Is it hard to change a magneto on a 5.5 hp Tecumseh engine?

This would be caused by a sticky needle valve on the float in the carburetor.You have three cures 1. remove and clean the carburetor internally. 2. replace the carburetor with a new one. 3. or most simply buy and install a fuel shut off valve and turn it off when not in use. make sure you change the oil 1 4 ID LINE GAS FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE TECUMSEH BRIGGS

Carburetor Cleaning TUNE UP of Toro 6 5HP Lawnmower with Tecumseh Engine

The above link will provide a video on how to clean the carb on the 6.5 hp mower. Before you go to that length, try putting some carb cleaner in the fuel tank and see if that corrects the problem. Also, as the video shows, make sure the spark plug is getting a good spark. If the spark is weak , the fly wheel may be rusted, ot the magneto is bad.

you need to remove carb for cleaning... if it has an adjustment on the bottom of carb try turning it SLOWLY in and out... also possibly a screw on the side under a black cap... might try it as well engine model number would help here

check for blockage ion the main jet and loose carby or bad gasket as you may be running too lean . Check float level is correct.

Check point gap---gap to magneto/ fly wheel ---condenser--HT lead. switch wire is not shorted out.

Don:

You will need to buy a replacement magneto as the secondary (spark plug wires) are hard wired into the magneto.

It sounds like you have some had spindle bearings the next time it does that feel the spindels for heat.

it is a standard magneto fired engine --- go on line and google up magneto

Hello:

Operate the Engine Unitl it Quits and then Check for Fire to the Plug.
If No Fire, then the Ign Coil/Module Requires Replacing.
Hope this Helps.

Good Luck

Respectfully

John

All these engines have a magneto ignition. The faster the mag spins the higher (better) the sparkplug voltage. So the gap is only set for the ease of starting and is not a huge part of tunning as it is on a car. Try .020 inches.