So my snowblower won't start

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,824
2,613
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I actually put my snowblower up properly last spring-changed oil, new plug, oil in the cylinder, etc. I didn't drain the gas because it had stabilizer in it and I thought that it would be OK for six months.

I tried starting it yesterday and no go. Never even a sputter. I pulled the plug and it had the tell-tale smell of turpetine, which I believe means the gas was too old.

What do I need to do the get the beast running before the snow flies? PS-its an old Ariens, with a carburator. I'm pretty sure it pre-dates electronic ignition.
 

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
10,886
2
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Is it snowing yet?

Because if it's not, you're really screwed! Out snowblower would ALWAYS start flawlessly when it was NOT snowing but for some reason when it would snow, it had a mind of its own. Mr. Murphy the weatherman at it again.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
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Sometimes just spraying some starting fluid in the carb will get it to start. Starting fluid has ether, which is explosive.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
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Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Sometimes just spraying some starting fluid in the carb will get it to start. Starting fluid has ether, which is explosive.
Do that. If it starts and quits, you'll know gasoline isn't getting to the chamber. If it doesn't "sputter", it's not getting spark. Is the tank's shut off valve open?
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,333
10,842
136
Originally posted by: Muadib
Damn, I didn't do anything to mine when I put it away.[/q

Add 1/4 container of Dri-gas, change the fuel filter & get some starting fluid/spray.
 

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
18,059
889
126
Originally posted by: Ornery

  1. Me neither, Franz. I always get 'em started, stale gas and all...
Then I won't worry about it. It was only used 3 times, as it was new.
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
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okay drain teh stuff from the tank.. let it dry.. take out the carb out.. take it apart carefully (keep track of those small O rings. Soak the metal parts like the jets and needles in carb cleaner and kerosene or even diesel. take out plug, clean it with kerosene or diesel.. the tip end, or you can get a new one.. and then gap it and put it back in.

If you dont want to open teh carb up.. run some carb cleaner thru the intake line and open the float bowl screws
After it ressemble, put in fresh gas, prime carb and let her rip..
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
okay drain teh stuff from the tank.. let it dry.. take out the carb out.. take it apart carefully (keep track of those small O rings. Soak the metal parts like the jets and needles in carb cleaner and kerosene or even diesel. take out plug, clean it with kerosene or diesel.. the tip end, or you can get a new one.. and then gap it and put it back in.

If you dont want to open teh carb up.. run some carb cleaner thru the intake line and open the float bowl screws
After it ressemble, put in fresh gas, prime carb and let her rip..
jeebus, lol.. If he can't get it started, he's probably not going to want to rip into the carburetor. ;)

It shouldn't need a carb rebuild if he used sta-bil anyway. He could have made the mistake of not letting it run long enough to get the fuel with additive into the float bowl though.

Get some starting fluid, take the air cleaner off and give it a good spray. It should start right up. If it dies, do it again.. only this time cover the intake with the palm if your hand. Sometimes you can suck any plugs of varnised fuel out of the jets like this. Uncover just before it dies, and repeat as necessary until it runs on it's own.

If a few tries of that don't work, then a carb rebuild may indeed be in order.
 

Midlander

Platinum Member
Dec 21, 2002
2,456
1
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Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
okay drain teh stuff from the tank.. let it dry.. take out the carb out.. take it apart carefully (keep track of those small O rings. Soak the metal parts like the jets and needles in carb cleaner and kerosene or even diesel. take out plug, clean it with kerosene or diesel.. the tip end, or you can get a new one.. and then gap it and put it back in.

If you dont want to open teh carb up.. run some carb cleaner thru the intake line and open the float bowl screws
After it ressemble, put in fresh gas, prime carb and let her rip..
jeebus, lol.. If he can't get it started, he's probably not going to want to rip into the carburetor. ;)

It shouldn't need a carb rebuild if he used sta-bil anyway. He could have made the mistake of not letting it run long enough to get the fuel with additive into the float bowl though.

Get some starting fluid, take the air cleaner off and give it a good spray. It should start right up. If it dies, do it again.. only this time cover the intake with the palm if your hand. Sometimes you can suck any plugs of varnised fuel out of the jets like this. Uncover just before it dies, and repeat as necessary until it runs on it's own.

If a few tries of that don't work, then a carb rebuild may indeed be in order.

Agreed. Also, if you don't have starter fluid, you can use WD40. It has a low flash point propellant that will work like starter fluid. Works in a pinch.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,824
2,613
136
A quick update: I tried the starter fluid method. I would pull the plug, spray the starter fluid into the cylinder. It would fire up a few pops until the starter fluid was gone. I guess I'll have to drain the tank & try carb cleaner next. I don't think I'm up to a carb rebuild. A long time ago I was trained that carburator is a French word meaning "leave it alone."

I'm surprised this happened as the last couple times I used the snowblower it had fuel stablizer in the fuel (and fresh fuel-we had a lot of snow last winter) so the treated fuel should have been throughout the system. I have a chainsaw (granted that's a two cycle and this is a four) that frequently goes a couple years between uses and it always fires up.
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: Thump553
A quick update: I tried the starter fluid method. I would pull the plug, spray the starter fluid into the cylinder. It would fire up a few pops until the starter fluid was gone. I guess I'll have to drain the tank & try carb cleaner next. I don't think I'm up to a carb rebuild. A long time ago I was trained that carburator is a French word meaning "leave it alone."

I'm surprised this happened as the last couple times I used the snowblower it had fuel stablizer in the fuel (and fresh fuel-we had a lot of snow last winter) so the treated fuel should have been throughout the system. I have a chainsaw (granted that's a two cycle and this is a four) that frequently goes a couple years between uses and it always fires up.
Do you have an electric start on that?

 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
You don't need to pull the plug, just squirt the fluid straight into the intake. Are you certain the fuel petcock is open? Are you fully choking it?
 

Spydermag68

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2002
2,614
98
91
I know on my mother's snowblower the oil in the gas needs to be mixed well. It could of seperated over the summer.
 

wischeez

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2004
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Originally posted by: Ornery
You don't need to pull the plug, just squirt the fluid straight into the intake. Are you certain the fuel petcock is open? Are you fully choking it?

Until it turns blue?