Alright Joe! Another Tecumseh Chief lives on!! They really are fine powerplants, & I concur that the "bad rep" they always get is most undeserved!
I actually had TWO similar Sears/Murray machines like yours. They were TANKS and actually had a transmission (not a disk wheel drive) to propel them.
I just got another Sears/Murray (536.918200) 5hp, 2 stage machine but it has given me a ton of grief. After erroneously chasing fuel & ignition problems, I finally decided to run a compression check again with the engine somewhat warm (it ran like crap!) & it was only 15 psi! After a valve lapping job on both valves, a cylinder inspection & head gasket, I found this quite disturbing. Well, due to lapping the valves I found that the exhaust valve now had ZERO valve to poppet clearance - the exhaust valve was never sealing up. Ground down the stem tip, buttoned it back up & now it has 120 psi compression but still runs rich & erratic. The float setting was eyeballed (yeah - I know) & the idle mixture screw tip is damaged. Good thing is the emulsion tube rattles. I have another idle screw to throw in there, but after wrenching on it in sub 20 degree temps for 8 hours on Thursday, I needed a day off from the thing. After I get it running well, I have to find the source of an "auger noise". The impeller shaft slides in & out of the auger gearcase about an inch and a half, so I began disassembly of the auger bucket. Now I have to find an 8 point 5/16" socket to remove the square head set screws that secure the auger pulley. I have a bad feeling that the worm gear and/or shaft are damaged. If so, I now have a useless parts machine with damned good motor!
Marty
I actually had TWO similar Sears/Murray machines like yours. They were TANKS and actually had a transmission (not a disk wheel drive) to propel them.
I just got another Sears/Murray (536.918200) 5hp, 2 stage machine but it has given me a ton of grief. After erroneously chasing fuel & ignition problems, I finally decided to run a compression check again with the engine somewhat warm (it ran like crap!) & it was only 15 psi! After a valve lapping job on both valves, a cylinder inspection & head gasket, I found this quite disturbing. Well, due to lapping the valves I found that the exhaust valve now had ZERO valve to poppet clearance - the exhaust valve was never sealing up. Ground down the stem tip, buttoned it back up & now it has 120 psi compression but still runs rich & erratic. The float setting was eyeballed (yeah - I know) & the idle mixture screw tip is damaged. Good thing is the emulsion tube rattles. I have another idle screw to throw in there, but after wrenching on it in sub 20 degree temps for 8 hours on Thursday, I needed a day off from the thing. After I get it running well, I have to find the source of an "auger noise". The impeller shaft slides in & out of the auger gearcase about an inch and a half, so I began disassembly of the auger bucket. Now I have to find an 8 point 5/16" socket to remove the square head set screws that secure the auger pulley. I have a bad feeling that the worm gear and/or shaft are damaged. If so, I now have a useless parts machine with damned good motor!
Marty
