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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: zxcvbob on August 19, 2013, 11:12:20 PM

Title: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: zxcvbob on August 19, 2013, 11:12:20 PM
The recoil starter has gone out on my old lawn mower.  :(  Not sure what brand it is, but it's a 5.5 HP vertical-shaft Tecumseh engine, and it's not a Sears.  (MTD, maybe)  Pull the rope, and it doesn't retract, whether the engine starts or not.  The spring is not broken, but I think whatever the spring engages on the flywheel is worn off.  The engine still runs good even tho' the compression may not be all that high, and the deck still has a lot of life left before it rusts out.

Many years ago, my dad had several small engines that just had a pulley for a starter, and you wrapped a rope (with a knot on the end) around the pulley and yanked it.  The knot went in a little angled notch in the rim.  Wrap the rope around and try it again.  When it started, you tied the rope to the handle so you didn't lose it.  Don't know if they were Tecumseh or Briggs.  They might have all been horizontal shaft, and that might actually make a difference -- a safety thing.  (BTW, to kill those engines you shorted out the sparkplug.)

Any chance of finding a replacement pulley like that these days?  I don't want to buy a whole new starter for it... unless a whole new starter is like $10.


Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Brad Johnson on August 19, 2013, 11:33:33 PM
Plenty of small engine parts available from lots of sources, including Amazon. Get the model number off the engine or the mower (preferably both) and you should be able to find parts with no problem. Installing it? Depends. Some you could replace the rope with a couple screws and a pair of pliers. Others required complete disassembly and rewindng of the recoil mechanism.

Brad
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: zxcvbob on August 19, 2013, 11:48:23 PM
I'm looking for an exposed retro pulley with no pawls to engage it, and no return spring.  No idea where to find something like that, and the model number probably won't help much.

I should do a proper with the model number and see what the right modern pulley costs...
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: charby on August 19, 2013, 11:55:58 PM
I'm looking for an exposed retro pulley with no pawls to engage it, and no return spring.  No idea where to find something like that, and the model number probably won't help much.

I should do a proper with the model number and see what the proper modern pulley costs...

I'm not sure that you can even attach such a pulley to a newer small gas engine.

check here (http://www.discountonlineparts.com/lawnmower/?b=Tecumseh&c=Starter Recoils) to find the right part, then go search ebay.

Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Jim147 on August 20, 2013, 12:13:20 AM
I pulled the starter off my big tiller when the dogs wore out. Surprise surprise, the dogs engaged a pulley just tall enough to get about four wraps around it.

I don't remember what engine it has but it's not a briggs.

jim
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Tallpine on August 20, 2013, 09:33:59 AM
Quote
Many years ago, my dad had several small engines that just had a pulley for a starter, and you wrapped a rope (with a knot on the end) around the pulley and yanked it.  The knot went in a little angled notch in the rim.  Wrap the rope around and try it again.

My old Cat had a rope starter pulley like that for the pony motor.
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Brad Johnson on August 20, 2013, 10:13:32 AM
All the small engine manufacturers got lawyeritis.  No more exposed nasty-spinning-flywheels-of-death for attaching you-windum starter ropes to.

Brad
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Tallpine on August 20, 2013, 10:48:02 AM
All the small engine manufacturers got lawyeritis.  No more exposed nasty-spinning-flywheels-of-death for attaching you-windum starter ropes to.

Brad

You can always tip it up and hand-prop the blade  ;)

 =D
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Brad Johnson on August 20, 2013, 10:52:13 AM
You can always tip it up and hand-prop the blade  ;)

 =D

A real man can do that with a chainsaw.

Brad
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Tallpine on August 20, 2013, 10:55:13 AM
A real man can do that with a chainsaw.

Brad

Only if it is direct drive, or the clutch is froze up.
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: 41magsnub on August 20, 2013, 12:14:50 PM
My dog chewed the starter rope on my old mower a while ago.  No problem, I'll take it apart and replace the rope I thought.  The starter was pop riveted to the engine and welded together.  A new starter kit was like $75 for my POS home depot house brand mower that didn't work very well to begin with.  Underpowered and the angle on the bag was wrong so it would clog on even slightly damp grass.  I gave it to my neighbor and bought a new Honda.
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Brad Johnson on August 20, 2013, 12:25:11 PM
Only if it is direct drive, or the clutch is froze up.

Or you welded it up on purpose 'cuz that's how 'a Real Man duz things!!!  Heck, I us'ta start 'em with muh teeth justa keep the chain sharp.  Now I gotta go, some bears need fight'n...

Brad
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Scout26 on August 20, 2013, 01:13:14 PM
You got a Sawzall right?  You can do it yourself !!!
Title: Re: Rope starter for Tecumseh lawn mower
Post by: Tallpine on August 20, 2013, 01:51:52 PM
Or you welded it up on purpose 'cuz that's how 'a Real Man duz things!!!  Heck, I us'ta start 'em with muh teeth justa keep the chain sharp.  Now I gotta go, some bears need fight'n...

Brad

Had a clutch spring break once.  I admit that it keeps you awake when the chain turns while cranking and idling  :lol: