Tecumseh Engine 181 1272 14 Operators Manual

181-1272-14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-CooledPage 9
III. Primer Bulb and Choke
In Temperatures above 40°F (5°C):
Follow instructions in Section A.I. See I. Primer Bulb Only 
instructions on page 7. See Table 3 on page 7.
In Temperatures below 40°F (5°C):
1. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure engine is 
outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
2. Move engine throttle control to “CHOKE” or “START” 
position, if present (see equipment manufacturer’s 
instructions). See Figures 15, 16...

Page 10Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-Cooled181-1272-14 7. If engine fires but does NOT continue to run, move 
engine throttle control to “FAST” position and start 
engine. 
8. If engine fails to start after 3 attempts in the “FAST” 
position, move engine throttle control to “CHOKE” posi-
tion and start engine.
9. If engine does NOT start after following steps 1 thru 8, 
contact your Authorized Tecumseh Servicing Dealer. 
DO NOT attempt to start or troubleshoot this engine in 
any other...

181-1272-14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-CooledPage 11 3. When starting a cold engine, push primer bulb firmly 3 
times, allowing primer bulb to return completely to orig-
inal position between pushes. See Figure 22.
 NOTES
Be sure to cover vent hole when pressing primer bulb. 
See Figure 22. 
Cooler temperatures may require pushing primer bulb firmly 
5 times.
DO NOT use choke or primer to restart a warm engine after 
a short shutdown. Doing so will flood the engine and may 
result in...

Page 12Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-Cooled181-1272-14
III. Primer Bulb and Choke 
In Temperatures above 40°F (5°C):
Follow instructions in Section B.I. See I. Primer Bulb Only 
instructions on page 10. See Table 4 on page 10.
In Temperatures below 40°F (5°C):
1. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure engine is 
outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
2. Move engine throttle control to “CHOKE” or “START” 
position, if present (see equipment manufacturer’s 
instructions). See Figures 23,...

181-1272-14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-CooledPage 13
VI. Stopping Your Engine and 
Short-Term Storage
Stop engine according to equipment manufacturer’s 
instructions.
To avoid unsupervised operation of 
an engine, especially by children, 
NEVER leave it unattended when it is running. Always turn 
off the engine after use and remove ignition key, if 
provided.
NEVER store the engine with fuel in 
the fuel tank inside a building with 
potential sources of ignition such as hot water and...

Page 14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-Cooled181-1272-14 2. Be sure fuel fill cap is on and tightened securely.
3. Be sure you find the correct drain plug location, if 
present (see equipment manufacturer’s instructions). 
See Figure 30.
4. Clean area around oil drain plug. See Figure 30.
5. Place approved recyclable oil container under oil drain 
plug, tipping engine to position the oil drain plug at the 
lowest point on the engine (see equipment manufac-
turer’s instructions). See Figure...

181-1272-14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-CooledPage 15
B. Removing Debris from Engine
Before each use, remove the air cleaner cover. Discard 
grass clippings, dirt and debris from the following areas: 
• Levers and Linkage
• Cooling Fins
• Air Intake Screen 
• Air Inlet
• Guards
Removing debris will insure adequate cooling, correct 
engine speed and reduce the risk of fire. See Figure 32. 
C. Spark Plug
Check spark plug yearly or every 100 operating hours.
1. Clean area around spark...

Page 16Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-Cooled181-1272-14
D. Cleaning/Replacing Air Cleaner
Your engine has an air cleaner which helps prevent 
premature engine wear and failure. NEVER run engine 
without complete air cleaner installed on engine. Your air 
cleaner periodically needs to be cleaned or replaced. 
Follow instructions listed below.
 NOTES
ALWAYS inspect filter(s) for discoloration or dirt 
accumulation. If either is present, see I. Servicing Paper 
Filter instructions below....

181-1272-14Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-CooledPage 17
E. Carburetor
If you think your carburetor needs adjusting, see your 
nearest Authorized Tecumseh Servicing Dealer. Engine 
performance should NOT be affected at altitudes up to 
7,000 feet (2,134 meters). For operation at higher 
elevations, contact your Authorized Tecumseh Servicing 
Dealer.
F. Engine Speed
To avoid serious injury or death, DO 
NOT modify engine in any way. 
Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway...

Page 18Four-Cycle Engine • Vertical Crankshaft • Air-Cooled181-1272-14
IX. Storing Your Engine
A. Short-Term/Seasonal Storage
I. Clean Engine
Before servicing the engine remove the air cleaner cover 
and/or blower housing. Discard grass clippings, dirt and 
debris from the following areas: 
• Cooling Fins
• Air Intake Screen 
• Levers 
• Linkage 
• Guards
• Carburetor
•Head
Removing debris will insure adequate cooling, correct 
engine speed and reduce the risk of fire.
II. Fuel Storage
NEVER store engine...