Hi,
Does it idle and rev up good? If it does it sounds like something might be stuck with the blower or auger, maybe some ice in there.
With the motor off try to turn the pulley for the blower and see if it turns, you should be able to turn it by hand. You might have to have someone push the lever to engage the blower just a little in case there is a brake on it.

It idles and revs up like a charm. The blower and auger are always dry and clean (all the ice/snow melts in the garage) when i start it up. I am able to engage the blower/auger as well as engaging the transmission in either forward (speeds 1-6) or reverse without it stalling, it is just when I try to blow any amount of snow, she dies on me.

I was told by my father-in-law that my belts might be bad and should be changed. Is he correct or just blowing smoke up my butt?

Thanks

Never underestimate or bad mouth yer father in law! He just might be correct about the belts!
And, he might die and leave yer wife all of ghis money he kept in a secret account! Better hope he doesn't see yer letter!

when you say" dies on you", do you mean the engine dies,or the machine stops blowing snow,with the engine still running? If it's the last answer,then it is the belts;if it's the the first answer,then it's engine related;and that could be anything from a tight exaust valve,to a gummed-up carb.depending on who made the engine,(most likely a techumseh)I would check the sparkplug,if it's clean,check your fuel,to see if there's water in it.If not;open(unscrew)the main jet on the bottom of the carb,about1/3of a turn,and see what that does...............marc.

If it has a tecumseh motor look under the carb bowl. If there is an adjustment screw there turn it a 1/4 turn counter clockwise and see if that helps

I wouldnt go messing with the main jet unless you know what you are doing. Just simply giving it a 1/4 turn here and there is not the way to do it, you may end up ruining your motor doing that, although making it richer probably wont hurt.
The way to adjust the main jet is
1. Get the motor warmed up.
2. Rev the motor up all the way.
3. Turn the main jet clockwise untill the motor starts to sputter.
4. Turn the main jet counter clockwise untill the motor starts to sputter.
5. Put the main jet about in the middle of the two, maybe a little on the clockwise side and you should be adjusted.

You may have a dirty carb but you can try that first. Post the results back.

Thanks for the tips. I won't be able to get to it till Wednesday. I will post my results then. If I have a dirty carb, what does one recommend to clean it, and any cleaning tips that one might have would be appreciated.
Thanks,

I tried to adjust the main jet via your helpful instructions, but that still didn't work. I went and got some Berryman's B12 Carb cleaner and sprayed it in the carburetor like the instructions on the can told me to. I also got some liquid form of Berryman's B12 carb cleaner and put some in the gas tank (along with a fresh tank of gas). I changed the oil and gave 'er another try. After readjusting the main jet again, I was able to keep her running without any problems.

I think this will work till summer when I can take to bowl off and give that a good cleaning. (My hands were starting to get cold and it was getting late)

I am quite excited to have it running again since we are suppose to get 5" of snow today.

Thanks again for all the helpful tips.

I also have a JD 726 snowblower -- neighbor gave it to me; must be at least 25 years old. It runs well, but needed some serious maintenance due to rust and age.

I've found most everything I need through the JD web site, except the head gasket -- no longer available. The engine is a 7 HP Tecumseh snow king. Was this engine made for JD equipment, or should I be able to find a head gasket somewhere else?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated -- thx

If your JD is a Tecumseh,and the data plate is still attached to the rewind housing ,bring the mode number and serial number to any Tecumseh dealer and you should be able to find a head gasket ......And to think,how many of those I must have tossed through the years ...

BTW,you model number should be HH-70 or H-70,something similar ...

Happy Holidays ,Jim

Thanks Jim -- I found a web site that sells that head gasket and all Tecumseh parts for that model. I've ordered it -- hopefully it fits. How about this -- the drive pulley (not the auger pulley) for the 726 (?) JD doesn't carry it anymore and it's not a Tecumseh part. Mine is very corroded but serviceable -- I may have to live with it.

Happy Holidays to you as well !

Ernie

For the record- I'm against snowblower death.