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Continental TM27 Engine

The Continental TM27 is a heavy-duty, 2.7-liter, 4-cylinder in-line industrial engine designed for high-durability and high low-end torque applications, such as electrical generators and material handling equipment. Built with a heavy-duty cast iron block and cylinder head, it features a robust 5-main-bearing crankshaft configuration. It is part of a modular family alongside the TM13 and TM20 engines. The TM27 platform is engineered for multi-fuel versatility, operating on gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or natural gas.

Valve Configuration: Overhead Valve (OHV) pushrod system. Components: Single camshaft with mechanical rocker arms acting on conventional valve trains. Actuation: Driven by a forward gear train enclosed under the front gear cover. Bore: 3.58 inches (91 mm). Stroke: 4.06 inches (103.2 mm). Total Displacement: 164.7 cubic inches (2698 cc).

Fuel Systems: Gasoline Configuration - Equipped with either an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system managed by an on-board electronic engine control unit or a traditional mechanical down-draft carburetor fed by a low-pressure diaphragm transfer pump. Gaseous Configurations (LPG / Natural Gas) - Configured with a dedicated dry-gas carburetor paired with an external regulator and a mechanical governor assembly to sustain engine speed matching load variations.

Lubrication System Type: Full pressure lubrication circuit. Pump: High-volume, crankshaft-driven internal gerotor oil pump. Filtration: Disposable full-flow spin-on oil filter element. Operating Pressure: Normal operation is 40 to 60 PSI (2.7 to 4.1 bar); minimum hot idle speed pressure limit is 7 PSI (0.5 bar). Protection: Integrated electronic safety monitoring provides low oil pressure shutdown capability.

Cooling System Type: Liquid-cooled, closed-loop force-circulated coolant system. Circulation: High-volume centrifugal water pump driven via a standard V-belt assembly. Thermal Control: Single bypass-style thermostat configured to begin opening at 178F (81C) and reach full open at 201F (94C). Protection: High coolant temperature electronic shutdown protection prevents thermal runaway.

General Technical Data

Engine Specifications

Engine Model ............... Continental TM27
Engine Type ............... 4-cycle inline 4-cylinder overhead valve liquid-cooled gasoline/LPG
Number of Cylinders ............... 4
Cylinder Arrangement ............... In-line vertical
Engine Bore, in (mm) ............... 3.58 (91.0)
Engine Stroke, in (mm) ............... 4.06 (103.2)
Displacement, cu.in (L) ............... 164 (2.7)
Rated Engine Power, hp (kW) ............... 52-66 (39-49)
Rated Engine Speed, rpm ............... 2200-2800
Peak Torque ............... 145-155 Nm (107-114 lb-ft) at 1600-1800 rpm
Idle Speed ............... 650-750 rpm
High Idle Speed, rpm ............... 2400-3000
Operating Speed, rpm ............... 1800-2600
Compression Ratio ............... 8.2:1-8.5:1
Firing Order ............... 1-3-4-2
Camshaft Drive ............... Helical gear train drive setup
Valve Arrangement ............... Inline overhead configuration
Valves Per Cylinder ............... 2 overhead valves per cylinder
Crankshaft Material ............... Forged steel counterbalanced alloy
Connecting Rod Material ............... Forged steel I-beam configuration
Cylinder Block Material ............... High strength cast iron alloy
Cylinder Head Design ............... Overhead valve configuration
Cylinder Head Material ............... Cast iron alloy with integral valve seats
Lubrication System Type ............... Full-pressure lubrication system
Oil Pump Type ............... Positive displacement gear-driven pump
Oil Filter Type ............... Full-flow spin-on cartridge type
Cooling System ............... Forced liquid circulation with centrifugal pump
Water Pump Type ............... Belt-driven centrifugal type
Air Cleaner Type ............... Heavy-duty dry dual-stage element type
Ignition System ............... Solid-state electronic distributor or coil-on-plug setup
Starting System ............... Electric starter motor assembly
Electrical System ............... 12V positive ground or negative ground
Alternator Capacity, A ............... 37-55

Fuel System

Fuel Injection System ............... Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection
Fuel Pump Delivery Pressure, psi (kPa) ............... 43.5-50.8 (300-350)
Fuel Pump Type ............... Electric tank-mounted or chassis-mounted pump
Fuel Filter Type ............... Spin-on inline canister with water separator port
Carburetor Option Type ............... Down-draft single or dual barrel
Governor Type ............... Mechanical flyweight centrifugal or electronic
LPG Carburetor Model Option ............... Impco Model 50 or Model 100 air-valve mixer
LPG Vaporizer Regulator Model ............... Impco Model Cobra or Model J
Fuel Injector Resistance, ohms ............... 12.0-16.0
Throttle Body Bore Diameter, in (mm) ............... 1.97 (50.0)
Idle Air Control System Type ............... Integrated bypass stepper motor controller unit
Fuel Rail Construction ............... Extruded seamless anodized aluminum config
Maximum Fuel Return Line Restriction, psi (kPa) ............... 5.0 (34.5)
Fuel Supply Line Internal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.38 (9.5)
Fuel Return Line Internal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.25 (6.35)
LPG Lock-Off Valve Type ............... 12V

