I recently replaced the flywheel on my tecumseh hssk55 engine so I could attach an electric starter (the original flywheel had no ring gear). In order to complete the job some (but not all) of the cylinder head bolts needed to be removed. My question is this: Do all of the cylinder head bolts now need to be loosened up and re-torqued to specification in numbered order, or can I just torque down the bolts I had to remove in their numbered order? Loosening up all the bolts makes this a much bigger job, as the muffler is attached to one of the cylinder head bolts, and removing the muffler requires twisting of sheetmetal, more torque wrenching, and various other unpleasantries. Please help.

Mike.

i see no problem in just torquing the ones you took out back in. i always do it by feel though, and have never cracked or blown a head or head gasket, and i some of the time never did em in order.

Personally, I would loosen all the bolts and re-torque them in order so that the gasket gets seated properly.

This small head is very forgiving on the torque but why not loosen and re-tighten even if your doing it by feel. At least they will all be about the same. Unbalanced torque may only show as a problem when the head gasket blows out which could be months later.

Mike

:thumbsup: Thanks for the input, guys. I think I may try loosen all the bolts and retighten them, unless I can't find the time, then we'll see how going the easy rout works. Thanks again,

Mike

i wouldnt loosen any more bolts! some of the tecumsehs have a one time gasket. meaning if you remove it its ng. so by loosening the other bolts you could shift it and wreck it. fords-n-mowers.