Keeping in mind that fuel has a shelf life of 30 -90 days (depending on how it is cared for) is it likely that it has old fuel down in the carb and that the carb needs to be cleaned out and fuel replaced w/ fresh?

Rocketdude;
I know this sounds simple but,Make sure your red plastic key is in the correct position and not pulled out,it won't start without the key in,also Check to see if there is a fuel shut off.If there isn't,try putting a small amount of fuel in the carb throat you'll have to remove the air box housing OR spray some starter fluid into the air box and see if you get it to kick over.

check to see if you have a spark,pull plug,snap plug wire back on and ground it against the engine head,don't hold onto it,pull start and look for spark.If you have a spark,put the plug back in and spray starter fluid into the carb with choke flap open ,then close the choke before pulling the start rope..The airbox I was refering to is the square housing that your throttle and choke levers are mounted on..You're correct there is no air cleaner on a Tecumseh Snowking.

I have spark. Does that mean the ignition is good? I am going to get starter fluid tomorrow.

I took the bowl off, and only a couple of drops of gas was in it. I primed it with the bowl off and no gas is coming out of the carb. So how does gas actually get in the bowl?

The fuel comes in thru the float valve above the float. SO, if the in line fuel valve is open (if equipped) jiggle the float a bit and see if fuel then flows. It must work freely. If this has set w/ fuel in it since winter, it may be stuck. You could try gently blowing thru the fuel cap with a slit in a paper towel and a touch of mouth pressure- or very lite air pressure to help things along. Too much pressure and you can dislodge the seat. If you get a good flow, new fuel and a tad of your favorite fuel system cleaner. Clean the bowl and clean out the small holes in the bowl nut. If it is really gunked up- you may need to go further.

Yes, I figured this out once I took the bowl off. The float was stuck to the top. As soon as I jiggled the float it fell down and the gas started pouring out. Thanks for your help.

The tap with a screw driver handle against carb bowl "trick" may work if it happens again.

Many thanks to Mr Kapaun for reminding me of the screw driver handle upside the carb bowl trick. On and off over the last two days, I'd been messing around with a year old Ariens 624e with a Tecumseh Snow King engine. I didn't put the engine to rest in late March as I should have... Five taps, two pulls and the engine kicked in. Too cool. Thanks again! Bill

I also need to thank Mr Kapaun from way back in 08 for that tap the screw driver against the carb bowl trick for my snowblower. I messed with that thing all day. New plug, (filled up the gas after pulling for an hour in the dark thinking I saw gas) and even replaced the cord after it broke from too much pulling-and it was worn out. Thanks! And I WILL prepare it for the following year next spring. Ready for that big snow dump we are supposed to get tomorrow.

Have an ATV mounted Agri-Fab snow blower with the Snow King and after spending days trying to find the air intake filter (could it possibly be at the choke butterfly valve in?) was relieved to learn here I wasn't going crazy and indeed it was.

I used the blower just two weekends ago when we had light snow and it started fine. Then, after our weekend blizzard, when I needed it the most, no start. Good spark, new plug, etc. Will try tapping the bowl. Spark plug is not wet when removed. It has fresh gas, had used it and had SeaFoam in it.

Have too big an area to use the walk behind snow blower.

Did I mention this was new earlier this year? Not happy they didn't sell it with electric start.

Is it possible to add this feature to this engine?

Thanks

Interestingly enough, I placed a propane heater in my garage for 1.5 hours. At the end, I was able to pull start the engine. However, I cannot do this every time before I need to use this snow blower. I would have to get up at 3 in the morning in order to be able to have time to warm the engine up and then remove the snow on my driveway to go to work on time.

Electric start may allow it to spin fast enough, but I will try thinner oil in the meantime.

We are experiencing sub zero temps and I cannot do anything about outside temps in order to allow for easier starting.