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length, in (mm) ............... 27.8 (705)
Overall Width, in (mm) ............... 19.4 (495)
Overall Height, in (mm) ............... 26.5 (675)
Dry Weight, lbs (kg) ............... 410 (186)
Wet Weight, lbs (kg) ............... 445 (202)

Maintenance Data

Service Information

Compression Pressure Rating Limit, psi (kPa) ............... 120 (827)
Thermostat Opening Temperature, F (C) ............... 180 (82)
Thermostat Full Open Temperature, F (C) ............... 202 (94.4)
Minimum Oil Pressure at Idle, psi (kPa) ............... 15 (103.4)
Normal Oil Pressure at Rated Speed, psi (kPa) ............... 40-60 (275.8-413.7)
Maximum Oil Temperature, F (C) ............... 250 (121.1)
Cooling System Cap Pressure, psi (kPa) ............... 7.0-9.0 (48.3-62.1)
Drive V-Belt Tension Deflection Value, in (mm) ............... 0.50 (12.7)
Spark Plug Reach, in (mm) ............... 0.75 (19.0)
Spark Plug Hex Size, in (mm) ............... 0.81 (20.6)
Spark Plug Gap, in (mm) ............... 0.035 (0.89)
Ignition Timing ............... 10 deg BTDC
Breaker Point Gap, in (mm) ............... 0.020 (0.51)
Intake Valve Clearance (Cold), in (mm) ............... 0.012 (0.30)
Engine Valve Clearance (Cold) , in (mm) ............... 0.014 (0.35)

Engine Oil and Coolant

Engine Oil Type ............... SAE 30, SAE 10W-30, or 15W-40
API Service Classifications ................. SJ, SL, or higher
Engine Oil Capacity with Filter, qt (L) ............... 6.0 (5.7)
Engine Oil Capacity without Filter, qt (L) ............... 5.0 (4.7)
Coolant Fluid Capacity, qt (L) ............... 9.5 (9.0)

Service Intervals

Change oil and filter ............... Every 250 hours
Replace/clean fuel filters ............... Every 500 hours
Inspect air cleaner ............... Every 100 hours
Change air filter ............... Every 1000 hours
Change coolant ............... Every 2000 hours
Valve-lash adjustment ............... Every 500 hours
Distributor point inspection ............... Every 300 hours
Spark plug replacement ............... Every 500 hours
Compression test evaluation ............... Every 500 hours
Belt tension verification ............... Every 300 hours
Check ignition timing ............... Every 300 hours

Service Specifications

Cylinder Bore Nominal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 3.5825-3.5845 (90.996-91.046)
Cylinder Bore Maximum Wear Taper, in (mm) ............... 0.005 (0.127)
Cylinder Bore Maximum Out-of-Round, in (mm) ............... 0.003 (0.076)
Crankshaft End Play, in (mm) ............... 0.003-0.007 (0.076-0.178)
Crankshaft Main Journal Standard Diameter, in (mm) ............... 2.4985-2.4995 (63.462-63.487)
Connecting Rod Journal Nominal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 2.1235-2.1245 (53.937-53.962)
Connecting Rod Journal Wear Limit, in (mm) ............... 0.0015 (0.038)
Connecting Rod Side Play, in (mm) ............... 0.005-0.011 (0.127-0.279)
Con Rod Big End Bore Circularity Tolerance, in (mm) ............... 0.0003 (0.008)
Con Rod Small End Pin Bushing Internal Bore, in (mm) ............... 1.0005-1.0010 (25.413-25.425)
Piston Skirt Outside Diameter, in (mm) ............... 3.5795-3.5815 (90.919-90.970)
Piston to Cylinder Bore Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0020-0.0040 (0.051-0.102)
Piston Pin Journal Outer Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.9997-1.0000 (25.392-25.400)
Piston Pin to Piston Boss Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0002-0.0005 (0.005-0.013)
Piston Pin to Con Rod Bushing Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0003-0.0007 (0.008-0.018)
Top Ring Groove Side Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0020-0.0040 (0.051-0.102)
Second Ring Groove Side Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0015-0.0035 (0.038-0.089)
Oil Ring Groove Side Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0010-0.0030 (0.025-0.076)
Top Ring End Gap, in (mm) ............... 0.010-0.020 (0.254-0.508)
Second Ring End Gap, in (mm) ............... 0.010-0.020 (0.254-0.508)
Oil Ring End Gap, in (mm) ............... 0.015-0.035 (0.381-0.889)
Intake Valve Stem Standard Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.3725-0.3732 (9.462-9.479)
Exhaust Valve Stem Standard Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.3715-0.3722 (9.436-9.454)
Intake Valve Stem to Guide Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0013-0.0030 (0.033-0.076)
Exhaust Valve Stem to Guide Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0023-0.0040 (0.058-0.102)
Intake Valve Seat Contact Width, in (mm) ............... 0.045-0.065 (1.14-1.65)
Exhaust Valve Seat Contact Width, in (mm) ............... 0.060-0.080 (1.52-2.03)
Valve Guide Boring Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.3745-0.3755 (9.512-9.538)
Valve Face Angle, degrees ............... 45
Valve Seat Angle, degrees ............... 45
Valve Spring Free Length, in (mm) ............... 1.965 (49.91)
Camshaft Journal Nominal Diameter (Front), in (mm) ............... 1.9975-1.9985 (50.737-50.762)
Camshaft Journal Nominal Diameter (Center), in (mm) ............... 1.9355-1.9365 (49.162-49.187)
Camshaft Journal Nominal Diameter (Rear), in (mm) ............... 1.8735-1.8745 (47.587-47.612)
Camshaft Journal to Bearing Sleeve Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0015-0.0035 (0.038-0.089)
Camshaft End Play, in (mm) ............... 0.002-0.006 (0.051-0.152)
Cam Lobe Height (Intake), in (mm) ............... 0.265 (6.73)
Cam Lobe Height (Exhaust), in (mm) ............... 0.272 (6.91)
Rocker Arm Bushing Internal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.8445-0.8455 (21.450-21.476)
Rocker Arm Shaft Outer Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.8425-0.8435 (21.400-21.425)
Rocker Arm Bushing to Shaft Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0010-0.0030 (0.025-0.076)
Tappet Body Standard Outer Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.9975-0.9980 (25.337-25.349)
Tappet Block Bore Internal Diameter, in (mm) ............... 0.9990-1.0000 (25.375-25.400)
Tappet to Block Guide Bore Clearance, in (mm) ............... 0.0010-0.0025 (0.025-0.064)

