Replacing a Tecumseh Snow King with a Predator?

[Cattech]

I acquired another freebie snowblower with a totalled Tecumseh 8hp Snow King engine. It's nothing special, just a box store branded MTD, but the chassis is in real nice shape.

These Snow King engines are no longer available, and never were the greatest in my opinion. They had the odd quirk of providing a 2nd output shaft driven by the camshaft that was used to run the traction drive. Obviously, this shaft runs at 1/2 speed in reverse rotation of the crankshaft. This is a feature with no modern equivalent, especially if you are trying to install an economy priced engine.

I have watched a few videos of people repowering older blowers with Hondas and V-twin Kohlers. They claim dealing with the lack of the second shaft is as simple as flopping the friction drive control linkage. Then they just add an inner pulley to the existing output shaft. One guy suggested ordering the pulley setup off a newer blower saying it would all line up.

Anyways, has anyone here done one of these conversions? Pointers, pictures? I intend to tear into this job over the next week, hopefully finish it next weekend - beats Black Friday shopping and hopefully will be in time for the predicted first snow. I will try to post some pictures of the process.

[Binderoid]

I tried to friendly up to 21st century engines, and they do run superbly, but their  serviceability leaves  something to be desired.  

They  have so much plastic artsy-fartsy sh!t on them, can't take one item off without  removing 3 others. 

The summertime HM80's could start a little  difficult,  so that's why I jumped at the chance to install  a snow blower  HM80 with a starter on my log splitter. However,  these engines were equipped  a primer button and I never  was compelled to use the starter ; it starts wonderfully.  

Shouldn't  be hard to locate a used snowblower engine on ebay,  if you were inclined to  bypass these power train modifications. 

[FoxrunFarms02]

I can't help with the installation but I have done a predator swap in a garden tractor and log splitter and for the money I swear by those engines.

 

[Cattech]

I should add, I already have the Predator engine that's going on it.

Another freebie, brand new & run good but the fuel tank leaked... got exchanged at store... and it was headed for the dumpster rather than be fixed!

[Powered by IH]

Would a Briggs with a camshaft drive work too or just techumseh?

[Cattech]

16 hours ago, Powered by IH said:

Would a Briggs with a camshaft drive work too or just techumseh?

I am unaware of a newer Briggs that has the camshaft drive. Never seen an older one either, only small engines I've ever seen sporting this drive was the Tecumseh Snow Kings. Not saying they don't exist, I've just never seen it.

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

I would think if you already have the blower and the engine, if nothing else you could build some kind of a jackshaft to drive it. The farm stores here all have those weld together pulleys for different size drives and shafts. They are all keyed, but are so cheap sometimes I just use rod and weld them to it and not mess with the keyway. 1” rod will work and is a common size for pulleys and bearings. 

[Binderoid]

Briggs  did make a camshaft PTO,  but never saw one on anything  but a 5hp tiller motor.  Tecumseh also  made a vertical shaft 6hp with camshaft PTO,  it was for reverse on the Cadet 60.

 

[Binderoid]

On 11/22/2025 at 6:46 PM, Cattech said:

I should add, I already have the Predator engine that's going on it.

Another freebie, brand new & run good but the fuel tank leaked... got exchanged at store... and it was headed for the dumpster rather than be fixed!

In that case it's worth a little  fiddling. 

[Denzien]

I have an old Noma 27in that I just replaced with a 8hp predator, after the Tecumseh 8hp just snapped the rod and put a hole in the crank case. I can confirm it is working. This is a self propelled snow thrower. The things I ran into are as follows:

1) The mounting position because the holes didn't line up. I had to drill new holes to mount

2) Be mindful of you chain drive as this maybe a issue where you drill the holes. I have a friction plate driven by a clutch attached to a chain and sprocket.

3) The shaft diameter on the Tecumseh 8hp was 5/8" and the Predator is 1". You will need 2 new pulleys and to resize the belts because the shaft sits higher.

4) Please take note not all Tecumseh 8hp motors are the same, there are some differences depending on the model it came from.