Lauson 551 carb removal

[WHNJ701 4,165]

Dumb question.  On the 551 with the old lauson.  

I have taken many carbs off before.  Does the exhaust have to be removed to get to this nut?  The only angle to get to it is to come in by the exhaust side.  Can't get a wrench, socket, crow foot with the way the carb is casted.

Luckly I was able to fix the stuck float and change the bowl gasket.  It runs fine again with no leaks.  I think I can get to the nut with a needle nose vise grips. Honestly of the dozens of vintage garden tractors I own and work on the 551 has to be one of the worst for access and general maintenance.  It's a good thing it looks nice and runs and drives otherwise this one would have went away along time ago

[lynnmor 7,813]

Can you make this work:

They look pretty small.

 

Edited February 21, 2022 by lynnmor

[wallfish 18,086]

Can you just use a phillips head screwdriver for removing the spacer and carb all at once?. The gasket is in the way but you can see the carb flange has a notch to allow that screw to come out

 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

1 hour ago, lynnmor said:

Can you make this work:

They look pretty small.

 

I tried the crows foot no luck

[WHNJ701 4,165]

1 hour ago, wallfish said:

Can you just use a phillips head screwdriver for removing the spacer and carb all at once?. The gasket is in the way but you can see the carb flange has a notch to allow that screw to come out

 

that might be good solution,  gotta check the other side

[wallfish 18,086]

1 minute ago, jabelman said:

that might be good solution,  gotta check the other side

Pretty sure that's how it goes. I remember there being counter sunk screws from the back with nuts on the front at the carb flange so that was the only way to snug that carb to the spacer first, then mount it to the engine.

[Handy Don 14,060]

Fran

4 hours ago, wallfish said:

Can you just use a phillips head screwdriver for removing the spacer and carb all at once?. The gasket is in the way but you can see the carb flange has a notch to allow that screw to come out

 

It can be done but its tricky. This is a common Tecumseh configuration. Trim the gasket first.

[Pullstart 66,691]

@wallfish is right on.  You might need an impact driver to pop the screw loose before spinning it out.  If you don’t have one of those (the kind you smack with a hammer, not electric) you could try tapping the end of a screw driver and spinning it at the same time with a wrench on the handle.

[Pullstart 66,691]

One more reason, to stick a Kohler carb on and forget the hassles 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

30 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

One more reason, to stick a Kohler carb on and forget the hassles 

One more reason to put a k91 in it.  Or sell the tractor

[Pullstart 66,691]

13 minutes ago, jabelman said:

One more reason to put a k91 in it.  Or sell the tractor

that too!

[Handy Don 14,060]

57 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

One more reason, to stick a Kohler carb on and forget the hassles 

 

26 minutes ago, jabelman said:

One more reason to put a k91 in it.  Or sell the tractor

Dare I suspect the either or both of you would be "happy" to help by taking it off his hands? 

[wallfish 18,086]

Unfortunately the Kohler or Clinton carbs will still need to use that spacer because of the offset holes in the block to mount it. But the good news is, they don't need to be serviced near as often.

 

[Handy Don 14,060]

1 hour ago, wallfish said:

Unfortunately the Kohler or Clinton carbs will still need to use that spacer because of the offset holes in the block to mount it. But the good news is, they don't need to be serviced near as often.

 

And the spacer-to-carb gasket is thick to lessen heat transfer.