Buying a gasoline engine for power equipment can be hassle-free if you know what to look for up front.

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When buying an engine there are several things that you should know to help the dealer find an engine that will work for you easy.

First of all, you will need to know your model number and the type or spec number. Some dealers only go by these numbers and most of the time there is no direct replacement for your number. With years of experience in this field we can generally find an engine to fit nearly any application, or sometimes a "conversion kit". Another helpful thing is to know the crankshaft length and diameter sticking outside the engine. On a vertical shaft the correct measurement is taken from the mounting surface, not the oil seal. If you measure from the oil seal on an engine on a push mower the actual length will be 7/16" longer. On a horizontal shaft the correct measurement is taken from the bolt holes of the side cover. 

An issue to look for on riding mowers is to know whether your engine has a fuel pump on it or not, generally if your fuel tank is under the hood you would not need it, if the fuel tank is under the seat you would need a fuel pump.

Another issue to look at on a riding mower is whether it has an electric clutch on it or not. If it has a toggle switch on the dash that you flip to turn on the blades it would have an electric clutch on it. If you move a lever to engage the blades that would not have an electric clutch on it. An electric clutch requires an alternator of at least 9 amps to run it.

If you are replacing a non OHV engine on a riding mower, a OHV engine will not work the same way. The biggest challenge in replacing an engine with a different model is the way that the muffler is bolted on or routed. By seeing a picture of your engine in the mower we can generally tell you whether the newer OHV engines will physically fit in it or not.

Thank you for reading this,

Tim Padgett

Small Engine Warehouse