Troy-Bilt Horse - 6HP Techumseh Rebuild?

[Clarkbug 0]

Hello All.

I wanted to post here since so many of you are used to working with older small engines.

Picked up a used Troy-Bilt horse that looks in great shape, but the PO said the engine just quit. His brother borrowed it, and he doesnt know for sure what went wrong. I pulled the head today, and it turns out that the rod snapped (turn the crank, valves move, piston doesnt). So it at least needs that, along with who knows what else from the rod snapping.

My question is that Im wondering if its worth the rebuild, or if I should repower with a new engine. This one came without the carb on it, and it also needs the recoil pull start.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[rick 233]

There are replacement engines available for the Horse, I would probably go that route. There is a forum where the members are crazy about the cheap ***** engines from Northern Tool. I will not defile a piece of good machinery that way. I would check the small engine outlets on the web for a "Troy-Bilt Horse replacement".

Briggs & Stratton have a few models.

I have a Horse II with no engine I really want to power with a Subaru Robin 7 hp, but I don't think the c/shaft is compatible.

If you have space available, save the HH60 Tecumseh, you may be able to sell it down the road.....Some folk (like me) have more money than good sense when it comes to keeping something original! As that statement may sound confusing related to the Subaru engine, price a Kohler "New Look" 8hp complete engine!

[tunahead72 2,424]

Any idea when your particular Horse was built?

I have one from the late 1970's, they also came with a 7 HP Kohler K161T, finding a good rebuilt unit might also be an option for you. I'm no expert, so I can't tell you if it would be a direct replacement, but I do know these old Troy-Bilts have been discussed here before, you could do a search to find more information.

Good luck!

[tunahead72 2,424]

Here ya go, just found this for you, I knew we'd talked about this somewhere before!

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=27914

[Clarkbug 0]

Thanks for that link and replies Rick and Ed!

I havent done an engine rebuild before, so that would be a new experience (one my wife would probably yell at me for, given the number of projects I have going currently..) It seems broken rods are common with this Techumseh engine....

I might have a line on one of the 7 HP Kohler engines that came off of another Horse, and if thats the case my worries are solved. If not, Ill have to see what the parts cost is. Since I need a carb and a recoil start too, its looking like a repower might be the way to go...