Sears and B S?

Tom RS · Aug 25, 2016

Just wondering - did Sears ever make their own gas engines?
Just picked up an old walk behind cultivator with a small gas engine on it.
The engine is a 2 or 3 HP ?? and has a tag that says Sears and Robuck co.
The unit appears to be from the 30s or maybe 40s. Very basic.
I'll be looking for a pair of 3.25 x 18 tires. I know - these will be tough to find.

Kris Golden · Aug 25, 2016

Sears did not make any engines as far as I know. The tag will say Sears but the engine was outsourced. If the model # starts with "500" its a Briggs and Stratton engine. Each brand of engine had its own Sears code. I don't know the other brands codes from memory.
Sounds like you have a pre-WWII tractor which would be called a "Handiman". You can do a search for that and find some info.
We'd like some pictures.

Tom RS · Aug 26, 2016

Yup it has a 500 on the tag.
And I checked around a bit and it might be a Briggs Model N or U???
What's odd is the carberator. It is this little tiny thing with no bowl. I've never seen a carb like this.
The gas line is very small copper and goes to the top of the gas tank so it must pull a vacuum sufficient to draw the gas up??
Here's a couple pics.

Mule Meat · Aug 26, 2016

3.25 x 18 used to be a very common offroad motorcycle tire size. Along with 3.50 and 4.00 x 18".

You can find 18" Dual Sport and Offroad motorcycle tires all over the web at places like Rocky Mountain Motorcycle, Competition Accessories and Dennis Kirk. The sizes like automobile tires have gone to using the Metric sizes and will be listed like 110/90-18 (3.50 x 18).

J.T.L. · Aug 27, 2016

Go o this link and scroll down to the 3ed engine from the bottom. Your engine looks like a WI. ---- John
Looks like your engine

Sears and B S?

Tom RS

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Kris Golden

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Tom RS

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Mule Meat

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J.T.L.

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