Help! - Dead Snow Blower....

[Neura]

So my old Ariens Snow Blower from about 1974 that I got from dear old dad finally died. I dont really want a new snow blower since I have growen attached to this one so time to fix it.

The old ariens has a Tecumseh H60-75361K engine on it and I got new points and condensor,new plug, cleaned all the grounds up from the stator box, fixed the kill wire cause it was broke. I had the stator box removed and forgot to mark the exact location so now when I try to start it, it sputtors a bit and backfires through the exhaust so I figure timing is off a bit. Without a dial indicator what is the best way to set the timing up again, and also the points call to be set a .020 at the highest point (think I have it at the highest point) again what is the best way to tell for the highest point?

I have a quick blue spark looks like it fires about 4 or 5 times from one pull on the rope...

I was able to download the service manual for this, but of course talks about the dial indicator etc for setting timing.

This is really the first small engine I have ever worked on, I was browsing kijiji the other day and found someone had a newer ariens blower with a 8HP Tecumseh that he pulled the exhaust intake and carb off of, and lost the heater box for it, the handle to turn the chute is missing as well, I gave him $40 for it. the original problem with it was he bent the auger and the pulley mount for the blower portion snapped the pot metal. So I have straightend the auger out, and gonna grab a new pulley or center peice. Now just got to find a crank handle and the rest of the parts for the tecumseh 8HP. He says the engine ran like a top before. but I purchased this anyway more so to gain knowledge on rebuilding and fixing small engines myself. We have a local shop here that does it, but every time I take something into him in the last few years it comes back worse than before.

 

[tatra]

wouldn't it be better to upgrade to electronic ign?.............must be a kit available...........

 

[Neura]

I had thought about putting a universal set in, but have heard people have had more problems with them on this style engine then using the points and condensor setup.

 

[Skin]

setting the points is very easy on those old L-Heads. You do not need a dial indicator. If you remove the flywheel and pop the cover off the housing of the points and condensor you'll see a very obvious rise in the crankshaft. Take a small screwdriver stick it into the chamber through the spark plug hole and slowly spin it until it hits top dead center, then gap the points. Done. Honestly you dont even need to be at exactly TDC, just as long as the points are gapped on the high side. Its a rather generous surface. The hardest part is spinning the motor over without the flywheel to grab. Either spin a nut down the shaft or use a pair of pliers [or your hand] on the pulley side.

Use the scoring marks from the original bolt position to re-mount it.

If you still encounter the same issue start looking at the valve gap especially if its trying to rip the recoil out of your hand as it backfires. Usually the ignition either works, or doesnt.

One other thing to check on the old motors is the position of the magnets on the inside of the flywheel. They will break free and move. Just check that they're still fixed in position.

 

[madjack]

While your in there, save your self some grief and check the flywheel key. If you can see a dent, replace it. You can get a new one at Napa for about a buck.