My old (1960-70) Sears Suburban, 12hp has been very slow to turn over ever
since I first got it about 5 years ago. It usually starts but you'd think
it hardly turned over once or twice very slowly. I replaced the regular 12V
tractor battery with a car battery but it still turns over slow. It has the
old belt drive starter and I also swapped it with another machine - still
slow cranking. Any ideas as to how to get this sucker to spin over better ?

"Srgnt Billko" wrote in message
...
My old (1960-70) Sears Suburban, 12hp has been very slow to turn over ever
since I first got it about 5 years ago. It usually starts but you'd think
it hardly turned over once or twice very slowly. I replaced the regular
12V tractor battery with a car battery but it still turns over slow. It
has the old belt drive starter and I also swapped it with another
machine - still slow cranking. Any ideas as to how to get this sucker to
spin over better ?


Use heavier battery cables. Make sure you have a good ground connection.

If that is the one that the starter is also the generator there is not
much you can do. If you mess with it to much you will burn the starter
part out. If it is starting I would leave it alone. You could take it to
a automotive electrical shop and have the armiture turned and new
brushes.


From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley

Yep, The compression release is worn out on the camshaft, To fix it replace the cam. I've owned 5 of these Suburbans and sold all but one hydro drive machine to pull trailers, cars and boats around with. One of these days I will pull the moter off and rebuild it and put the new cam in, But for now it does start so I let it ride.

Good Luck

"restrorob" wrote in message
...

Srgnt Billko Wrote:
My old (1960-70) Sears Suburban, 12hp has been very slow to turn over
ever
since I first got it about 5 years ago. It usually starts but you'd
think
it hardly turned over once or twice very slowly. I replaced the
regular 12V
tractor battery with a car battery but it still turns over slow. It
has the
old belt drive starter and I also swapped it with another machine -
still
slow cranking. Any ideas as to how to get this sucker to spin over
better ?

Yep, The compression release is worn out on the camshaft, To fix it
replace the cam. I've owned 5 of these Suburbans and sold all but one
hydro drive machine to pull trailers, cars and boats around with. One
of these days I will pull the moter off and rebuild it and put the new
cam in, But for now it does start so I let it ride.

Good Luck

Bingo ! That makes sense. I've seen something about "compression release"
somewhere on the engine but didn't know how it works. The only experience I
had with cr was on a snowmobile 2 cycle engine 30 years ago and that had a
lever you pushed. I saw no such gizmo on the Sears so I assumed it was some
kinda magic inside. I have a few of them too - so maybe I'll look into
getting an estimate. I do like those old suckers, and like you, I do use it
as a tractor - pulling a disc harrow, moldboard plow, wagons of firewood,
etc.