Adding Electric Start to a Tecumseh HM80

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to RedSquare and had a question regarding my 1969 WorkHorse 700. It has a Tecumseh HM80 (8 HP) engine with the recoil start only. Having used it all weekend to haul firewood, I am already sick of the recoil start and want to upgrade to electric start. It does have the mounting holes for an electric starter as well as the spot that the gear would go into. Here's what I think I need:

1) The starter itself - found one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...em=140393332967

2) Battery

3) Ignition Switch

4) Stator / Rectifier ?? (does it already have one? where does it go?)

I have never really done any engine work, and this is my only tractor... so I'm excited to get into the world of Wheel Horse and engines. My neighbor has a B series with a 10 HP Kohler that has a pulley on the starter, so I think his doubles as a generator. My Tecumseh I believe relies on the stator / rectifier for the battery recharge.

Can anyone help point me in the right direction here? (where to find these other parts... which exact parts, etc.)

Thanks very much!

-Steve

[Coadster32 793]

:D Glad you found us. Is your motor perhaps a HH80 and not a HM80? Some of those plates get hard to read, but HH is very commom. I haven't heard of HM yet, but I could be wrong. :omg:

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

Thanks for the reply, Codester! I'm happy to be aboard!

I didn't check the engine plate yet, but this is actually the Work Horse 700 that DaveB and Ken B owned and advertised with a "HM80" Tecumseh. Based on my research it does seem to be a valid engine (not the original engine for that machine, but a valid engine). It certainly works nicely by my standards, and Ken did a great paint job on it so I'm looking to take care of it... electric start being the first step.

Fundamentally, would I need to remove the flywheel to determine if there is a stator back there? (or should it just be there... given that the starter is "bolt-on" for this machine) I don't want the plug-in (snowblower) type of starter... battery operated is what I'm looking for. I just need to know what parts are involved in this upgrade.

Thanks again!

[pfrederi 18,180]

I put electric start on an HH70.

Your HM-80 is a Horizontal Medium Frame Aluminum block.

First things to check

Does your blower housing have a bump-out to accept the starter motor pinion?

Does the flywheel have teeth on the edge?

I would suggest that you forgo the charging system (stator and regulator) as they are more expensive, may or may not work bought used and you have to pull the flywheel to install them.

MY L-107 will start for a whole month or more in the summer, then I just put a battery charger on her over night. In the winter she is used frequently and I chrger her ever 2-3 weeks. If the battery goes dead you still have the recoil start.

In addition to battery and starter motor you will need a solenoid or a heavy duty starter switch. I used a momentary push button switch to activate the solenoid to power the starter motor. I used the blanked out hole in the dash for the momentary push button and rigged the solenoid to a homemade bracket hung from the gas tank mount. I drilled no holes so if i put the original H60 motor back on (it didn't have teeth on flylwheel or bump-out) the tractor will be just like original.

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

Phenomenal response, pfrederi - thank you!

The good news is that I do have the bump-out for the starter... I have to double check for teeth on the flywheel, but I'd be surprised if it didn't have them. Getting the starter installed is a great first step.

So I was thinking the same thing about the charging system... that if it's too complicated I can just manually charge the battery every so often. The tractor has a nice spot in my shed, which I've electrified (lights, outlets), so charging will not be a problem. And, like you have said, worse comes to worse I have the recoil start as a backup.

Any recommendations on the specific solenoid? I'm thinking of switching the key out with a key/ignition -- I like the idea of turning the key beyond "On" and getting the starter revving. I also think that I need a battery tray... wouldn't want the thing to slide out while driving...

And for the record, if you happen to know the stator / rectifier to use, I would love to have that for the "records"... perhaps I'll take on the charging system in the future (when I'm feeling brave)

Thanks again!

-Steve

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

Check out what I just found...

http://www.perr.com/tip18.html

(interestingly, there is no mention of the charging system either... seems like that is more of an involved install afterall...)

[Coadster32 793]

Very cool Steve. Looks like you'll fit in just fine around here! :omg:

[pfrederi 18,180]

Phenomenal response, pfrederi - thank you!

The good news is that I do have the bump-out for the starter... I have to double check for teeth on the flywheel, but I'd be surprised if it didn't have them. Getting the starter installed is a great first step.

So I was thinking the same thing about the charging system... that if it's too complicated I can just manually charge the battery every so often. The tractor has a nice spot in my shed, which I've electrified (lights, outlets), so charging will not be a problem. And, like you have said, worse comes to worse I have the recoil start as a backup.

Any recommendations on the specific solenoid? I'm thinking of switching the key out with a key/ignition -- I like the idea of turning the key beyond "On" and getting the starter revving. I also think that I need a battery tray... wouldn't want the thing to slide out while driving...

