Tecumseh engine rebuild

I am in the process of doing my first motor rebuild on my Tecumseh tiller motor. My question is about honing the cylinder. From what understand this is an essential part of getting the rings to seat so my question is do I absolutely have to hone the cylinder and I have heard you can do this by hand with some emery cloth? So can i do this by hand, and if so what grit of emery cloth and how?
Thanks in advance!

(quoted from post at 14:39:59 01/16/12) I am in the process of doing my first motor rebuild on my Tecumseh tiller motor. My question is about honing the cylinder. From what understand this is an essential part of getting the rings to seat so my question is do I absolutely have to hone the cylinder and I have heard you can do this by hand with some emery cloth? So can i do this by hand, and if so what grit of emery cloth and how?
Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

The purpose of honing a cylinder is 2 fold.
1. To get rid of the "glazing"
2. To create a cross hatched pattern that will not only give the new rings something to "cut their teeth on", but also to provide a means of keeping lubricating oil available to the new rings to prevent galling.

I must confess I HAVE tried the emery cloth trick, and the engine DID run after re-assembly, but it didn't run any better than it did before and it STILL used oil and smoked.

It will cost less money and you will have more success to sell the old engine for scrap. And install 100% new everything. No old ignition, carb, recoil etc to mess with.
For a few bucks it can have a alternator, starter and lights too.

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121612-0110 6hp Vertical 7/8x1-3/16" shaft, Intek IC, OHV, has four holes on bottom for pump mounting ability 21 $115.00
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121612-0142 6hp Vertical 7/8x1-3/16" shaft, Intek IC, OHV, has four holes on bottom for pump mounting ability 26 $115.00
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125K02-0202 6hp Quantum, Vertical Step Shaft, 7/16-20 tapped hole for Toro 4 $120.00
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125K07-0188 6hp Quantum, Vertical Step Shaft, 7/16-20 tapped hole for newer Toro BBC, Recoil & Electric Start 10 $120.00
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126T02-0190 6hp Vertical 5/8" Externally Threaded Shaft, Muffler, Fuel Tank, for some Toro 3 $135.00
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126T02-0225 6hp Vertical 2" Special Stepped Shaft, D&T 7/16", Muffler, Fuel Tank, fits some Toro 1 $120.00
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133702-0139-SD 6hp Vertical IC series, step shaft 1-7/8x 1-13/16" Float Carburetor, Big Block, S & D 26 $180.00
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133702SS 6hp Vertical IC series, step shaft 1-7/8x 1-13/16" Float Carburetor, Big Block 10 $199.95
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BV6LM-253532-HF 6hp Vertical 25MMx3-5/32" Shaft for push mowers, Heavy Flywheel 1 $145.00
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BV6LM-7811316 6hp Vertical 7/8"x1-13/16" Shaft for push mowers 96 $110.00
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BV6LM-781316-HF 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, for push mowers, pressure washers, and tillers 3 $120.00
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BV6LM-781316-HF-OV 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, OHV, for push mowers, pressure washers, and tillers 1 $135.00
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BV6LM-781316-HF-OVT 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, OHV, for push mowers, pressure washers, and tillers, Takeoff 1 $100.00
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BV6LM-781316-HFP 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, for pressure washers, 4 Bolt Bottm 9 $120.00
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BV6LM-781316-HFP-OV 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, OHV, for push mowers, pressure washers, and tillers 1 $135.00
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BV6LM-781316-HFPT 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, for pressure washers, and tillers, 4 Bolt Base,Takeoff 3 $100.00
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BV6LM-781316-HFT 6hp VER 7/8"x1-3/16" Shaft, for push mowers, pressure washers, and tillers, Takeoff 4 $100.00
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BV6LM-783532-SS 6hp Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32" Shaft for push mowers, Self Starter System 3 $150.00
Kawasaki
FJ180V-AM18 6hp Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32" Keyed Shaft, OHV, CIS, Recoil Start, Flywheel Brake, Oil Filter 3 $185.00
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FJ180V-CS11-R 6hp Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32" Keyed Shaft, OHV, Recoil Start, Fuel Tank, Heavy Flywheel-No Brake 308 $200.00
Tecumseh
LV195EA-361599 6hp Vertical 7/8"x2-7/16" Shaft, 3/16" Straight & 2WK, Heavy Flywheel-No Brake, Remote Throttle 7 $120.00
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122T02-0831 6.25 Gross Torque Vertical MTD Tapered Shaft, Muffler, Fuel Tank, Adjustable Throttle, No Top Cover, 5 $125.00
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120502-0255 6.5HP Quantum Snow Engine, 3/4"x2-5/16" Shaft, Recoil Start, No Air Filter, for Snow Blowers 3 $100.00
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121K02-0316 6.5hp Quantum Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32" Shaft, Recoil Start, made for push mowers 30 $135.00
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123602THD 6.5hp Vertical Intek IC Pro, OHV, Externally Threaded for Toro, no gas cap 42 $135.00
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123672-0136 6.5hp Vertical Intek IC Pro, OHV, Oil Filter, Externally Threaded for Toro, no gas tank 1 $160.00
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123k02-0015 6.5HP Vertical 7/8" x 3 5/32" Shaft, Remote Throttle Control, Fuel Tank, Muffler 11 $145.00
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123k02-0015-HF-SD 6.5HP Vertical 7/8" x 3 5/32" Shaft, Adjustable Throttle Control, Heavy Flywheel*, Muffler, S & D 11 $165.00
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123k02-0015-SD 6.5HP Vertical 7/8" x 3 5/32" Shaft, Adjustable Throttle Control, Fuel Tank, Muffler, S & D 101 $135.00
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124672-0035 6.5hp Intek OHV, Vertical 7/8"x 2 7/16" Shaft, 3/16" Keyway Oil Filter, Adj Throttle, No Tank 19 $140.00

