it. A small can lasts me several seasons. I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
What a difference. Great find lady.
Great job as always Stella! Keep up the awesome work young lady!
Thank you Sgt! Will do!
Nice work Ms Mower Lady, sounds like its running great now. 🙂👍
Thanks 👍 Mr John. Cheers!
I love those old Tecumseh engines, I love the carbs because I can usually just drop in a 631021B kit in them and maybe a new primer and they are good to go. I absolutely love your laser rig and your large tray for under the mower while you change the oil. Two great ideas!!!
Cheers Pat! Those get a bad rap, but I honestly don't have that big of a problem. I appreciate you watching!
GREAT JOB STELLA.. I myself like these old craftsman.. with regular maintenance they run forever and forever. They are beast. CB
Thanks!!! I agree 100%
1:40 that painters tape idea is a great tip. I will start doing that. Thank you!
Deliver a mower back to a customer once without oil, and I swear you never will again. (Ask me how I know, LOL)
@@TheLawnmowerLady oops.
As usual professional video. Keep up the good work. thank you Lawnmower Lady.
Thank you! Will do!
Nice thorough job! Thanks
My pleasure!
When you first started it, i thought the blade was hitting something. You did a thorough investigation, Mr Klem will be impressed😁 Great to see you back posting videos
LOL, Thanks Mr Al.
Older is me and I’m slowly getting it done. Thank You’ll for information and advice
Glad to help. Cheers!
Right there with u. I'm 71yrs old, getting harder, but as long as the Lord lets me, I'll keep chugging away. I still get under my car in my driveway. I move like molasses on a winter's day, but it's done & done right.👍✊️🖖
Hi Stella
I Really Enjoy Watching You At Work, You Are Very Thorough In What You Do. Unlike Some Mechanics. You Will Take The Time To Lubricate Things And Clean Things Properly. I Can't Stand Working On Dirty Equipment. I Will Always Clean Things Before And After Working On Mowers
I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Great job on the fix! It’s to bad that Tecumseh gets such a bad rap, I think they are great engines
I think most of the Tecumseh hate is from Europe, those were made in Italy, and unlike the pinnacle of scooter manufacturers in the 60s (think Vespa and Lambretta), everyday was Monday at the Italian Tecumseh factory. Heh!
My 1984 Toro with its TNT100 is still going strong!
Good job as always Stella!
Thank you! 😄
I got that same mower along curb last fall. Someone replaced carb with a foreign one. Cleaned it ran lean. A original bottom jet fit it. Lots better drilled upper one runs great
These older mowers are better machines than almost anything you can purchase new today. Thanks for watching.
Well done presentation. Appreciate the tips.
Glad it was helpful! I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Lawnmower lady, you are awesome! 👏
Wow, thank you!
Super nice trick with the laser Stella 👍👍
Thanks 😁
Great Job!
Thanks for the visit. Cheers!
Nice work Stella👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Nizeee
Just got another nice one in yesterday on trade,,Needs a bunch, crank seal it bulging,, wheels shot,,adjuster very loose
BUT its super clean,,,paint has like no scratches or ROT on the deck!
Nice job,,,,
I clean all my machines, the pull starters do get jammed up, these get cleaned as well when pressure washing, Oil or chain lube on most, also up into the spring area as well. NO oil on briggs, the plastic palls wont grab,, chain lube or chain wax combo. and these get wiped well after..
I do charge more for this but the machines that I do look like new.
I usually clean in a desperate attempt to keep the shop and my hands a tiny bit cleaner, 😂 I do squirt some WD-40 on those plastic Briggs pawls. Never seen a problem, I see so e of the same mowers year after year. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Great video Stella, sound perfect now well done👍
Thanks Nev! 😊 Cheers!
I worked on a 24 year old craftsman today with 6hp TEcumseh. Runs well.
I don't get all the Tecumseh hate, but they are reliable if taken care of. I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Nice one Stella - you rock! Cheers!
Thank you Anders! I appreciate you watching.
Love the laser trick Norm!
It’s a time saver for sure!
Nice.
Have always loved the Tecumseh engine, as it had an actual oil-pump, as opposed to the BS splash rotor, so you could use them on quite extreme slopes.
They made them under license in Australia years ago as the "Kirby-Lauson, and also, the Spanish government "nationalised" the 2 stroke version, moved a few bolt-holes around so genuine parts wouldn't fit anymore, and renamed them "Aspera".
They were still good.
I appreciate the history insights. I have some old parts and literature that mentions Lauson. The Kirby connection was news to me. I guess they were trying to compete with Electrolux. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Stella, thank you for doing a video about a Craftsman with a Tecumish Engine [Taryl Fixes All pro-noun-ce-ation].
