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While changing the oil on my snowblower (tecumseh HMSK80 engine) a metal piece fell out of the pipe that drains the oil. Photo attached. Any ideas as to what this is? Thanks!

To me it looks like part of the governor yoke, which has been flying around inside the crankcase for awhile. I would test to see if the governor is operating properly.

Thanks! The engine hasn’t been hunting, but it seems to lose some power when it encounters snow. The broken pieces do look a lot like parts of the governor gear (see picture).

It could also be off the camshaft's ACR weights.

Or the governor yoke

The only real way to find what fail is to open up the crankcase.

StarTech said:

The only real way to find what fail is to open up the crankcase.

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i was planning on using my ESP.....

I loan you my miniaturizer and transporter if you promise to return them before I sent.them...as I will need them yesterday.

Now there is one possible way to inspect the governor and camshaft. You might be able to use an inspection camera but it will be tricky to get it position right.

Cianfich said:

Thanks! The engine hasn’t been hunting, but it seems to lose some power when it encounters snow. The broken pieces do look a lot like parts of the governor gear (see picture). View attachment 59462

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Works the other way round
Without a functioning governor the engine will race away till it revs past the tensile limit of the connecting rod then it stops forever .

StarTech said:

Now there is one possible way to inspect the governor and camshaft. You might be able to use an inspection camera but it will be tricky to get it position right.

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A good camera will fit through the dip stick opening on a single after the tube is removed and should have a mirror for the end to see at right angles to the tube.
Good = expensive so that excludes the junk from HF / Lowes / Walmart
The cheaper ones are thicker but I use my cheap one a lot to show customers worn out bores on push mower engines, saves a lot of work.
Add a strong penlight torch shone up inlet or exhaust they can see faulty valves
The slightly better quality one will go into the crankcase via the dip stick tube & I use it on 31 & 33 series engines to show customers failed ACR's and to confirm a failed counterbalance
It will not go up the oil drain as it fouls on the internals .
I keep on telling myself I will buy a medical quality endoscope most of which have lenses that point forward & at right angles to the head but they are a touch too expensive for my pocket, but the option of colour is tempting

You must have a large drain pipe if they came out of it.
To me it resembles the governor weights described above but not exactly.
There are 2 and it appears one broke in half.
There may be a pin down in the crankcase as well. My reference is the Tecumseh Manual Section 8, 2-18.

Could it be the oil dipper/slinger?

Athor said:

Could it be the oil dipper/slinger?

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Don't think so.

StarTech said:

Don't think so.
View attachment 59470

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and i would think for that to happen, rod bolts would have to fall out too... unless a piece broke off

bertsmobile1 said:

Works the other way round
Without a functioning governor the engine will race away till it revs past the tensile limit of the connecting rod then it stops forever .

Click to expand...

...Or it may only rev up until the valves float?

If it where mine Id open it up before more damage occurs. It can be your oil slinger, gov and possibly nothing that creates any future damage but if its worth keeping Id open it up.
Look into the cost of your engine replacement vs repair generally helps people decide much faster...lol

bojo3919 said:

...Or it may only rev up until the valves float?

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Or seizes due to lack of oil if its his slinger.

Cianfich said:

While changing the oil on my snowblower (tecumseh HMSK80 engine) a metal piece fell out of the pipe that drains the oil. Photo attached. Any ideas as to what this is? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Cianfich said:

While changing the oil on my snowblower (tecumseh HMSK80 engine) a metal piece fell out of the pipe that drains the oil. Photo attached. Any ideas as to what this is? Thanks!View attachment 59451

Click to expand...

It looks like the governor weight or weights split at the faster that attaches it to the governor gear. I highlighted in a photo of the governor gear where the curve of the piece matches your part. I theorize that this could be from one or both weights splitting. I scanned the parts diagram at Jacks Small Engine and this is the only likely match I found for that model. YouTube University might offer some help in a plan to remove the side cover to access the governor. Taryl has one with a Tecumseh rebuild.

It doesn't look like you have all the pieces anyway, so opening and carefully inspecting the crankcase should be your first step.