And for the record, if you happen to know the stator / rectifier to use, I would love to have that for the "records"... perhaps I'll take on the charging system in the future (when I'm feeling brave)

Thanks again!

-Steve

Steve: any 12 volt solenoid will work. Lowe's Home Depot TSC usually have arnold solenoids fro around $12.

I am not familiar with Work horses ignition switches. You can buy generic 5 terminal magneto switches also at the above places.

CAUTION: Be absolutely sure that you hook the magneto wire to the M terminal on the switch. All it does is ground it when the switch is turned off. If you wire it so battery voltage gets to the mag you could have expensive trouble.

Sorry I have no idea about part numbers for stators and magnetos

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

So as the saying goes, don't assume anything as it makes a donkey out of you or me....

I discovered that my flywheel does NOT have teeth (ring gear)... so I would need to replace it to enable the starter to turn it. Simply having the "buldge" and the starter mount holes does not mean that you have the right flywheel.

The cheapest I can find one is eBay for a total of $60:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=390173984052

So, to do this upgrade it is getting pretty expensive...

(estimated costs including shipping)

Flywheel/Stator combo: $60

Starter: $50

Battery Tray: $30

Battery: $40

Solenoid: $15

Ignition Key Switch: $10

Wires: $10

Dash-mounted Choke: $15

Total: $230 ... which is more than I paid for the tractor! Heck, I could get a Kohler engine with much of this stuff for a bit less.

How disappointing... :omg:

[Coadster32 793]

Don't cross it off the list yet. If you rummage at local shows or post in classifieds, you could prob. get the flywheel for $10, and skip the stator as you said you could charge it up anyhow. Prob. get the starter used for $15. Zip ties,bungee chords, mechanics wire or make your own battery tray for free. Wal-mart battery for $22. Just under $100, and no pulling nessasary.

Edit: Don't forget all the people parting out on e-bay starting at $.99. Most of the time if you ask, they'll sell things outright for $10-15.

[pfrederi 18,180]

I got the starter motor used from a local lawn mower repair shop...gave him $15 for it and has worked with out complaint for 8-9yrs now. Also picked up a toothed flywheel for the original H60 from my L107 thinking some day it would go back on about $20 with shipping on ebay...just do not be in a rush.

[WheelHorseSteve 56]

Good idea, guys -- I should keep all these items as wish list items and keep an eye out for good prices on them. To buy them up over the next few days it would cost me, but you never know when they will pop up for cheap.

Thanks for the great advice!!

[CTBig 0]

I am following Steve foot steps. does anyone know how to find the correct part number for my replacement HM80 flywheel with ring gear? my flywheel is full pull start only. my shoulders are shot and i just can not do the pull start on a cold engine anymore. 

 

any help you can provide is very welcome.

 

Curt 

[pfrederi 18,180]

Welcome.  My $15 electric star is still working well still no charging system.  To figure out what you need lets start with the spec number of your HM80

[CTBig 0]

Here is the Numbers

 

HM80-155404M SER 1305D

 

i was just told i need a Flywheel with the part number 611094 i don't know if that is correct and if that is the only one that would fit?

Edited March 24, 2021 by CTBig
more information

[Bill D 2,050]

Go to a mower shop with a junk yard and look for a Tecumseh powered snowblower with heated grips.  Buy the engine.  It will come with the stator and flywheel you need.  If you can find an Ariens1336/1332 machine that came with a battery start you will have everything you need.  Bill

[Rep 0]

On 3/23/2010 at 4:46 PM, pfrederi said:

CAUTION: Be absolutely sure that you hook the magneto wire to the M terminal on the switch. All it does is ground it when the switch is turned off. If you wire it so battery voltage gets to the mag you could have expensive trouble.

 

I found this thread while search for anything regarding a Tecumseh HM80 Electric start.  Mine is brand new, never started, and I don't wish to fry it unintentionally fry anything.  The starter solenoid has wires coming from it and are connected to a 5-lug starter ignition.  There's also a green wire coming from inside (under) the side cover.  The battery is not connected to the wiring.  Can anyone help me to determine which wires connect to which of the lugs / blades of the starter switch, and where that green wire connects?  Thank you.

[WHX?? 49,919]

 Rep

What tractor have you got there. Can't help you out much with the wiring but that is one different looking exhaust ther. Appears to be conduit fittings? 

[Rep 0]

52 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

 Rep

What tractor have you got there. Can't help you out much with the wiring but that is one different looking exhaust ther. Appears to be conduit fittings? 

Right now, it’s sitting in an old scooter I bought. And yep, it IS conduit. I laughed when I saw it. 
 

An original muffler should be arriving soon.