Tightening Torques

Cylinder Head Capscrews Fastener ............... 85-90 lb-ft (115-122 Nm)
Main Bearing Cap Bolts ............... 70-75 lb-ft (95-102 Nm)
Connecting Rod Cap Nuts ............... 45-50 lb-ft (61-68 Nm)
Flywheel to Crankshaft Rear Flange Mount Bolts ............... 55-60 lb-ft (75-81 Nm)
Flywheel Housing to Crankcase Adaptor Bolt ............... 40-45 lb-ft (54-61 Nm)
Crankshaft Front Pulley Nose Center Damper Nut ............... 110-120 lb-ft (149-163 Nm)
Camshaft Thrust Plate Screw Fasteners ............... 18-22 lb-ft (24-30 Nm)
Camshaft Helical Timing Gear Center Hub Bolt ............... 50-55 lb-ft (68-75 Nm)
Rocker Arm Shaft Support Nuts ............... 25-30 lb-ft (34-41 Nm)
Cylinder Head Valve Rocker Cover Stamped Nuts ............... 7-10 lb-ft (9.5-13.5 Nm)
Oil Pan Sump Perimeter Lower Flange Rail Bolts ............... 12-15 lb-ft (16.3-20.3 Nm)
Oil Pan Bottom Drain Plug ............... 25-30 lb-ft (34-41 Nm)
Timing Gear Front Cover Face Shell Screw ............... 15-18 lb-ft (20.3-24.4 Nm)
Intake Manifold Side Port Runner Attachment Nuts ............... 20-25 lb-ft (27.1-33.9 Nm)
Exhaust Manifold Heat Shield Mount Nuts ............... 25-30 lb-ft (33.9-40.7 Nm)
Water Pump Casing Front Block Surface Screws ............... 15-18 lb-ft (20.3-24.4 Nm)
Thermostat Housing Top Water Cover Cap Screws ............... 15-18 lb-ft (20.3-24.4 Nm)
Spark Plug ............... 22-26 lb-ft (29.8-35.3 Nm)
Distributor Base Clamp Hold Down Bolt ............... 12-15 lb-ft (16.3-20.3 Nm)
Fuel Injection Rail Mount Stand-Off Boss Attachment Screws ............... 8-11 lb-ft (10.8-14.9 Nm)
Throttle Body Flange Air Duct Coupling Nuts ............... 12-15 lb-ft (16.3-20.3 Nm)
Fuel Pump Mechanical Block Cover Screws ............... 15-18 lb-ft (20.3-24.4 Nm)
Oil Filter Internal Bypass Valve Plug ............... 20-25 lb-ft (27.1-33.9 Nm)
Oil Pump Assembly Internal Housing Screw ............... 15-18 lb-ft (20.3-24.4 Nm)
Alternator Pivot Long Mounting Hinge Bolt ............... 30-35 lb-ft (40.7-47.5 Nm)
Starter Motor Frame Chassis Mounting Bolts ............... 35-40 lb-ft (47.5-54.2 Nm)
Governor Housing Cover Plate Mount Screws ............... 8-11 lb-ft (10.8-14.9 Nm)
Crankcase Ventilation Valve Oil Separator Plate Bolts ............... 7-10 lb-ft (9.5-13.5 Nm)
Oil Pressure Switch Sensor ............... 10-14 lb-ft (13.5-19.0)
Coolant Temperature Sensor ............... 12-16 lb-ft (16.3-21.7)
Crankshaft Rear Oil Seal Housing Flange Screws ............... 8-11 lb-ft (10.8-14.9 Nm)

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