Original Lauson Tecumseh H55B-1170

[Jennifer 1,878]

Ok so got another suburban in my herd!  I already have one of these engines in the shop and has been there since last year...😢.  I got this one not all that long ago and don’t want to take to shop..  I want to get my hands dirty and give this a go!  What all in pictures can anyone point out missing besides the fuse plate..  advice on how to get it running!  It turns over not stuck!

[ZXT 2,401]

Not sure what might be missing, but i'd check to see if the oil is decent, clean the carb out, clean the points, and try to start it. Should be pretty easy to get running.

[wallfish 18,144]

The rectifier is missing ("fuse plate").

You'll need to remove the flywheel for access to the points if there is no spark. Clean the points contacts. Since you're half way there might as well remove the head and take a look inside for piston and cylinder wall condition and or clean out any carbon build up. 3 of the head bolts need to be removed just to take off the blower housing. 

[formariz 12,045]

Congratulations on your new acquisition. What you have there is the rarest of all wheel horse engines. My first advise, since you are not familiar with it is not to be in a big hurry to take it apart. Get familiar with it and its workings. Parts for it are about as rare as the engine depending on what it is. There is substantial literature here at the site for it. Also search for that engine in the Engine's section. We have in the not so distant past helped a couple of members with those. Yours still has the original Tillotson carburetor also very rare and hard to get parts for. Research that too. Not many are familiar with that one. I suggest you take photos of linkages as they were if still time. I would be interested in seeing that also. As John @wallfishsaid you are missing rectifier board. Never apply voltage whatsoever to that engine with the exception of actual starter post. Everything in that engine is activated by ground switching. Perhaps Gary @gwest_ca will chime in soon with all the links to the information you need if not I will post it later with a bit more time.

Edited May 25, 2019 by formariz

[Jennifer 1,878]

4 hours ago, formariz said:

Congratulations on your new acquisition. What you have there is the rarest of all wheel horse engines. My first advise, since you are not familiar with it is not to be in a big hurry to take it apart. Get familiar with it and its workings. Parts for it are about as rare as the engine depending on what it is. There is substantial literature here at the site for it. Also search for that engine in the Engine's section. We have in the not so distant past helped a couple of members with those. Yours still has the original Tillotson carburetor also very rare and hard to get parts for. Research that too. Not many are familiar with that one. I suggest you take photos of linkages as they were if still time. I would be interested in seeing that also. As John @wallfishsaid you are missing rectifier board. Never apply voltage whatsoever to that engine with the exception of actual starter post. Everything in that engine is activated by ground switching. Perhaps Gary @gwest_ca will chime in soon with all the links to the information you need if not I will post it later with a bit more time.

Now you have me very...Nervous!!!! But I thank every one for there help!  The tractor is in the tear down stage the engine will be the last part!  @Jake Kuhn is going to fix me up with the brake drum that is destroyed!  The hood has to be spot welded a bit.  What is an engine like this worth! 

[Jennifer 1,878]

9 hours ago, wallfish said:

The rectifier is missing ("fuse plate").

You'll need to remove the flywheel for access to the points if there is no spark. Clean the points contacts. Since you're half way there might as well remove the head and take a look inside for piston and cylinder wall condition and or clean out any carbon build up. 3 of the head bolts need to be removed just to take off the blower housing. 

Has someone have the fuse plate they would sale?

[formariz 12,045]

1 hour ago, Jennifer said:

Now you have me very...Nervous!!!! But I thank every one for there help!  The tractor is in the tear down stage the engine will be the last part!  @Jake Kuhn is going to fix me up with the brake drum that is destroyed!  The hood has to be spot welded a bit.  What is an engine like this worth!  

Sorry, nothing to be nervous about. Its just that probably more damage has been done to that type engine by not understanding it than anything else. Since it is rare  any mistake resulting in something like a magneto or coils being ruined it will prove to be costly and time consuming. Several things including solenoid are particular to that engine.It is also a finicky engine when it comes to timing. Engine is only worth what someone that really needs it or wants it is willing to pay for it. If one is a stickler on originality than that engine is a must for that tractor and there aren't many of them around specially in an unmolested state such as that one with still the Tillotson carburetor on it which is the first thing to usually be removed from it at the first sign of trouble.

Rectifier plate shows up in eBay. Diodes however will be very hard to find but I can help you with that.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,492]

Here is a start

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?&q="H55B-1170"&type=downloads_file&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy

 

Here is more on two pages and in no particular order so look through them all

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?&q="Engine Tecumseh"&type=downloads_file&search_and_or=or

 

lauson

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?&q="Engine Lauson"&type=downloads_file&search_and_or=or

 

Garry

[Jennifer 1,878]

Could not take it any longer so today I dove in on the engine, success!!!!  It is running but I have multiple questions!!!  Someone, at some point was in the head!  There was marks..  the head was leaking so I cleaned and tightened head bolts!  There is two groves on one side wall...  is that the way it should be?  I can’t for the life of me figure out how the throttle is to be hooked up...  fly wheel has some bad teeth can that be replaced or repaired?  I am so excited that it in fact is running!!!!  You guys and gals are great!  If I could upload a video I would of it running!

