QuestionQUESTION: I finally got my hs50 Tecumseh started.. There is oil/gas coming out of the breather element. I mean really coming out. Was ok last time I used it. Engine runs and seems normal otherwise. What do you suggest.
Thanks Jeff
ANSWER: Hello Jeff:
>>This is Usually caused by an Overfilled Crankcase due to; 1- Too Much Oil Added to the Crankcase. 2- The Carburetor Float Needle Valve is Not Seating Correctly and Allowing Gas to Flood the Cylinder and then Seep into the Crankcase and Overfilling it. 3- A Stuck/Bad Crankcase Breather/Vent. 4- A Blown Head Gasket between the Cylinder and Valve Galley (OHV engines Only).
>>Make sure the Crankcase Oil Level is Correct.
>>If the Crankcase is Overfilled and it Smells of Gas, then
>>The Following is an Instruction File I Made for the Gas Contamination of the Crankcase Oil and/or Blowing White Smoke when Running. Any Input Concerning the File is Appreciated.
>>Depending on the Engine Model, Usually the Gas in the Crankcase Oil or White/Blue Smoke is Caused by the Carburetor Float Needle Valve Not Seating Properly and Allowing the Gas to Flood the Carburetor and Engine. Then the Gas Seeps by the Rings and Enters the Crankcase and Contaminates the Crankcase Oil.
>The Smoking is Caused Not Only by the Flooded Crankcase but can be Caused by 1 of the Following; a Bad Diaphragm in the Fuel Pump, a Blown Head Gasket between the Cylinder and Push Tube Galley, the Crankcase Vent Stuck/Frozen/Broken or the Carburetor Flooding the Engine.
>>1- Clean the Carburetor and Replace the Float Needle Valve (and Seat if this Model has One). A- **Remove, Disassemble and Soak the Carburetor Overnight in Carburetor Cleaner (I Use Gunk). I have Found that Most People can Use a Breakdown/IPL and Disassemble the Carburetor Enough for Proper Cleaning. You Only have to Remove the Bowl (if Applicable), Float Pin (if Applicable), Float (if Applicable) and Needle Valve and Any Adjustment Screws that Go Into the Carburetor Body. The Welch Plugs Do Not have to be Removed. Then Soak the Carburetor Body and Parts in a 1 Gallon Can of Gunk Carburetor Cleaner Overnight. The Can has a Parts Tray Inside it for the Small Parts. Once the Carburetor and Parts are in the Cleaner, you can Replace the Lid for Safety and to Prevent Accidental Spillage. Then Blow Out the Passages with Compressed Air. Install New Parts if Required.**
>>If the Carburetor Float Needle is Good, then; 2- Block the Outlet Port and Pull a Vacuum on the Fuel Pump. If it Holds Vacuum, then it is Good. If Not, then the Diaphragm is Busted and the Pump Requires Replacing. If the Fuel Pump is Good, then Check the Crankcase Oil for Gas Contamination.
>>If the Crankcase Oil is Contaminated, then Drain and Refill the Crankcase Oil with Fresh Oil.
3- **If the Mower has a Manual Gas Shut Off Valve: Check the Manual Cut Off Valve and Make Sure it is Cutting Off the Gas Flow to the Carburetor. A- If Not Stopping the Gas Flow, then Replace the Valve. B- If the Mower Does Not have a Manual Cut Off Valve: Install a Manual Cut Off Valve and Turn Off the Gas Flow when the Engine is Not in Use. These Carburetor Styles Tend to Allow Gas to Seep by the Rubber Tipped Needle Kit or the 2 Pc O-Ring Needle Kit. A I Believe I Said Before, I have Seen a Lot of these Problems and this is the Way I have Found to be Sure the Crankcase Oil Does Not become Contaminated with Gas Again.**
>>4- If the Valve is Good or has Been Installed, then Remove the Cylinder Head. On the OHV Engines the Head gasket will Blow Between the Cylinder and the Push Tube Galley. This Allow Oil to be Sucked Into the Cylinder from the Crankcase and the Extra Oil is Just Enough to Cause the White Smoke.
>>5- Check the Crankcase Breather and Make Sure it is Clean and Operating Properly.
