Tecumseh HS50 Engine Question

[DLausche]

OK, this is for all you small engine mechanic guys... I have a circa 1978 Ariens Snow Blower with a Tecumseh HS50 5. 0 HP engine. It has always run but the last few years it seems there is less power and the engine runs somewhat erratically no matter how I adjust the mixture screws. Carb kits are cheap and the rebuild is fairly easy to do. So - the question: how much (if any) play is acceptable in the main throttle shaft? How do you recommend to properly test this for excessive wear? On my old Chevy I always tested for vacuum leaks with a can of carb cleaner. Tried the same here. If I direct a blast of carb cleaner at the throttle shaft on the top it will sputter quite a bit and eventually die. Obviously it is sucking air in here around the throttle shaft. Is it cost effective to replace the whole carb with a new one? The rest of the engine appears to be in sound shape.



Also, anyone know where a guy could get a replacement heater box for a different Tecumseh 5HP engine? This engine is a spare and basically the same as the HS50 but is a bit newer and has the rotary choke control as opposed to the pull cable setup on the HS50. The engine is unfortunately missing the heater box cover.



Thanks

-Deon

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Personally, I would go find a Honda engine and adapt it!

 

[MFalkinham]

My 1990 Simplicity snowblower has an 8HP Tecumseh "Snow King" engine, and in the past couple of years I've noticed the engine idle has been more erratic, especially after it warms up. I did have the carb rebuilt about 7 years ago and it was fine up until last year. I think it is partly due to the new ethanol gasolines. I just filled the tank with some non-ethanol premium unleaded and it has seemed to help. Also, when blowing snow gets around the carb inlet the idle seems to fluctuate, which makes sense. My Tecumseh does not have any air filter from the factory since it is a snowblower engine. Anyway, try running some non-ethanol gas if you can find it.