Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): lawn mower repair, tecumseh motors, feeler gauge

Question
John,

Thank you for your prompt and detailed response.  I pulled the blade assembly and attached my half inch drill with a socket to the nut on the flywheel so I could spin the crankshaft fairly fast and do so continuously.  There might be a very slight hint of a wobble in the crankshaft but hardly detectable.  It clearly is not badly bent if bent at all.  I also tried to set the spacing between the coil and flywheel at .02, although I don't know how accurate my setting is.  Using a feeler gauge on the curved surface to get an accurate setting wasn't easy.  I may be a little more than .02.  You said the connecting rod could be bent.  A bent connecting rod would put the engine out of time so that it would kick?  The engine spins very smoothly with the spark plug out.  Does it happen often that the flywheel key and crankshaft are ok but the connecting rod is bent?  I would have thought there would more likely be external type damage rather than internal.  Please don't think I'm questioning you, I'm just trying to learn.  My latest retirement hobby is trying to learn to fix non-working lawnmowers that I then give to someone in need.  I greatly appreciate any information and advice that you can give me.  Thanks again.

Frank

I have a non-working MTD self-propelled lawnmower with a 5.5 HP Tecumseh engine that was given to me.  Model 124-477DO13.  It kicks when I try to start it.  I pulled the flywheel and the flywheel key appears to be ok.  I pulled the blade but it doesn't have a blade key.  The end of the crankshaft is a ridged affair and the blade has fitting with equivalent ridges that the two pieces slide together so I didn't see a problem there.  What else would cause this thing to be out of time so it kicks like that

Answer
 Hello Frank:

 Tecumseh Engines have Always had Connecting Rod Problems. They either Bend or Brake. If you are fixing up old Mowers; I would Suggest Concentrating on the Mowers that have Motors other than Tecumseh. Do the Tecumseh Motors last. They are going to be your biggest headache. Hope this Helps.

 Good Luck

 Respectfully

 John