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126T02-0131 6.5HP Quantum, 7/8"x1-13/16" Shaft, Recoil Start, Heavy Flywheel, No Top Cover 155 $135.00
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126T02-0158 675 Series Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32" Shaft, Quantum, Recoil Start, Fuel Tank, Muffler, Ready Start 1 $135.00
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126T02-0209 6.5hp Vertical Step Shaft fits some Toro BBC models, Fuel Tank, Muffler, 7/16"-20 D & T 41 $110.00
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126T02-0548 6.5hp Quantum Vertical 25mm x 3 5/32" Shaft, 2WK, Muffler, Fuel Tank 44 $145.00
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126T02-4231 6.5hp Quantum Vertical 25mm x 3-5/32" Shaft 7/16"-20 D & T, Muffler, Fuel Tank 8 $135.00
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126T05-0222 675 Series Quantum, Vertical Step Shaft fits some Toro BBC models, ES, Fuel Tank, Muffler 8 $135.00
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126T05-1561 675 Series Vertical 25mm X 3-5/32 Shaft, 2WK, Quantum Series, Electric & Recoil Start 39 $140.00
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12H805-1916 6.5HP Vertical 25MMx3-5/32" 1WK, Muffler, Adjustable Throttle, Fuel Tank 3 $135.00
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12S502-0122 875 Series Vertical 25mmx3-5/32" Shaft, Intek OHV, Fuel Tank, Recoil Start 42 $170.00
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12S902-1563 875 Series Vertical 25mm"x3-5/32" Shaft, Intek OHV, Fuel Tank, Recoil Start 17 $175.00
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12S907-1411-SD 875 Series Vertical 7/8"x1-13/16" Shaft, Intek OHV, Fuel Tank, Electric & Recoil Start, S & D 48 $160.00
Honda
GCV190N5AV-TO 6.5hp Vertical 7/8"x1-5/8" Keyed Shaft, OHC, Heavy Flywheel, Recoil Start, Takeoff 21 $130.00
Loncin
Loncin-196V-SD 6.5HP Vertical 25MMx3-5/32" Shaft, Fuel Tank, Recoil Start, Scratch & Dent 1 $95.00
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LV195EA-362077 6.5hp Vertical 5/8" x 3 5/32" Externally Threaded Step Shaft, Muffler 34 $135.00
Kohler
XT173-0084 173cc Vertical 25mmx3-5/32" Shaft, OHV, Recoil Start, Safety Brake 8 $140.00
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122677-0213 6.75hp Intek OHV, Vertical 25MMx3-5/32"" Shaft, Oil Filter, No Tank 3 $160.00
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126T02-0015 675 Series Quantum, Vertical 7/8"x3-5/32", Recoil Start, Fuel Tank, Adjustable Throttle 38 $135.00
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126T02-0491 6.75hp Vertical 7/8" x 3-5/32" Shaft, Quantum, Fuel Tank, Muffler 205 $140.00
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11P902-0693 775 Professional Series Vertical 25MMx3-5/32", 2 #605 WK 1/4 STR KWY 3/8-24 D&T, Recoil, OHV 15 $170.0


