Tecumseh XL Engine

[Bookman]

Folks, I just got a Murray lawn tractor from my elderly aunt. She said the oil seal in the engine went out three or four years ago from my uncle overfilling the engine. She had a repairman look at it, and he said it would cost $500 to fix it and he would not guarantee it. I am not a small engine person but this does not ring true to me. She said the engine did not seize up. Anyone with experience with a Tecumseh engine. It said XL Industrial Commerical 12 horse power engine with overhead valves. It was on a lawn tractor with 40" mower on it.

Thanks in advance

Bookman

 

[rustyj]

The oil seal won't cost much more than 3-4 bucks! Putting it in will cost more, but nowhere near $500!
The 4 bolts holding the engine on the frame, the gas line, and several wires that need to be unplugged, must be removed, the oil drained out, and the engine must be set on its flywheel side. The stacked pulley must be removed, if so equipped, the seal can be pried out with a sharp ice pick, and the new seal is tapped down into position.
I've done them in as little as 2 hours, depending on whether the engine has a lot of stuff on it or not! Or panels, etc., covering it.
That engine is a good one to have. I've had several here, in my tractors/ lawn mowers. They hold up really well. Of course, the purists will knock Tecumseh engines every chance they get, but don't let them influence your choice of engines!
I'd say that mechanic wasn't very interested in working on small engines, or he thought he'd make a killing on your Aunt's problem! He'd be a good guy to not take any work to, in my book!

 

[Larry Hardesty]

Rustj, Yep, that is what I suspected about the mechanic. Thanks for the information. I will give it a shot. If it works, I have a dilemna. I got the lawn tractor with the idea of using the transmission to build a horseless carriage--something for the wife to to the mail box with--about 3/8 mile away and for parades or whatever. However, if I fix the engine (which I will need too), do I keep it as a lawn tractor or us the engine and the transmission for the horseless carriage. Ummm

Thanks for the good information.

Bookman

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I'm no 'purist' but fact is the Tecumseh just isn't a very good durable engine most of the time

 

[HemiMoparMan]

(quoted from post at 03:54:43 09/02/08) I'm no 'purist' but fact is the Tecumseh just isn't a very good durable engine most of the time

ou are preaching to the choir there. I have never had or known anyone who has gotten any good service out of them.
Those cheap chrome plated cylinders are usually worn through to the aluminum on most that I have seen.

 

[Fern(Mi)]

We've a couple industrial type over head valve 16 hp class Tecumseh engines on farm equipment here. Have worked on both with little problems. Found good articles in our county Library books on (larger) small engine repair. I made copies, what proved invaluably handy. I also found genuine Tecumseh parts work the best having had some unfavorable service from aftermarket offerings. Especially when I had to do the repairs over. If head removal is required $5.00 for the valve compression tool was well worth the price (as it fits).
Get the books. They've a lot of (detailed) useful information in them.
Enjoy
Fernan
My Shorthorn country

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

I would remove the battery and stand the mower up on it's back wheels. Then take the engines pulleys off. There MIGHT be ahole in the frame lager enough to replace the oil seal through. You might have to build a slide hammer seal remover to remove the seal. You will not have lost any work if the hole in the frame is to small to work through because the pulleys would need to be removed before the engine could be remover.
To build a slidehammer seal remover weld a sheet metal screw on to a piece of 3/8 or 1/2 inch shafting. Weld a heavy washer on the other end. Slide a heavy socket orother heavy piece of metal with a hole in it over the shart. Then drill a small hole in the seal, srtew the sheet metal screw in the hole and use the heavy piece of metel to bump the seal out. Then install new seal.

Kent

 

[Bookman]

Folks, Thanks for the good advice. Sounds like if I get it running, it should go on the horseless carriage, where it should have pretty light duty.

Bookman

 

[JT]

If you had them wear through the "cast iron" cylinder liner, they are not "chrome plated" as you assume it is, someone obviously does not service their machine very faithfully.
Jim

 

[JT]

Where do you get these "facts"? Tecusmseh, is a actually a very well built and a very dependable engine.

 

[rustyj]

Well, i'd fix the engine, get the machine to mow the grass, and let the wife ride on it to where-ever she goes! She can even get mowing jobs, in thanks for you giving her the nice tractor.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I get my facts from the many engines I have owned the Tecumsehs just aren't as durable most of the time especially if they are run hard

 

[HemiMoparMan]

(quoted from post at 11:06:33 09/02/08) If you had them wear through the "cast iron" cylinder liner, they are not "chrome plated" as you assume it is, someone obviously does not service their machine very faithfully.
Jim

ost Tecumsehs DON"T have a liner in the cylinder. They are "chrome bores" as in chrome plated aluminum. One mishap when servicing the air filter and the dust or dirt wears through the chrome plating.
About 99% of the Craftsman riders had these 8hp through 16hp Tecumsehs on them. NO LINERS and a plastic air filter cover that would warp and allow dirt to pass by the edge of the air filter. They are and were junk.