Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Set Points on a Tecumseh Small Engine
How to Set Points on a Tecumseh Small Engine. Tecumseh manufactures a variety of small engines for use in lawn and garden implements such as lawn mowers, snow blowers and log splitters. While newer engines utilize solid-state ignition systems, older models use a more traditional ignition system that relies on points and a condenser to provide spark...
Tecumseh manufactures a variety of small engines for use in lawn and garden implements such as lawn mowers, snow blowers and log splitters. While newer engines utilize solid-state ignition systems, older models use a more traditional ignition system that relies on points and a condenser to provide spark to the spark plug. Setting the points to the proper gap is necessary for the ignition to provide spark at the correct point in the cycle.
Things You'll Need
Feeler gauge
TDC dial indicator
Flathead screwdriver
Flywheel puller
Flywheel holder
New flywheel key
Clutch tool
Socket set
Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug by pulling on the black rubber boot that covers the tip of the spark plug. Remove the spark plug with a deep socket.
Loosen the bolts that hold the starter shroud onto the engine. Lift the starter shroud off of the engine, and set it aside.
Hold the flywheel in place with a flywheel holder, and place the clutch tool over the clutch on top of the flywheel. Turn the clutch counterclockwise to remove from the crankshaft.
Attach a Tecumseh flywheel puller over the tip of the crankshaft and attach the bolts of the puller to the flywheel. Tighten the nuts on the flywheel puller to pop the flywheel off the crankshaft.
Remove the ignition cover from the ignition housing with a screwdriver.
Insert the TDC dial indicator into the spark plug hole in the end of the cylinder. Rotate the crankshaft until the dial indicator shows zero-degrees. Then rotate the crankshaft counterclockwise until the dial reads 0.010 inches, or 0.254 mm, past the top-dead-center, zero-degree mark.
Check the gap between the points inside the ignition housing with a feeler gauge. The correct gap setting depends on which model Tecumseh engine you have. Consult your engine manual or references accompanying this article to find the appropriate gap spacing for your model. To adjust the gap, loosen the locking screw with a flathead screwdriver. Widen or narrow the gap to match the feeler gauge. Tighten the screw to lock the points in place.
Replace the ignition housing cover. Remove the TDC dial indicator from the spark plug hole above the cylinder.
Insert a new flywheel key into the channel in the crankshaft before replacing the flywheel onto the crankshaft. Place the clutch over the crankshaft, and rotate clockwise to hand tighten.
Secure the flywheel with a flywheel holder, and tighten the clutch with a clutch tool.
Replace the starter shroud onto the engine, and tighten the bolts to secure the shroud. Reinstall the spark plug, and re-attach the spark plug wire to the spark plug.