>>6- If the Crankcase Breather Sticks, then Oil is Pulled from the Crankcase into the Carburetor Throat and this Causes the White Smoke.
>>7- If the Crankcase Oil is Good, then Check the Gas Tank Cap and Ensure it is Venting the Tank. If the Gas Cap is Not Venting the Tank, then Pressure Builds in the Tank and the Pressure Pushes Gas by the Carburetor Float Needle Valve and Floods the Engine and Crankcase Oil.
>>8- On OHV Engines, Some of my Questioners have Responded Back to me then when the Head Gasket Blows between the Compression Chamber and the Valve Galley, or the Head Bolts Loosen, the Engine will Smoke Also. The Smoke is Usually a White to Bluish in Color Depending on the Extent of the Oil to Gas Ratio.
>>If the Crankcase Oil Level is Correct and there is No Gas Smell to the Oil, then
>>Remove and Clean the Crankcase Breather/Vent.
>>Remove and Replace the Head Gasket. Check the Head for True and No Cracks.
>>You can View a Breakdown/IPL of this Engine at this Site Addy, http://www.outdoordistributors.com/parts.html and Select the T. Then Select Tecumseh. Then Select Don't have Part Numbers. Then Enter the Model Numbers HS50. Then Select your Model and Download the File for Online Viewing.
>>If you Hit a Snag, have More Questions or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I Hope to be Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Be Safe and Happy. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 3 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Follow Up Questions are Received Anytime. Comments and Ratings are Greatly Appreciated. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks John you seem really knowledgeable about this engine. I thought I would try to run this engine one more time to see what happens. Since this engine is hard to start, I put some starter fluid in spark plug hole and the engine started and actually ran. I let it run for about five minutes.
The engine does not blow smoke. Just a little white smoke on start up.
At this point there was no overflow out of the breather element. When I pushed down on the handles(lifting the bucket the gas did come out of the breather element. When I lowered the handles it didn't flow out. This is strange to me. I shut off the engine and emptied the oil. There was a lot of gas in the oil(looked like black water.) Would the engine run if it did have a bad head gasket? And since there is no smoke. Well some more input would be appreciated. Thanks. It doesn't seem like a head gasket would be that hard to replace but I hate to tear it apart and not be the problem.
Thanks Jeff
ANSWER: Hello Again Jeff:
>>Sorry for the Delay. I have been Unable to Answer Questions Due to Health Issues. Thanks for Understanding.
>>Yes this Engine will Run with a Blown Head Gasket.
>>The Following is an Instruction File I Made for the Gas Contamination of the Crankcase Oil and/or Blowing White Smoke when Running or Blowing Oil from the Muffler. Any Input Concerning the File is Appreciated.
>>Depending on the Engine Model, Usually the Gas in the Crankcase Oil or White/Blue Smoke is Caused by the Carburetor Float Needle Valve Not Seating Properly and Allowing the Gas to Flood the Carburetor and Engine. Then the Gas Seeps by the Rings and Enters the Crankcase and Contaminates the Crankcase Oil.
>The Smoking is Caused Not Only by the Flooded Crankcase but can be Caused by 1 of the Following; a Bad Diaphragm in the Fuel Pump, a Blown Head Gasket between the Cylinder and Push Tube Galley, the Crankcase Vent Stuck/Frozen/Broken or the Carburetor Flooding the Engine.
>>1- Clean the Carburetor and Replace the Float Needle Valve (and Seat if this Model has One). A- **Remove, Disassemble and Soak the Carburetor Overnight in Carburetor Cleaner (I Use Gunk). I have Found that Most People can Use a Breakdown/IPL and Disassemble the Carburetor Enough for Proper Cleaning. You Only have to Remove the Bowl (if Applicable), Float Pin (if Applicable), Float (if Applicable) and Needle Valve and Any Adjustment Screws that Go Into the Carburetor Body. The Welch Plugs Do Not have to be Removed. Then Soak the Carburetor Body and Parts in a 1 Gallon Can of Gunk Carburetor Cleaner Overnight. The Can has a Parts Tray Inside it for the Small Parts. Once the Carburetor and Parts are in the Cleaner, you can Replace the Lid for Safety and to Prevent Accidental Spillage. Then Blow Out the Passages with Compressed Air. Install New Parts if Required.**
>>If the Carburetor Float Needle is Good, then;
>>2- Block the Outlet Port and Pull a Vacuum on the Fuel Pump. If it Holds Vacuum, then it is Good. If Not, then the Diaphragm is Busted and the Pump Requires Replacing. If the Fuel Pump is Good, then Check the Crankcase Oil for Gas Contamination.
