Snowblower Problem

18 years ago

I have a 40-year old Ariens snowblower with a Tecumseh engine that has worked great until this year. I ran the gas completely out of the engine before putting it away last Spring. Last week, when we had 10 inches of snow, I filled it up with gas and went to use it.

It worked fine for a few minutes and then the engine abruptly stopped. I restarted it, the engine was surging a little bit, and then stalled again. Now when I restart it, I have to keep the choke turned about a quarter of the way for the engine not to stall and it doesn't have much power. Also, on the side of the engine opposite the exhaust, I can feel air blowing steadily. I don't know if that is new or if it has always done that...is that normal, or could it be a blown head gasket? Are these symptoms typical of a blown gasket?

Any other ideas of what the problem is?

The fuel I used is maybe 2 months old, but I had put Sta-Bil in the gas can when I filled it up.

Thanks for any help.

-Dave

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Comments (4)

bill_kapaun
18 years ago
Having to have the choke on to run indicates a lean condition.

Most likely, a small piece of crud got stuck in the main jet on the carb.
Clamp off the fuel line (or drain tank) and remove the "brass nut" holding the carb bowl on. That is your MJ. Clean out the holeS in it.
While the bowl is off, you might open the "clamp" momentarily and let the line "flush" for a few seconds.
rustyj14
18 years ago
The second sentence in your message tells me exactly what your problem is: Namely, dirt in the bowl on the carb. Yes, you cleaned out the bolt, but here's what i have found about "running it dry".
When you do that, a small amount of unburned fuel is still laying in the bowl. After months of storage that stuff dries up. then, when you drag the machine out and fill the tank with new fuel, the fuel going into the carb swishes around in the bowl, and it loosens up the crud that formed when the wee bit of last years fuel dried up! And, guess where that crud goes---right into the little holes in the bolt that holds the bowl on! Resulting in a no start condition. Also, before taking the carb apart, check the breather hole in the gas cap. Make sure a mud dauber wasp hasn't laid its egg in that hole, which sure as green apples, will keep gas from going to the carburetor! Have you seen an old piece of equipment that has been outside for a while, like over summer and winter? And seen what looks like "mud" in any little holes in the casting? Thats Mud dauber wasps eggs. When the egg hatches, the baby wasp chews its way out, and flies away! Most Tecumseh carbs have 2 holes in the bolt. One you can readily see, and one teeny one, either in the threads or in the smooth part of the bolt.
HTH: Rustyj
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dynamike59
18 years ago
I agree with you Rusty.
Back in the day of cork gaskets , runnng engines dry was a NO-NO.
The gaskets would swell with fuel present and then dry and shrink when the fuel was absent causing leaks.
Before tearing the carb down I would try a strong dose of carb cleaner( Gumout) in the gas tank and then keep it running and see if that helps.
dave_ma
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the replies.

I don't have time during the week to work on the snowblower, but I will try these suggestions this weekend.

-Dave