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

Their engines were really easy to start in cold weather.

I agree with you......I've been hoarding them  for a couple of years now and my shelf is full. Like my security blanket......

I feel like a small peice of me is gone, I worked for a dealer for years. Alot of people don't understand how many engines they made. For years they were the dominate engines on Sears, Toro, Roper and others. Plus all the odd engines they made for snowthrowers, posthole diggers, and small outboards.

My OPE dealer tells me Tecumseh is coming back.

Like Mcculloch?

I still love my 1979  Mcculloch Power Mac 310. It is all metal and has cut many cord every year with normal maintenance....

55utilitysedan wrote:
I only have one Tecumseh engine, with a measly 98cc.  Now I'm really feeling vulnerable.  What if it can't start and the starter rope is broken?   What if I put straight gas it in and toast the engine?  

Wait.  I have a couple of Honda engines.  I have a back up for a backup.  I'm safe.  I think.  I'm over it now.   Nothing to get paranoid about. 

What if it doesn't ever snow again.   Then I'm really doomed.  Who cares if the engine doesn't run when there's no snow?

Paul7 wrote:
I'm not sure I'm experiencing anything unique about the Tecumseh engine in terms of starting.  I don't see it as being easier than the rest.  All my engines, even the Chinese Honda clone on my Toro is easy to start. 

Although I'm developing a liking to the sound of Tecumseh flat head engine.  Just a raw and rauscious sophisticated brap brap.  Annoying sound at 6 oclock in the morning, but sounds just perfect muffled by a deep blanket of snow. 

Now, the Stihl 4 mix engines on my string trimmer, on the other hand, that is a pain in the arse to start even in the summer.  Runs and sounds really good when it does run.  Although I frequently curse German engineering.   :)  Runs great, pain to work on.

The old Tecumseh engines were easy to start because their carbs weren't designed/built to run so lean and the carb was very simple to adjust.  However, I agree that if proper starting methods are used (prime/choke), modern engines will generally start easy.  Provided the fuel system is properly maintained.  Bad maintenance habits cause more starting grief than anything else. 

Not missing mine one bit. The new B&S on my simplicity 1524P starts on one pull every time, has more power, and burns less gas.