-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MRZ6Q/2wHA5WBYZ5Z5OZnzZEykRZql7zaeMKz3WjoRkW1c5NG+SXtm4KqT2m7bf6
 tuN33b7MMs24XySIY7qXgw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000825411-09-000003.txt : 20090129
<SEC-HEADER>0000825411-09-000003.hdr.sgml : 20090129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090129100413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000825411-09-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090129
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEMSLEY MAARTEN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018000

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09789
		FILM NUMBER:		09553129

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7819342219

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		265 WASHINGTON ST
		CITY:			AUXBURY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02332

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TECH OPS SEVCON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000825411
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS [3620]
		IRS NUMBER:				042985631
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 NORTHBORO ROAD
		CITY:			SOUTHBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01772
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5082815510

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 NORTHBORO ROAD
		CITY:			SOUTHBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01772
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000825411</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TECH OPS SEVCON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018000</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEMSLEY MAARTEN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>265 WASHINGTON ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUXBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02332</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of Restricted stock for no consideration under the issuer's 1996 Equity Incentive Plan</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Maarten D Hemsley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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