Help with Suburban 12

I have an old Sears Suburban 12 that was given to me years ago, ran great and pulled well until I put a 12V Battery on it, after a few months it wouldn't start, a friend said the points were gone. I know a little about motors, but nothing specific about this one. The motor says Craftsman on it, and has the following printed on the cover: 143 652032 ser 5106e. Model number of the tractor is: 91799420 and the Serial number is: 6983. Any advice on what needs to be done to get it running again would be great, also any information on Age, Engine manufaturer etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Nick.

I looked around internet, and figure it probably has a tecumseh engine, but until you can get a manual, or someone with the same , you won't know for sure. There should be a tag with the engine name and model # on the engine. Most of these are all 12 volt post WWII, so the battery should not be a problem. You need to trace the electrical power through the primary circuit to see if power is making it that far. You can use a test probe at the points. If the points are not working, try regapping, and in a pinch file the contacts flat, but only as a last resort. I don't know the gap, but .020 thou will at least allow it to start. If your points are sparking, when the engine is cranked, it may be the secondary circuit. You need to see if there is a spark coming from the plugs. Pull a plug out, hold it against a ground with insulated pliers, and crank engine, if you are getting a good spark, it may be a fuel problem. Water is real common in some of those Tech' carbs. Good luck.

HELLO EVERONE
SOMEONE NEEDS TO JUMP IN HERE AND TELL HIM ABOUT THE IGNITION ON AN HH120, 12HP TECUMSEH. ALMOST HAVE TO SELL THE RANCH TO REPAIR ONE. HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Georgia, are you holding out? Give us the straight goods! Any Tech and before that Lausen's I've had have been extemley forgiving, and generally repairable with at hand bits and pieces, some near 50 years old. Unfortunately, Never had an HH160 (Did have an HH60), and I know better than to not expect the unexpectable?? What is the difference in the 120 ignition, I don't have one, but now you have piqued my quriosity?

HELLO I GUESS I MAY AS WELL WADE IN A LITTLE DEEPER. SEEMS YOU HAVE A 1966 SUBURBAN 12 THAT SHOULD HAVE A 12 HP. HH120 TECUMSEH ENGINE. THE MODEL # 917-99420 TELLS ME THAT. BUT MY RESEARCH TELL ME THE ENGINE MODEL # 143-652032 SHOULD BE A 16 HP. OH160 TECUMSEH ENGINE. THE 1966 MODEL HH120 HAS A STARTER/GENERATOR COMBINATION, WHERE THE OH160 ONLY HAS A STARTER W/ THE CHARGING COILS INSIDE THE FLYWHEEL. I BELIEVE YOU STATE YOU ONLY HAVE A STARTER TUCKED UP UNDER THE ENGINE, IF SO SOME ONE HAS REPLACED THE 12 HP WITH A 16 HP ENGINE.IF YOU HAVE CHECKED TO BE SURE THE WIRE COMING FROM THE IGN.COIL IS NOT SHORTED OR A BAD IGN.SWITCH. YOU WILL FIND A USED IGN.COIL ON EBAY FOR $249 PLUS SHIPPING. TECUMSEH SHORE AINT CHEAP AND A PAIN TO WORK ON. AND OLD MECHANIC TOLD ME YEARS AGO (DON'T CUSS THE CHEIF) OR IT WON'T RUN. HOPE ALL IS WELL.

Howdy Yall, thanks for the insight, I have been digging deeper and have found the following, my starting system consists of battery, ignition, starter/generator and voltage regulator. This then connects via belt to the motor, so far everything checks out except the ignition, have not dove into the engine too much yet, however I did discover a metal tag with 351-Y stamped on it on the opposite side of the engine from the label and originally posted number. There was also 19-0-92 cast into the engine block above the driveshaft, the 351-Y tag was attached to the left of the shaft. Not sure what this means as far as engien type etc. Any advice would be appreciated.

From your engine numbers you posted, according to Partstree.com, you have a HH120 Tecumseh. Sorry to say, it's most likely the solid state ignition that is not available anymore. There are some that pop up on ebay, seen them go for $25 up to 250, yeah, stinks! Your belt driven starter/gen tells me it's a 12 Hp, not an OH160.
You can also look on the side of block down where it mounts to frame kind of under carb area. It should have a "12" stamped into block for 12 hp.
There is also and aftermarket ignition a guy produces that people have been very happy with and it's a fraction of the Solid State stator ring that fits under flywheel. I wold have to research to find it, can't remember right now.

Finally got it running, crossed up some wires someplace though and fried my voltage regulator along with some wires, will be repairing things to the original specs and trying again soon.