Doug_H 5 #1 Posted Tuesday at 01:41 AM I have a Wheelhorse 502 that I restored many years ago. The engine is tagged HT55B-3088P. I’ve read that the correct engine should have been a HT55C-3088P so to start with I don’t know the difference between the HT55B & C? Also there is a second tag on the engine SBH 54D 5215 5213. After doing a little more research it sounds like some of these engines might been repaired or rebuilt at some point with a new short block housing installed. I’m assuming that my engine had the lower part of the engine replaced with a short block part number SBH 54D. It looks similar to an H60 short block. It is aluminum but has a 1” output shaft like the original HT55B though. I will attach some photos, and would appreciate any information on this possible past repair with that short block assembly SBH 54D 5215 5213. It is a mystery to me at this point. Thanks, Doug 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,019 #2 Posted Tuesday at 09:26 AM (edited) Welcome. The original 502 engine would be a Lauson. The 552 had the electric start version. Tecumseh bought Lauson in the early 1960's - explains why it looks like a H60! Edited Tuesday at 09:12 PM by ri702bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,261 #4 Posted Tuesday at 05:47 PM Found this https://www.partstree.com/models/sbh-sbh-54-tecumseh-short-block/ 3088 was the spec number for a recoil start motor. The last 8 being an even number as most spec numbers for RS 3089 was the spec number for an electric start motor. The 9 being an odd number as most spec numbers for ES. Just an observation. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,527 #5 Posted Tuesday at 06:23 PM To see those ID tags put in place like that, it would seem the engine was done professionally. Maybe someone like a dealer did a bunch for replacements. IDK An H55 would have oil pump lubrication instead of splash lube and a visual indication of that on them would be an indentation in the block lower and left of the shaft. You are correct, that's the same as an H60 splash lube block. I don't believe it affects the value of the tractor up or down very much except for maybe a hard core WH collector that needs everything to be factory. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug_H 5 #6 Posted Tuesday at 06:36 PM 43 minutes ago, gwest_ca said: Found this https://www.partstree.com/models/sbh-sbh-54-tecumseh-short-block/ 3088 was the spec number for a recoil start motor. The last 8 being an even number as most spec numbers for RS 3089 was the spec number for an electric start motor. The 9 being an odd number as most spec numbers for ES. Just an observation. Thanks. That link confirms there was a short block SBH-54 available. I assume the original engine was rebuilt with this short block at some point. I found the answer to another past post that stated that the HT55B-3088 was just an earlier version of the HT55C-3088 and was used on the early 502 tractors. Also there is a number stamped on that SBH-54D 5215 5213 short block: 19-0-70. I wonder if that is the date this short block assembly was manufactured? Regards, Doug @TT-(Moderator), @TT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