Have a great week!
Thanks, you too!
Nice mowers , I like them good mowers they love to have clean oil in the crank case . You have to make sure you dump junk into the gas tank , because the main jet pick up is so low in the float bowl . I use one for my personal mower .
Yep. Those Tecumseh mowers, despite all the hate are good machines. Thanks for watching.
Good catch with the blade. I thought it was going to be an internal engine issue.
Yep, I cringe when they say "I think I hit something" Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Great video 😎👍
I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Thank you 😊
Cheers!
Had one do the same blade a little loose, sounded real bad, tightened and ok.
I'd suspect many a lawnmower went to the dump for nothing more than a loose blade!
very nice work!
Thanks a lot! I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
I’ve heard that noise before. I was thinking, take the blade off, reseat and tighten. Glad it worked out.
I probably should have, but it seemed awfully secure on first impression. Besides, it would have been a far less interesting video... Cheers!
Good video
Thanks for the visit
Good video Stella the Techumseh engines are pretty tough the only think i do not like is how the primer bulb stiffens up but it still works.
Surprisingly, this one even with its advanced age, still worked. Some versions were black rubber, shaped more like the Briggs 9nes. Never figured if they were interchangeable. Cheers!
@@TheLawnmowerLady Interesting thought never tried to swap one out ie: black for red may look through my spare scrap parts carbs and take a look at that.
Very very good
I appreciate you watching and supporting my channel.
Te felicito 😊
Te agradezco que veas mi video. ¡Salud!
I love the Tecumseh TVS engines. As you mentioned, they were better made than the 2023 engines are. Obviously, that one is at least 15 years old, Tecumseh went belly up in 2008, and that one actually looks like a late 1990’s model to me, maybe 1998, so 25 years old. If cared for, that has 25 more years in it.
I usually take a pic , or write down the model/serial info. I failed to do both on this one. Oops!
@@TheLawnmowerLady I decided it is a 2004.
good fix Stella he was lucky he did not bend the crank and could of been a costly repair
I know, right? Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Stella glad you put down the Guinness and decided to get back to work doing videos. Thought i was watching Bruce Pender for a while there when i saw that oil spill. Hope you enjoyed these comments and got a little laugh out of them but not enough pee your drawers eh? Will drop another comment when i watch the entire video.
Bwahahahahaha!
@@TheLawnmowerLady Thought you would like that one!
The more I learn about lawnmowers the more I realize the products of the past were just more durable and simple to work on. In terms of durability what is your opinion on the Tecumseh vs Briggs and Stratton motor?
Not just lawnmowers! Just about anything you care to mention with few exceptions.
I think this later model Tecumseh is right up there with the flathead Briggs, often referred to as the Quantum engine. Even the older 3.5 Tecumseh engines, I think is just a bullet-proof as the older 3.5 Briggs pulsa prime engines. I think the Tecumseh engines get such a bad rap across the pond is they were made in Italy. Not unlike licensed manufacturers of antique Vespa and Lambretta scooters in the 60's, made in Asia, South America, and other parts of Europe. Just enough difference to make them not as desirable as the originals. I really appreciate you watching. Cheers!
👍👍👍Thank you
Thanks for watching. Cheers!
It definitely has a sheared key either the top or bottom one
I'm pretty sure that one time it yanked out of my hand was an anomaly. Never happened again. If it comes back, I'll replace the key at no charger. Cheers!
I wished u gave us a little history on how u got into working on small engines. Self-taught? Or schooling? Your dad? U are very knowledgeable, impressive. Already sub'd & gave u a 👍
Thank you! czcams.com/video/HAbYv_zSEZ4/video.html is a little channel trailer that explains a lot. I think I got my chops from my Grandpa. I didn't want that little video to drag on too long, so I cut out some bits: I'm into antique motor scooters, and my neighbors asked for my help with their small engine stuff, and one thing led to another... I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
I've learned so much from you. Question - I have a silver and black craftsman 20in with the 3.5 Tucumseh engine. I maintain it well. Use only ethanol free gas and stay-lube. The engine runs fine up steep hills and down steep hills, but on steep sidehills it dies and then is hard to restart. I checked the carb, cleaned it etc. But it still stalls on steep sidehills. Do you have a suggestion that I don't know of? Thanks for considering my question.
On those side hills, you are fighting gravity. The float in the carb bowl can't regulate the fuel flow on those side slopes. Depending on which side, once you get back to level ground, you are either drowning in fuel, or starving. I suggest mowing those slopes on a diagonal. Thanks for watching.
