Kohler Vs Tecumseh HH-100

[Charlie Smith 142]

Hello all me again, in my hours of boredom I've been searching around and seen that a lot of people moan and say that the Tecumseh HH-100 isn't a very good engine? And that Kohler is alot better, I have a Tecumseh HH-100 in my raider 10 and haven't seen any problems with it so far? What do you guys think? What's better and why.. What's the pros and cons of each! ?

Thanks,

[Retired Wrencher 5,770]

  Charlie I would say the way it is built If u take care of a Kohler the rite way it will last a life time I own  4 of them. I have just pick up a 657 nice tractor it is the same year as the rest of them and this one does not have the original engine in it. But the rest do. I would say simply they are better built engine all around. teckys do make a great snow blower engine thoooo... I hope this helps.    Gary     B.............

[Charlie Smith 142]

Thank you, I've got all the service history's for my raider 10, it was owned by the local council so frequently serviced.... It's 43 years of age, and still the orignial engine... With no problems, personally I think you only come across problems if they are miss treated,

[Retired Wrencher 5,770]

Charlie if u would like post you speck# and model#  on engine section. there are real smart people on there and they could tell u if it is. no ill will towards you tractor. ok . Gary    B....

[Charlie Smith 142]

Okay, will do, thanks

[Lane Ranger 11,395]

A good running Tecumseh HH-100 is a GODSEND!  But they are far and few between !

[47JDG 65]

They are OK, but I think any Tecumseh is inferior to a K-series Kohler. I don't care what anyone says. I have some great running techies and they are fine, but I won't compare them to a Kohler, I will compare them to a Briggs, but even then I will favor a Briggs most likely. The solid state Techies are a good engine until they need something. I say this because parts for them are getting to be outrageous, mainly the ignition parts. People who praise them have most likely never had to shell out the money for some ignition parts lately for them. Once you do, you start looking at other options.

[Fordiesel69 271]

Of course kohlers are better.  But the older cast iron tecumseh with the roller bearings are just as good if taken care of.  They don;t like overspeed, and you need to keep up on the oil.  Every tecumseh it seems will burn some oil. 

[Ken B 3,189]

Of course kohlers are better.  But the older cast iron tecumseh with the roller bearings are just as good if taken care of.  They don;t like overspeed, and you need to keep up on the oil.  Every tecumseh it seems will burn some oil. 

I pretty much agree with that statement. I've had quite a few Sears Suburban tractors thru the yrs. that had either the 10 or 12 hp Techy on them. They had a ton of hrs on them yet they still ran well and seemed about as strong as a comparable Kohler. Keep the oil clean and to the full mark and you'll be okay.

[chazm 413]

From one Charlie with a Raider 10 to an other Charlie with a Raider 10 , no issuses with this tecky so far. 

 

Chasm

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Charlie, if yours is running correctly, not knocking, and not smoking, then its a good engine. Don't waste another minute being concerned over it. Just enjoy it.

[47JDG 65]

Mine ran good also, but due to the unavailability of parts for them I am just not fond of them. They are not an engine that I try to look for when I set out looking for a garden tractor. I know some guys try to seek them out, because they like them, that's fine. I know you can do some neat things with the timing easily with them if you build a performance engine. I avoid them because I just don't care for them. I know other guys like them and have had good luck with them. I just like Kohlers legacy and the availability of parts for them. As with any engine keep it full of oil and change it regularly and you should be fine...I have yet to find an engine that likes to run on dirty low oil. lol If it runs good then don't worry about it. But if it suddenly quits, start worrying about your ignition and where your going to find parts $$$. I had a JD 112 that had one on it. It was a fixer upper that I bought just for that purpose. If it would have had a Kohler I probably would still own it. But with all the trouble I had locating a pickup coil and what it cost to get one it just turned me sour on that solid state tecumseh set up. If a real good running one came a long at the right price I would give it a good look but it would have to be a real dandy that was already all up to snuff, not one that needs work from the get go.

[SousaKerry 503]

I have an old JD mechanic here at work that I regularly shoot the S&*t with,  He says back in the day they would rip out the Techy ignitions and put Kohler parts and coils on them, until he got a new boss that said either sell em a new engine or a new tractor.   

 

They are a much simpler engine internally and were always cheaper then the Briggs and Kohlers.  But I have had good luck with the smaller ones so far.  I consider it a point of pride and a challenge to get a Techy running good,  Kohlers are just too easy