OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Tecumseh / Kirby Engines techumpseh engine info

anyone have any info on the techumpseh TVS90 431208C SER 2161B engines ? they are the old vertical pull ones with a flat top cowling and the rectangular air filter box. the fuel tank has the pull start handle mounted in the middle of it with the fuel cap at the front and the oil sip stick at the far back.i know they were on rover mowers of the time (i had one with a red engine and a blue base for my first mower (sadly long dead). i now have 2 of them and dont know much about them at all. i also have access to another 2 if i want them but will have to think on it, although they are great little engines in my opinion. the first lawn mower i started to tinker on and fix had one of these engines so it has a bit of a place in my heart if you know what i mean.
any info, even if you have owned one in the past and have something to say about it will be appreciated.
thanks
regards jay

mowernut,

Have you had a look in the parts list and manuals are of the forum because we have quite a bit of information in there regarding Tecumseh engines. I am also sure that the TVS90 info is in the list but if not it can be uploaded.

As to Rover using them in the past, yes they did and what a great motor they were. We changed from the B&S to Tecumseh motors and increased the life that we were getting by and extra 50% which meant quite a few more dollars when running a contracting business those days.

I remember the 4hp B&S engine we were only getting 8 months work out of it and when changing to the TVS90 it lasted up to 18 months of use which meant I got 1 & 1/2 seasons out of it compared to the 1 season using the Briggs.

hey Bruce, in regards to the old briggs motors what wore out on them? I have a few kicking about here, they are still good but only ever got used as household machines.

its interesting that even in those days there were a mark of quality. personally i prefer anything than an old briggs but i have to admit most of them ive got here are over 15 years old and all of them that run start first pull most of the time so even with a bit of care they are reasonable. i looked briefly last night in the parts list and Manuel area but couldn't see anything but ill look again. im debating weather or not to put a priming carb on one of the ones Ive got because i have a few and it doesn't seem to want to run right with the one thats on it, even after cleaning it it wont start unless both mixture screws are wound out.
it just occurred to me i also have an hk30 on a Scott Bonner and that thing runs beautifully when i last got it going. it now needs new throttle linkages and a pull start fixed (has been a nightmare in the past).
ill go tale pics of them all and post them. in the next few days ill get them all running sweet because the 2 Ive had for a while have been neglected for a bit to long.
thanks allot!
regards jay

i may be missing something but all i can seem to find in the parts list and manuals area is the workshop manuals themselves and no specific documents for the tvs 90. seeing as you contracted with them Bruce is it possible you have a hard copy of the manuals from the 70's / 80's as thats the era i believe mine are from.
thanks
regards jay