Edited May 30, 2019 by Jennifer

[formariz 12,045]

Those grooves are bad news. Something scored cylinder walls pretty bad. Substantial amounts of oil is passing through those grooves hence the clean part on top of piston. No oils whatsoever is supposed to be inside cylinder head. Engine may run but it will smoke and use substantial amounts of oil. It needs to be re-bored and a new piston and rings fitted.

As for the throttle hook up, is that the engine with the Tillotson carburetor?

[pfrederi 18,690]

The grooves look like the wrist pin moved...Wonder what happened to the snap rings that keeps centered.  Wear on the ring gear teeth happens because engines tend to stop at the same point (or less frequently 180 degrees out) so the starter pinion is slamming into the same spot over and over through the years. If it starts i would leave it alone and maybe start looking for replacement flywheel.  (These are not like big tractors where you can remove the ring gear and replace.)

[Jennifer 1,878]

29 minutes ago, formariz said:

Those grooves are bad news. Something scored cylinder walls pretty bad. Substantial amounts of oil is passing through those grooves hence the clean part on top of piston. No oils whatsoever is supposed to be inside cylinder head. Engine may run but it will smoke and use substantial amounts of oil. It needs to be re-bored and a new piston and rings fitted.

As for the throttle hook up, is that the engine with the Tillotson carburetor?

That puts my day at a low ....  but yes Tillotson carb.

[Jennifer 1,878]

29 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

The grooves look like the wrist pin moved...Wonder what happened to the snap rings that keeps centered.  Wear on the ring gear teeth happens because engines tend to stop at the same point (or less frequently 180 degrees out) so the starter pinion is slamming into the same spot over and over through the years. If it starts i would leave it alone and maybe start looking for replacement flywheel.  (These are not like big tractors where you can remove the ring gear and replace.)

Thanks 

[formariz 12,045]

Looks like engine had a rough life. Do I also see a crack on the block coming from head bolt hole?

[formariz 12,045]

Correct placement of linkages in that carburetor are a little bit of a mystery. I have it here somewhere but don't know where. Perhaps another member will chime in as I look but that set up is not left on many tractors. That is the reason I asked before if you took photos of it prior to disassembling it.

[Jennifer 1,878]

4 minutes ago, formariz said:

Looks like engine had a rough life. Do I also see a crack on the block coming from head bolt hole?

Yes on the cooling fin..  don’t think it will hurt anything but I don’t know...😢🤔

[formariz 12,045]

1 minute ago, Jennifer said:

Yes on the cooling fin..  don’t think it will hurt anything but I don’t know...😢🤔

Hopefully it does not go through. All of those problems have solutions. Engine can be rebuilt but it will be costly. It all depends on how much you want to spend. You can just use it that way for now. Just replace the easier parts. You will just have to always watch oil level.

[Jennifer 1,878]

3 hours ago, formariz said:

Correct placement of linkages in that carburetor are a little bit of a mystery. I have it here somewhere but don't know where. Perhaps another member will chime in as I look but that set up is not left on many tractors. That is the reason I asked before if you took photos of it prior to disassembling it.

It was not hooked up when I got it.  I have realized someone has been fooling with this engine.  There is a lot of marks around the starter ring where clearly they tried to remove and replace.  I have a Tecumseh that has a cast fly wheel with good teeth but I am not sure I want to change it or even if they are interchangeable.  The enters like the coil, etc. are different!  I have decided to have the block bored to remove the damage and clean it all up.  The crank seals need replaced.  This is just a bump in the road but I plan to repair this engine and place it back on the 1960 suburban it came off!  Maybe be able to show it off next year!    Its USA Made!  It has served this long its a fighter so I just have to find the parts!   Any help with Parts Please contact me or direct me!  Thanks again!

Edited May 31, 2019 by Jennifer

[formariz 12,045]

Happy to hear you are going to save it.It is a rare engine.If the flywheel is from an H60 it should be the same. Let me know what else you need and Ill try to help you.

 

[Jennifer 1,878]

1 minute ago, formariz said:

Happy to hear you are going to save it.It is a rare engine.If the flywheel is from an H60 it should be the same. Let me know what else you need and Ill try to help you.

 

why is the H55 alum and the H60 cast ?  

 

[formariz 12,045]

4 minutes ago, Jennifer said:

why is the H55 alum and the H60 cast ?  

 

Are you referring to block or flywheel?

[Jennifer 1,878]

1 minute ago, formariz said:

Are you referring to block or flywheel?

FlyWheel

 

Edited May 31, 2019 by Jennifer

[formariz 12,045]

They both should be the same. Now you got me thinking. Give me a while I'll check some of mine.

[Jennifer 1,878]

This is them side by side!  The magnets are all around the aluminum one and just on the one side of the cast!

[Shynon 7,482]