>>If the Crankcase Oil is Contaminated, then Drain and Refill the Crankcase Oil with Fresh Oil.
3- **If the Unit/Mower has a Manual Gas Shut Off Valve: Check the Manual Cut Off Valve and Make Sure it is Cutting Off the Gas Flow to the Carburetor. A- If Not Stopping the Gas Flow, then Replace the Valve. B- If the Mower Does Not have a Manual Cut Off Valve: Install a Manual Cut Off Valve and Turn Off the Gas Flow when the Engine is Not in Use. These Carburetor Styles Tend to Allow Gas to Seep by the Rubber Tipped Needle Kit or the 2 Pc O-Ring Needle Kit. As I Believe I Said Before, I have Seen a Lot of these Problems and this is the Way I have Found to be Sure the Crankcase Oil Does Not become Contaminated with Gas Again.**
>>4- If the Valve is Good or has Been Installed, then Remove the Cylinder Head. On the OHV Engines the Head gasket will Blow Between the Cylinder and the Push Tube Galley. This Allow Oil to be Sucked Into the Cylinder from the Crankcase and the Extra Oil is Just Enough to Cause the White Smoke.
>>5- Check the Crankcase Breather and Make Sure it is Clean and Operating Properly.
>>6- If the Crankcase Breather Sticks, then Oil is Pulled from the Crankcase into the Carburetor Throat and this Causes the White Smoke.
>>7- If the Crankcase Oil is Good, then Check the Gas Tank Cap and Ensure it is Venting the Tank. If the Gas Cap is Not Venting the Tank, then Pressure Builds in the Tank and the Pressure Pushes Gas by the Carburetor Float Needle Valve and Floods the Engine and Crankcase Oil.
>>8- On OHV Engines, Some of my Questioners have Responded Back to me then when the Head Gasket Blows between the Compression Chamber and the Valve Galley, or the Head Bolts Loosen, the Engine will Smoke Also. The Smoke is Usually a White to Bluish in Color Depending on the Extent of the Oil Being Sucked in from the Crankcase to the Gas being Pulled from the Carburetor.
>>It Really Sounds like the Carburetor Needle Valve is Not Seating Correctly and Requires Replacing.
>>As Always, If you Hit a Snag, have More Questions or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I Hope to be Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Be Safe and Happy. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 3 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Follow Up Questions are Received Anytime. Comments and Ratings are Greatly Appreciated. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Well I decided just to tear it all apart. The Head Gasket was good and I cleaned the carb as well as I could. Started right up. Amazing. So one last question. I need to torque the head bolts to the right specs. I read the right torque is 165 ft lbs. I only have a MKP torque wrench. I divided 165 bu 7.8 and came up with around 21.8mkp. Is this right? I looked on my torque wrench and it only goes up to a 14 setting. This looks like a heavy duty bar so am I doing something wrong in my conversion? I tightened the bolts tight plus 1/4 turn. Thanks
AnswerHi Jeff:
>>The Following is the Correct Torque from My Manuals and was Conformed with Online Specifications (for the HS50 Head Tourque) Head and with my Tecumseh Representative; in-lb / N-m 200 / 22.5 .
>>You can Locate the Correct Specification (Bolt Torque, Valve Clearances, ect) for this Engine at this Site Addy; http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/engine_specs/ and Select your Engines OEM and the Specification Chart you Require.
>>If you cannot Locate the Specifications you Require, then Send me the Make, Model, Type/Specification Numbers Off the Engine, Please. With these I can Locate the Correct Manual and Better Assist you.
>>Your Figures are Correct for the 165 Ft Pounds Torque.
>>As Always, If you Hit a Snag, have More Questions or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I Hope to be Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Be Safe and Happy. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 3 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Follow Up Questions are Received Anytime. Comments and Ratings are Greatly Appreciated. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
