kmead
Old enough to know better
Well, I finally did it, started my engine swap. It’s something I have been thinking about for a while, I finally got on the stick to do it.
Right now it is sitting out front working its way through the 3 hour engine break in period before I can use it in earnest
This is the John Deere Snowblower I bought last winter. Over the summer I had fiddled with the engine as it hadn’t run properly, not getting to full rpm. I rebuilt the carb late this fall and discovered the ignition system was the real problem. To fix it requires pulling the engine covers all off, pulling the flywheel and replacing points etc. Several wires are pretty roached as well which would add to the cost.
A Harbor Freight Predator engine is pretty cheap, has electric ignition and a decent reputation. The engine design is basically a rip off of the tried and true Honda small engines. I went with the slightly bigger version at a whopping 224cc. Modifications to the snowblower were to remove two studs and use some longer 5/16th bolts. The chute lever needed to be spaced out to avoid the cylinder head which was done with a turnbuckle and a couple of extra nuts to lock it.
Still a few things to do but if it were to start snowing again it is completely capable. I want to make the key on/of and control panel throttle linkage work as it should but that can be for another day. The integral engine throttle lever and on off switch are perfectly fine for now.
If needed I could always put the old Tecumseh engine back on with new fasteners.
Anyway, this was my current little engine swap project. One of my tractors is likely next and then who knows
Right now it is sitting out front working its way through the 3 hour engine break in period before I can use it in earnest
This is the John Deere Snowblower I bought last winter. Over the summer I had fiddled with the engine as it hadn’t run properly, not getting to full rpm. I rebuilt the carb late this fall and discovered the ignition system was the real problem. To fix it requires pulling the engine covers all off, pulling the flywheel and replacing points etc. Several wires are pretty roached as well which would add to the cost.
A Harbor Freight Predator engine is pretty cheap, has electric ignition and a decent reputation. The engine design is basically a rip off of the tried and true Honda small engines. I went with the slightly bigger version at a whopping 224cc. Modifications to the snowblower were to remove two studs and use some longer 5/16th bolts. The chute lever needed to be spaced out to avoid the cylinder head which was done with a turnbuckle and a couple of extra nuts to lock it.
Still a few things to do but if it were to start snowing again it is completely capable. I want to make the key on/of and control panel throttle linkage work as it should but that can be for another day. The integral engine throttle lever and on off switch are perfectly fine for now.
If needed I could always put the old Tecumseh engine back on with new fasteners.
Anyway, this was my current little engine swap project. One of my tractors is likely next and then who knows
