Snowblower newbie here.

[techs]

I'm using someone elses snowblower for a while. I know little about them.
Would anyone be able to answer these questions:

1) Do I use regular unleaded gas?

2) How much oil do I use for 1 gallon of gas to make a 50-1 ratio?

3) What type of oil do I use? Regular car engine oil?

Thanks!

 

[olds]

1 Y
2 Buy the small bottle that makes 1 gallon of mix and add it to a gallon of gas
3 N

 

[techs]

Many thanks, friend.

 

[Strk]

As long as it's a two-cycle, you buy one of those little bottles (pictured above) and mix one per gallon of gas.

And as someone who has worked in a hardware store, shear pins are supposed to break. It's so you don't break the snow blower. Feel free to get a few extras, as they will break.

 

[3chordcharlie]

As long as it's a two-cycle, you buy one of those little bottles (pictured above) and mix one per gallon of gas.

And as someone who has worked in a hardware store, shear pins are supposed to break. It's so you don't break the snow blower. Feel free to get a few extras, as they will break.

MIxed gas blower is likely a single-stage model with no shear pins.

 

[Paperdoc]

Regarding the oil, first step: READ the MANUAL. If it has a "4-stroke engine" you do NOT mix oil into the gas. If no manual, look closely at the engine. If it has a screw cap on the engine case that you remove to add oil to a chamber, with an oil level checking system, then you put oil in there and none in the gas. But if there's no oil sump, then the advice above is probably right.

 

[Crucial]

Call the guy you got it from and ask?

 

[AMCRambler]

Yeah I was about to say, are you sure it's a 2 stroke? I'm pretty sure all new snow blowers are 4 cycle engines nowadays. Check with your friend before you screw up his blower.

 

[techs]

Yeah I was about to say, are you sure it's a 2 stroke? I'm pretty sure all new snow blowers are 4 cycle engines nowadays. Check with your friend before you screw up his blower.

Yeah, its a two stage. He specifically told me. And that I needed to do the whole mixing of the gas and oil thing.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Yeah, its a two stage. He specifically told me. And that I needed to do the whole mixing of the gas and oil thing.

two stage or two stroke (or both? pretty rare)

 

[F1N3ST]

1 Y
2 Buy the small bottle that makes 1 gallon of mix and add it to a gallon of gas
3 N

Oldstrollboat :sneaky:

*runs*

 

[techs]

two stage or two stroke (or both? pretty rare)

Oh, ya got me. I guess its two stroke.

 

[waffleironhead]

Yeah I was about to say, are you sure it's a 2 stroke? I'm pretty sure all new snow blowers are 4 cycle engines nowadays. Check with your friend before you screw up his blower.

Nah, those cheapy little push snow throwers are still 2 stroke.



OP, since you seems to be a snow thrower newb, please let me recommend that you do not aim the output of the thrower at anything you do not want destroyed. Cars, windows, houses(even the neighbors house). This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people spray gravel at their cars and bust windows.

 

[preCRT]

If you have the blower, go out & look for the label with the brand and model number. Do NOT fuck up someone else's blower because you didn't RTFM.

Every blower I've had since 1985 took straight unleaded gas only. The oil went into the separate oil thingy in the engine, not mixed into the gas.

http://www.snowblowerguide.com/snow_blower_manuals.php

 

[preCRT]

Another important tip:
do NOT stick your hand in the chute while the motor is running to unclog it. It is a surefire way to become Lefty for the rest of your life.

 

[3chordcharlie]

If you have the blower, go out & look for the label with the brand and model number. Do NOT fuck up someone else's blower because you didn't RTFM.

Every blower I've had since 1985 took straight unleaded gas only. The oil went into the separate oil thingy in the engine, not mixed into the gas.

http://www.snowblowerguide.com/snow_blower_manuals.php

But most single-stage blowers, (the rubber paddle kind) are 2 stroke up until the last couple of years, and they still make both kinds.

 

[rh71]

I got a question too - my thrower has a RUN and CHOKE setting. You can also move it to the far right but that isn't labeled in any way. The manual says to turn it to FULL CHOKE when starting the engine cold... umm... is that the far right or what? What's CHOKE for anyway... what's it doing to help start? I ask because it's a crapshoot whether this thing starts the 3 times a year I use it.

 

[preCRT]

But most single-stage blowers, (the rubber paddle kind) are 2 stroke up until the last couple of years, and they still make both kinds.

Hence why it would be helpful if the OP would identify the type, or size or name or HP or something more definitive than a 'snowblower'

 

[spidey07]

I got a question too - my thrower has a RUN and CHOKE setting. You can also move it to the far right but that isn't labeled in any way. The manual says to turn it to FULL CHOKE when starting the engine cold... umm... is that the far right or what? What's CHOKE for anyway... what's it doing to help start? I ask because it's a crapshoot whether this thing starts the 3 times a year I use it.

It chokes the air intake for a richer fuel/air mixture. It's because the motor is "cold" so it needs it richer. Once it gets to operating temp take the choke off. full choke is likely all the way over (far right) instead of half-choke. If you want to see what the choke does take off the air filter and look into the carb as you move the lever.

 

[slag]

i have a toro s200 2 stroke snowblower from 1980. Neighbor found it in the trash and gave it to me. I replaced the fuel line and had to replace the diaphram, needle/seat, and high speed screw, all for about 20 bucks, and it absolutely sings now when its running. Prime it 5x, choke it, and it starts on 2nd pull almost every time. Its really fun to operate and is just the right size for getting between vehicles, doing sidewalks, etc.

its 2 stroke, like most toro/snowboy clones are

 

[StageLeft]

I have a two stage but haven't broken a shear pin in the few years I've had it, I don't really remember where the spares are.

 

[RU482]

My wife went out and bought a fancy pants snowblower while I was away on business. So, I can pretty much guarantee that it will not snow again this year

 

[3chordcharlie]

I have a two stage but haven't broken a shear pin in the few years I've had it, I don't really remember where the spares are.

They're in a little bin with the rest of your 1.5x0.25" bolts. Unless it's a bigger blower, then they might be 1-3/4"

It's important to know where they are, because shear pins are designed to break ONLY when you don't know where the spares are.

 

[Colt45]

I don't think I've ever seen a two stroke snowblower.

Is this a little dinky thing?

 

[waffleironhead]

I don't think I've ever seen a two stroke snowblower.

Is this a little dinky thing?

http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Boy-DuraF...3891675&sr=8-6