Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Guys,

I have 2 Tecumseh Snow King 8hp engines.

One is a "HMSK80 155444S (D) 3348D", in my old MTD and has an alternator (but no light). The flywheel is 611093. It obviously has magnets in it (I have measured voltage from the alternator while running).

The other is a "HMSK80 155316S (D) 3159D", in my "new" Ariens ST824, and does not have an alternator. The flywheel is 611091. I saw something saying that 611091 does not have magnets.

I'd like to move the alternator to the engine that doesn't have it, so I can add a light to the new machine. I took some shrouds off the alternator engine tonight, hoping that I could simply unbolt the alternator. Naturally, it can't be that easy. The flywheel would have to come off of each machine, to swap everything around. It sounds like the flywheels would also have to swap. I've never removed a flywheel. For that matter, I've never had a headlight on a snowblower. I like the idea of a light, but I'm now wondering if it's worth the trouble, and the risk of breaking something in the process :) I have 2 working engines currently. I don't want to end up with 0 that work.

Can anyone give me a sense of how difficult & risky it is to remove a flywheel? For what it's worth, the Ariens appears to have been stored outside at some point, and is quite rusty. So that could perhaps be a factor in trying to remove its flywheel. Any feedback would be appreciated. I've gotten by this long without a light, maybe the smart thing is to leave everything alone, and sell the MTD the way it is. Thanks.