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215702-0115 10.5hp Vertical 1" x 3-5/32" Shaft, Intek OHV, Recoil Start, Muffler 110 $395.00
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215702-0553 10.5hp Vertical 1" x 3-5/32" Shaft, Intek OHV, Muffler 4 $320.00
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215802-0578 10.5hp Vertical 1" x 3-5/32" Shaft, Intek OHV, Recoil Start, Muffler 7 $325.00
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215807-0129 10.5hp Vertical 1" x 3 5/32" Shaft, IC, Fuel Tank, Fuel Pump, Recoil & Electric Start, Manual Choke 8 $450.00
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217805-0127 11HP Intek IC OHV, Vertical Tapered Shaft, Fuel Pump, Muffler, No Alternator 75 $375.00
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217805-0127-2 11HP Vertical 1"x3-5/32" Shaft, Intek IC OHV, Recoil & Electric Start, Fuel Pump, 3 Amp Alternator 4 $425.00

I have done this many times to small engines back in the past. It helps some but I came to the conclusion that if the engines smokes badly and burns excessive oil it just doesn't fix the problem. I did have better experience with chrome rings which cost considerably more. Anyway, the expierence is valuable. I did use a hone or emry cloth.

Did you know Tecumseh went out of business in December 2008. Parts are very hard to find.

Urgent....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this is an Aluminum engine, most are totally Aluminum, Except for an Oxide COATING on the cylinder wall...!!!
If you Hone it, you will only remove the Aluminum Oxide and have a Soft Aluminum cylinder wall..
The rings WILL chew that cylinder wall up in no time..the oil will look like Aluminum paint..and it will still be a hunk for the scrap pile..
Purchase a new engine, or new crankcase or Short Block..
The days of Aluminum engines having a Cast Iron sleeve ended more than 20 Years ago...
Tecumpsy was one of the 1st to go with the Aluminum Oxide coating..

Ron..

where did you come with that pricing? seems very reasonable. bill

You can do a decent job by hand, in fact probably desirable, if you have an aluminum bore. Use Wet n Dry, 180 grit, and try to get the scratches about 45deg. Don't sand up and down. Wet down the sandpaper with some kind of spray penetrant, and go at it. Don't get carried away, wipe out the cylinder to check your progress. You should see some of the original bore between the scratches. You don't need an awful lot of honing to seat new rings. They have tiny ridges around their perimeter for the purpose of quickly wearing off to try to conform to the shape of the cylinder. Wash the cylinder with soapy water. Smear oil in the bore and wipe it out with a white paper towel. Repeat this operation until the towel comes out clean. Now you're ready to re-assemble.

I did not know that, so went online to find out what happened. Bankrupt or what, and I found the website for tecumseh.com, which showed plenty of "green" electric motors for things like air condtioners, refrigerators, etc, that had the same indian head logo, so I too thought no gasoline motors, until I clicked on TecumsehPower.com and looked at the engines. A couple that I have in use were still there. Maybe someone has bought out their line? Just the same, to me it looks at though the product line is still around, as are distrubtors, and I hope for a long, long time since I still use them in snow blowers, couple of Wheel Horse garden tractors, and a couple of roto tillers off the top of my head. I hate to see any legitimate businesses fail. We can't afford anymore failing.

Mark
TecumsehPower

Well, then, how are you supposed to bore it for a oversize piston?

Well maybe you aren't supposed to hone an aluminum block due to some special coating but Briggs and Stratton sold a hone for the sole purpose of boring there aluminum blocks. I have honed many of them just to make them run faster.

Another thing you need to do when you get it all back together make your air cleaner is serviced and in good working order so all your work isn't undone in an hour's time.

the cylinder needs to be honed with a ridgid hone . thats the only way to ensure it is round and no taper . Usually you remove enough material that you need to go to an oversize piston. If not ,,your wasting time .

Tecumseh was bought and parts are still made for them. Only engine production was stopped but there was talk of it starting up again by the new owners. At least that I read last year.

Well I got out the owners manual and it says it has a precision cast iron alloy cylinder and crankcase so I assume I should be alright. But thanks for warning me anyway.

I haven't seen a 6hp B&S engine for those prices in years. I don't believe you could even buy a short block for that price. Are those prices in American dollars?

Is this an HH60?

If so you'll want to be very careful in your honing process. To my knowledge (admittedly limited) you can't find oversized pistons or undersized rods. Standard sized rods and pistons are avialable at very reasonable prices though.

I have a good block but the crank journal is out of round so it sits waiting for me to find a good crankshaft with a standard sized journal.

From the good folk at smallenginewarehouse.com. US of A