@@TheLawnmowerLady Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion.
Nice video you made. How ever do you sell tecumseh carburetors are parts? Thanks Carl
Thanks! I don't sell parts as such, only those needed to complete a repair. I'm merely a hobbyist, working in my backyard. I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Stella, I’m looking for a specialized source for seals. I came across a reference to one a while back but can’t find it now. This source would have low minimum orders, good pricing and normally sell to small engine shops. I want to order by seal dimensions rather than OEM part numbers. This would be for things like small 2T (string trimmers) up to 4T (lawn tractors). Any help?
I used to google the dimensional numbers, and got good hits for suppliers. That said, I never felt the need to stock much more than common spark plugs and air cleaners. I usually just ordered them one at at time. Yes, I paid more, but I pass that cost onto the client. I appreciate you watching. Cheers!
Briggs engines can run ok with a partly sheared keyway but even a hair off on the Tecumseh you'll get a kickback. That one may be very slightly off.
I thought it might be, but it only yanked out of my hand once. Thanks for watching.
Mower starts and cuts out....when I hold primer button in, pressed in it runs good, I just replaced primer button...if its not seated and sealed, could this be my problem, it's the older Tecumseh
Could be. That would allow more air in, and you holding the bulb in seals it tight.
Is a thicker heavy deck better? I think a lighter mower will be easier to maneuver.
I agree a lighter deck is easier, but also rusts out sooner.
how many foot pounds would it be to torqe the blade?
Pretty much 45 ft/lbs on push mowers. Riders are often 100+ Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Good job Stella,you the man,oh I mean the Woman!😂
Haha! Thanks JB. Cheers!
Craftsman 4.0 model 143.974008
Tecumseh carburetor. I need help ordering carb parts. And rebuild
Any major parts house will have good exploded diagrams to find your parts: partstree, jackssmallengines, repairclinic, etc. I prefer partstree as they show real time stock onhand on their website. You want to be looking up the engine model #, not the mower model # stamped on the deck.
What years mower?
Looks like 2004. 16:15 shows the engine DOM sticker. Thanks for watching.
Hi Stella. Why don't you buy yourself a vacuum oil changer. It will save you a lot of mess.
I did, and was planning on an unboxing video. But in all honesty, I think my channel focus is better served to the average homeowner, and I don't suspect they would be too keen on seeing how to do jobs with a slew of specialized tools. I appreciate you watching, and commenting. Cheers!
I’m surprised that you didn’t take the carburetor bowl off and inspect the contents at 14:38. Sure thought you were about to but you didn’t…..
No real reason to IMHO. Fuel was flowing freely, no debris in the catch bowl, the bowl nut/main jet was almost pristine. Probably not even necessary to probe the ports, just a demonstration on how to. I appreciate you watching.
WD40 is a cleaner. Might as well be anyway. I use pb blaster or kroil. Good video tho. I've come across mowers where the blades are tight to the max and blades were still loose
Maybe the bolts, or alignment pins on the adapter was worn? Thanks for watching. Cheers!
They are good machines but I don't like the way the carb is mounted or that it has rubber o rings in it.
I agree about the O-rings, and the plastic emulsion tube almost always gets damaged. There's like 6 different ones, each a separate color. Thanks for watching.
With a bit of help from Norm,
The mower be now reborn.
The Rays of Ruby Red light.
Now proves shaft is alright.
A keyway shift not the error,
Not cause of vibrating terror.
The pull start lubed and fine
Starts on one pull each time?
Air filter an' spark plug are due,
Says the lady dressed in blue.
Oil is drained from the crank.
Some was spilled, let's be frank.
Oil now added to proper depth;
Starting Tecumseh is all that's left.
Start Noise remains off camera.
It's such a perplexing dilemma.
Sometimes a simple screw loose
Will surely, now, cook your goose.
Tighten the bolt for mover blade,
The vibration now did finally fade.
Stella stayed the difficult course.
And fixed the three an' half horse.
Twenty-five years it did cut grass,
Twenty-five years more it will last.
You are awesome! Thank you!
@@TheLawnmowerLady You are too generous. This is the least I can do for the time and resources you invest in your subscribers. Best to you and yours Stella.
Te cum see Tecumseh. Which moved from Tecumseh, Mi to Saline, MI and is now Kohler.
Huh? That's news to me. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Hello cutie. " well take a look under her skirt" I like you.
Hi.Where can I buy the tool used to unclog those grimy carb jet holes?
These MIG welder tip cleaners I use all the time: amzn.to/3npp1tr Thanks for watching.