Is it a 2-cycle?

If it is like mine, it is a 4 stroke. Exact same symptons as one of my 5 hp Ariens. I have 2 , therefore twice as much of a chance to dig myself out :) My ultimate solution may be a 6HP engine I have.

Since you can get the snowblower to start and run, my suggestion would be to run the unit with some carb-cleaner, or gum-out, added to the gasoline. There might be some varnish deposits in an internal passage in the carburetor, that you were not able clean out. It could take 1 to 4 hours of operation to completely clean the carb.

The engine is a 4-cycle. The other suggestions abought carb. cleaners. I have never had any luck with any type of additives or cleaners. Thanks for the suggestion in any case.

I had a similar problem, changes the plug and its fine now.

Sounds like the mixture is too lean. Try backing out the screw on the bottom of the bowl a tiny bit. Remember where the original setting is, so you can go back.

If that doesn't fix it, look at these pictures and make sure the jets are open.

Turn the screw in until it lightly seats and count the exact turns. It should be 1 1/2. Remove the jet and look at it.

Shown are 3 of the typical jets and the small holes. All 3 are Tecumseh jets. Briggs jets are similar with the center-bottom hole and one on the side. All these holes need to be fully clean and open for the engine to run correctly.
Some jets only have the center-bottom hole.

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is it me or are the Tecunseh engines just more trouble prone...btw I went thru this whole carb cleaning thing a month or so ago...

No Luck tried all, still surging

I had a similar problem with our lawnmower this spring, when I started it for the first time, after a long winter. I was able to get it started, & keep it running by using the primer button. It took about three hours of continuous operation, with carb-cleaner added to the fuel, before the mower finally settled down and ran smoothly. The cause of this problem had to be gum or varnish somewhere in the carburetor, I did nothing else to fix it.

The first solution people come to with Tecumseh is carb issues. There is good reason for it and truthfully many Tecumseh carbs cannot be restored to GRO. Especially if corrosion is noted. You hadn't said if this was a machine that performed well last season and after storage developed this issue. You also hadn't said whether a kit was installed , welch plugs installed/ sealed, intake gaskets replaced etc. Any other service done? If things point away from the carb for you,a partially sheared flywheel key or the statci governor adjustment can cause a loaded surge on a Tecumseh.

BTW,is this old enough to have ignition points?

I just came in from blowing away a foot of dry snow from driveway with the Ariens. I needed a new plug to get the engine to run. Maybe I just flooded it. Anyway, I had to keep fiddling with the choke and the main jet adjustment to keep the engine going good. No biggy, I got the driveway clear and was touching up the turn around when the engine would stall. It would re-start and run fine for about 10 minutes and die again. It is about 35 yrs old, has points, and pops back through the carb when unloaded and throttled down.
Other than that, it did OK. I'm not messing with it, I wanta get its twin going, before I "fix" this one.

i agree Tecumsehs are fussy...what i learned that's the carb they use for snow blowers.....mine is a 1996 sears w/ 8 horse tract drive........my blower would only work in the choke setting w/ no power.....bottom line..........instead of fusing with it........i pulled the carb out and had it cleaned and i think a new bowl gasket...about $30 ............well spent.......prob fixed.................

I once heard from a man with inside info at Tecumseh that the carbs for the 8hp engines were problem children and that they weren't able to fully fix the problem. In my own experience with the adjustable 8hp carbs, it's very difficult to dial them in. Very sensitive.

you are very right on adjustment end of this carb...but interestingly, i just got off the phone with the repair shop that cleaned my carb.....he says he has been working on Tecumsehs for the past 2 wks now.....also he said they will not be used on snow blowers any more because they could not meet EPA standards.........dont know if that applies to mowers too

I thought that Tecumseh was out of the engine manufacturing business anyway, regardless of the EPA.

Ashamed to say I am simply replacing , hopefully, this old 5? hp Tecumseh on my Ariens.It has a spark trouble, but I have a known good 6 hp factory reman that has the plug in starter. Working a struggle string on a balky motor is crazy when I have a motor that is a drop in.

Proved the new engine was a runner and have it ready to be bolted to to its new tractor. No more struggle strings for this guy.

Struggle Strings?? Hey, thats a good name for rope starters! Never heard that before!
I'd never buy or acquire a snow blower/ thrower, without having electric start, except maybe one of those single stage Toros' that you can pick up with one hand.
I've had all kinds here-sold or gave away most of them. I used to use them on my walks, but decided a big plastic snow shovel with a wooden handle, does the same, and i get done quickly, and can get back inside the house! My driveway is short and level. And the walk, too. If it gets really deep, the neighbors are out playing with their new tractors, with plows on them--so i am home free!
Right now, everything is froze up. Too dangerous to go out and walk or drive around! Hello, Spring----

Merry Christmas, Rusty. You are just the guy I wanted to bounce this question off . I got the Franken blower going, runs and starts great. The only trouble is that due to different shaft sizes and laziness, I'm using the pully that was on the medium frame 6 hp. The belt is too long. It has about 1 1/2" of deflection with the idler engaged. Slips under load. How much smaller a belt should I buy? Ideally , the belt should only have about 1/2" deflection. TIA

I went with a 34" belt. The franken blower runs well enough to be put into service next storm. Both of the Ariens' have electric start, but are in good enough tune to start by pulling the struggle string. This term is not my own. I borrowed it from John Gould, a Down East Maine-iac who had a column in the Christian Science Monitor when I was a kid. Since my right mastectomy, pulling a balky engine over is a Pain in the Arm :).