Heymow - Lawnmower Racing Forum
Engine Help => Tecumseh Engines => Topic started by: C/P_Racer on October 25, 2007, 08:41:06 pm
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Looking through the 5pages of tecumseh posts, no one has really anwsered this question. How "good" are tecumesh 17.5 OHVs? Easy to blow? Revv high? What about valve float, does it happen around the same RPMS as briggs? THanks
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I AM Mr. Tecumseh (twins anyway), and I would advise getting an eleven foot long pole because with the Indian 17.5, a ten foot pole is not long enough.
Want the hot tip for CP? Kohler Courage 20hp.
Bert
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What do you mean by that I run one and it is a good motor for me but I am racing a road course style track. I don't if it is any good for circle tracks though.
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Well I was just wondering, i already have a 16 and 18hp opposed for the C/P
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What do you mean by that I run one and it is a :censored: good motor for me but I am racing a road course style track. I don't if it is any good for circle tracks though.
I believe he means the "internals" (the basic engineering and design as well as material and construction) do not lend themselves well to high performance modifications...
I'm sure they run just fine stock or with minimal mods....
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I have 2 blown 17hp out of grass cutters and what seems to be the weak link in these are the 2 wimpy balancers that just snap even in stock form.
I would stay away from these.
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yup, thats what im doing.
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Would it be possible to remove the balancers and send the crank in and get it balanced to avoid this problem?
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I know guys that have removed them and run it like that. They say the shake is hardly noticable and only at low rpms. They do the same thing to the tvm 220 they simply remove the balancer. Now there may be some oil holes that should be plugged when doing so like in the smaller motors, I don't know havn't fooled with one of them myself.
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OK, guy didn't understand my 10 foot pole remark, so....
To make this concise and clear, there is nothing you can do to this engine to make it live. It has a lousy stock valve train, which for a lot of money can be enhanced. It has a lousy stock ignition, which for a little money, can be fixed. But, there is no amount of money that will keep the crank in one piece at race RPM. The counter balance shafts will break, and without them, the crank will be letting go around 5000rpm.
I suppose one could pay someone way too much money for a billett crank, but with all the other short comings, you're looking at more than twice "twin" money for a single.
There are better choices...
Bert
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Well been running my built to the hilt Tec. single well over 5000 rpms for several races now. Seems to be doing fine and holding together good. Holds 40 lbs. of oil pressure and gives them briggs something to frown about. Looks like we are on to something and now there is another one running in Michigan and says he is very pleased with the performance and he took replaced a fully bilt briggs.
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yea, that my dad running it. Hes at nationals and won the race. he also finshed in 3rd nationaly in pionts. i love my briggs, but that tec motor will run it down......
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Yup From the report I got he won easily.... Go Don Whitehead..... Indian Power!!! Thye begining to talk alot of scaps in several classes now.
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Ok guys here is the skinny. Yes, I do run the Tec motor. Actually I run the OHV 15.5 model. Same as the newer OV490EA (17.5).
Yes, the motor does run well for me. Yes, you do have to do some mods to it like rodcam, valve train work and etc. Just like any other motor out there that is new to racing only time will tell how long it will last. Yes, I did remove the counter balance and I do have a slight vibration at around 2000-2200 rpm. Briggs has same vibration but does not seem to hurt anything at higher rpms. The crank may brake over time. I have broken and know fellow racers who have broken cranks in other motors as well. These motors were not intended to be used for racing and as Bert as stated they can be made to last, but it is going to cost you. As for the racing this past weekend at the USLMRA Nationals. I did win Saturdays championship final and Sundays challenge of Champions race, but it did not come easily. Some of the other top racers had problems and did not finish. Others as well did, but did not by know means let me have it easily. Just ask guys like Don G, John Vinka, Tommy Hawley, Mike Formetini and others. In retrospect to this all. Yes you can race this motor but it will cost you just like any other and only time will tell how long it will last.
Just my 2 cents worth.