Replacement engine for snow blower

My smaller Toro snowblower threw the connecting rod or something today. I replaced the crankshaft and rod a season or so back and it ran great. I had a washer on the top of the engine rust, split and vibrate out at the end of last season and it was blowing out of the head gasket. I think maybe the damage was partially done then. I replaced the head gasket and new washers under all the bolts yesterday. I tried it today and it sounded good. I walked away to let it warm up and heard the clack-a-lack death sound and ka-chunk.

Has anyone re-powered a snowblower with a HF Predator engine. I have to take bolt pattern and shaft measurements to see if it is close, but I believe the 6.5 hp is close. I'm curious if the are good for cold weather so the carb doesn't ice up.

I like the snowblower for walkways and around cars, so I have no problem swapping an engine out. I read that the Predators run very good for many applications. The Tecumseh was pretty tired and owes me nothing. I will look forward to a new engine on the machine.

I appreciate any thoughts.

 

What year and model Jon?

 

About a 1996 HSK70. 7 hp.

 

It definitely works. I did it quite a few years ago before it became so popular. Never had an issue with the carb icing. Some people say you need to enlarge the jet. I didn’t find it necessary. We are in a similar climate. I ran that motor on my old Ariens for three years without issue. In fact, it was a much stronger engine than the old 8hp Tecumseh. The second year I built a “heater box” for the carb, just because I could. It was made out of an old baseboard radiator cover. It wasn’t pretty. I think the pics were on my old phone. Everything bolted right up. The only issue was going from a 1” shaft to a 3/4” shaft. I bought an adapter online for $20.


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Very good information. I'm thinking maybe just change the pulley wheel to similar diameter on a 3/4" shaft.

Lots of comments in the reviews of the good power they have and a bit quieter too.

 

Both are so true. Managed to get a pic of my heater box for you. It isn’t pretty!



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Thought I had an 8hp off Toro but different setup.. Older late 80s.. Just researched it.. I would have driven to you for future pizza

 

Gooder enough.

 

I appreciate the checking Lyle.

 

The reason I didn’t do that is because the ariens had a 2in1 pulley on it and it was easier to deal with a sleeve than two separate pulleys. And while I’m thinking about it, it is a single shaft engine right? Some had two shafts; one for the auger and one for driving the wheels. Those are a bit trickier to do the swap on.

And for more advice, I always recommend snowblowerforum.com. At this point there is a lot of information there on the swaps. I think last year they even added a sub-forum for that type of thing.



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Single shaft. Does it require a different key with the sleeve?

I'll look at that forum and see what they have for info. Thanks again.

 

I ordered something like this. It’s a stepped key.
3/4" to 1" inch w/Step Key Gas Engine pulley Crank Shaft Sleeve adapter Predator | eBay


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Thanks Dennis, this is hopefully my weekend project. I've got some wrenching to do.

 

Absolutely! That's where I have been sourcing parts from. I'm very satisfied with them.

 

Where's my JB Weld?



No surprise here.

 

Are you sure that's not one of those fancy "cracked connecting rods" ? Lol

 

So I've gone through the specs and the bolt patterns for the two 6.5 hp engines. What does the third measurement mean? Is one of the holes offset and not square? I have to drill new holes regardless.

Shaft diameter is 3/4" which is good. Shaft length a little longer than the old engine. I will have to set the engine back a little, no problem there. Height of shaft not listed, but most likely close. All in all, it looks like a close replacement.

 

When I replaced the 5hp briggs on my splitter with the 6.5 hp predator, the height was my only concern. It was exactly the same height and lined up perfectly with the coupler on the pump.