New to me Suburban 400

[hcminis 1,557]

Purchased this little 400 a couple weeks back from Andy Sutherlin. Thanks to Zach Edwardson for picking it up for me. Been cleaning and adding a few items to it. Someone put water slide decals on which were coming off and incorrect. Thanks Terry at www.redoyourhorse.com for decals.  Plus it had the wrong length of exhaust pipe and missing heat shield. Thanks to John Delarye for hooking me up with the shield. Yes, the engine is incorrect but is a very nice running Lauson 4 HP. So it will stay on the tractor.  First four pictures are when it arrived at the stable.  Last picture is with it all done.  Still need to do some work on rims.

 

 

[WheelHorse520H 708]

Very nice. Very nice. Strange that it stutters at high speed though.

[hcminis 1,557]

2 minutes ago, WheelHorse520H said:

Very nice. Very nice. Strange that it stutters at high speed though.

that was only the second time that it had been running good in about 5 years.  Sat for a while not getting any attention.  I've got it running very well now

[WheelHorse520H 708]

Just now, hcminis said:

that was only the second time that it had been running good in about 5 years.  Sat for a while not getting any attention.  I've got it running very well now

Good. That’s a nice tractor, your making me a bit jealous.

[formariz 11,987]

That is a VERY VERY rare engine. It also looks totally original and unmolested. Tractor is great but that engine even if  incorrect is quite the find.

Edited August 20, 2021 by formariz

[hcminis 1,557]

On 8/20/2021 at 6:59 PM, formariz said:

That is a VERY VERY rare engine. It also looks totally original and unmolested. Tractor is great but that engine even if  incorrect is quite the find.

Really?  I am not educated on the Lauson engines.  Please share why it is so rare.  I am excited it runs as good as it does.  The choke/throttle/shut off was a surprise to me.  Couldn't figure out how to start it in the beginning until I noticed the kill wire that was on top.  With the lever pushed all the way forward, it shuts off engine.  Lever pushed all the way back is choke.  So cool.

[formariz 11,987]

3 hours ago, hcminis said:

I am not educated on the Lauson engines.  Please share why it is so rare.

 

There are four variations of that particular tractor. The 400,401,550, and 551 as you probably know. 400s and 500s are identical with the exception of the engine, the 400 with a 4HP Kohler K91, and the 550 a Teumseh/Lauson 550D. Both are from 1960 hence the last number 0 on the model . The 401 and 551 are from 1961 also the 401 with a Kohler K91 and the 551 with a Tecumseh/lauson H55B.  The 1960 models had as yours has a hood full panel center support and the levers rather than knobs for choke and throttle. The 51 models had no full panel support.

 

The Lauson H55 is probably the rarest of all engines used in these tractors  or in any other machine. They were manufactured at a time when Tecumseh acquired Lauson and had a very short production run. Eventually as a strictly Tecumseh engine it became the H60 with a few differences the most important one being the lack of an internal oil pump which the H55s have. They were also an aluminum engine not being as durable as others like the Kohlers would be. The versions with a power producing stator  or "lighting coil" as often referred to,such as the h55s used in the Wheel horses were and are a much misunderstood engine as far as the electrical part goes and were and are often "fried" by unaware owners attempting to work on them,result then most of the time being discarded altogether.

 

Now back to your engine. It is a H45A, Essentially an identical to the H55 with the exception of the bore. It also has the unique internal oil pump like the H55. That oil pump is a bit different from what we would expect it to be in any other engine. Its more of a "slusher" than an actual pump but effective nevertheless. A lot fewer H45s were made than H55s. Yours looks to be entirely original and unmolested except for being repainted. It has the Tillotson updraft carburetor which came with originally. Another much misunderstood part of that engine being frequently discarded and replaced by a "normal" carburetor. It has the original tag fully legible with the original rivets, another item frequently missing. If missing unless one opens the engine it would be mistaken for a H55 since they are identical. Yours is the only running H45 that I know of. I have never personally come across one and, trust me I have looked for them as I do for H55s.I have come across a couple of H35s also extremely rare but not in the condition yours is in. Both had the Tillotson replaced.  When running right those engines like the H55 should have a nice "throaty"sound regardless of muffler used. Yours seems to have that sound. Often when worked on valves are never done right and what one hears is the ticking of the valves.

