You might know us for our carburetors, you might know us for our engines or you might know us for our go karts.
Any way you know us, you know we are passionate about performance!
Founded as The Tillotson Mfg. Co. in 1914 in Toledo, Ohio, we started life as a manufacturer of float carburetors for the burgeoning automotive industry. Even back then, our carburetors were known for enhancing the performance of the vehicles that used them. Over the next 120 years, we helped create and revolutionize nearly every industry that used an engine:
In the late 1940’s, we revolutionized the handheld engine industry with the first diaphragm carburetors. The innovative diaphragm allowed the carburetor — and thus the engine — to operate in any position and led to the creation an entirely new market segment in the lawn and garden industry. Modern chainsaws, brush cutters, trimmers and leaf blowers still rely on our technology today. We also developed fuel systems for the first unmanned aircraft. In fact, here’s a well known picture of our carburetor on an engine that not only launched the first US military drones, but also the career of a young Norma Rae.
In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, we helped create several new categories of motorsports. Our carburetors were on the first go-karts that arrived on the scene in 1956. We also helped develop new technologies for the snowmobile and jet ski industries which made them faster and more reliable. As always, Tillotson carburetors were the carburetor of choice for the best performing rides.
In the 1990’s, we helped lead the way to make two stroke engines cleaner and more fuel efficient. We created the first double barrel carburetor for the stratified charge (airhead) engine, which enabled engine manufacturers to meet the stringent EPA standards in the US and Europe. We also developed and licensed the high-performance split carburetor for those stratified charge engines which are currently used by engine manufacturers such as Stihl and Husqvarna. Later in the 2000’s, we expanded our low-emission offerings with the TilltsonTCT, a form of mechanical fuel injection that helps four stroke engines produce lower emissions while at the same time providing more stable power under load. We also began to offer consumers the ability to buy Tillotson brand replacement parts for their non-Tillotson carburetors, all at an affordable price under our Tillotson Xchange line.
In the late 2000’s, we turned our attention back to motorsports. We introduced the HW series carburetors for use in high performance racing and expanded the line to include HX, HM, HC and HB carburetors. These carburetors are among the most highly engineered carburetors in the world and have been used by nearly every F1 driver who raced on the international kart circuit.
In 2010, we began producing our own small engines targeted at the karting market. After a few years, we expanded it to include our T4 Series, a complete kart package and race series that brings high level karting to the masses. The T4 Series is an affordable, four-stroke racing series that runs in over 40 countries around the world and on every continent (except Antartica!), culminating in our Nations Cup, where drivers compete on behalf of both themselves and their country for the coveted Nations Cup Trophy. The series is ideal for skilled drivers starting out in karting as well as those who left the sport and want to come back at a more affordable but highly competitive level.
In 2022, our parent company acquired PVL GmbH, an ignition systems and wire harness company also known for its racing and small engine offerings. PVL is creating innovative products for use on land, at sea and in space.