I have posted here a lot of information about that engine and carburetor. You will find it in the Manual section if needed.

 

I would be most interested in some detailed photos of the linkage setup in that carburetor specially the choke part of it. Curious also on the history of that engine and how previous owner came to it if available. Also if you ever decide to part with it I would very much appreciate being first on the list.

Edited August 23, 2021 by formariz

[hcminis 1,557]

15 hours ago, formariz said:

 

There are four variations of that particular tractor. The 400,401,550, and 551 as you probably know. 400s and 500s are identical with the exception of the engine, the 400 with a 4HP Kohler K91, and the 550 a Teumseh/Lauson 550D. Both are from 1960 hence the last number 0 on the model . The 401 and 551 are from 1961 also the 401 with a Kohler K91 and the 551 with a Tecumseh/lauson H55B.  The 1960 models had as yours has a hood full panel center support and the levers rather than knobs for choke and throttle. The 51 models had no full panel support.

 

The Lauson H55 is probably the rarest of all engines used in these tractors  or in any other machine. They were manufactured at a time when Tecumseh acquired Lauson and had a very short production run. Eventually as a strictly Tecumseh engine it became the H60 with a few differences the most important one being the lack of an internal oil pump which the H55s have. They were also an aluminum engine not being as durable as others like the Kohlers would be. The versions with a power producing stator  or "lighting coil" as often referred to,such as the h55s used in the Wheel horses were and are a much misunderstood engine as far as the electrical part goes and were and are often "fried" by unaware owners attempting to work on them,result then most of the time being discarded altogether.

 

Now back to your engine. It is a H45A, Essentially an identical to the H55 with the exception of the bore. It also has the unique internal oil pump like the H55. That oil pump is a bit different from what we would expect it to be in any other engine. Its more of a "slusher" than an actual pump but effective nevertheless. A lot fewer H45s were made than H55s. Yours looks to be entirely original and unmolested except for being repainted. It has the Tillotson updraft carburetor which came with originally. Another much misunderstood part of that engine being frequently discarded and replaced by a "normal" carburetor. It has the original tag fully legible with the original rivets, another item frequently missing. If missing unless one opens the engine it would be mistaken for a H55 since they are identical. Yours is the only running H45 that I know of. I have never personally come across one and, trust me I have looked for them as I do for H55s.I have come across a couple of H35s also extremely rare but not in the condition yours is in. Both had the Tillotson replaced.  When running right those engines like the H55 should have a nice "throaty"sound regardless of muffler used. Yours seems to have that sound. Often when worked on valves are never done right and what one hears is the ticking of the valves.

I have posted here a lot of information about that engine and carburetor. You will find it in the Manual section if needed.

 

I would be most interested in some detailed photos of the linkage setup in that carburetor specially the choke part of it. Curious also on the history of that engine and how previous owner came to it if available. Also if you ever decide to part with it I would very much appreciate being first on the list.

I am very familiar with the Suburban tractors and there model numbers.  I have owned many RJ and Suburban tractors.  My issue is the pull start is hard for my shoulders as I get older to start.  This tractor starts almost every time on the second pull.  Eston Hoffman has "schooled" me on the H550 and I messed up and sold the one I used to have.  Know where it is and currently running.

 

The Lauson information is greatly appreciated.  Did not know any of that.  I can definitely take pictures of throttle set up.

 

Thank you for all that information.

[formariz 11,987]

4 hours ago, hcminis said:

My issue is the pull start is hard for my shoulders as I get older to start. 

I am not sure that engine has provisions on the back to bolt a starter to it. If it did you could simply just substitute  the flywheel and housing from a h55 or h60 to make it a electrical start. You would put the battery in the tool box like a 550 and just keep it plugged to a battery tender when not in use. It would just be a shame to modify that engine as it is so rare.