Snowblower Engine (Snow King) not working right

[turbojimmy]

Hi all,

I think I asked this last year, but I'm going to try again.....

I have a snowblower with a 8HP Tecumseh Snow King engine. I bought it new - this is my 3rd season with it. If it has 2 hours of run time on it it would be a lot. It worked great the first season. Last year it started this surging thing. It starts hard - will only start with the electric start. Here's what it's doing:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY87ijdfhOs[/YOUTUBE]

You can see the governer moving with it as it tries to stay running. I think it's lean because if I choke it it runs a little better. All I could figure was that the fuel got bad after the first season. I took the carb apart, blew it out with compressed air, soaked it in carb cleaner and put it back together (it was squeaky clean inside). I added some carb/fuel injector cleaner to the fuel and ran it. Still does the same thing.

I hate to replace what is essentially a brand new carb with a new carb, but I'm not sure what else it could be?

Ideas would be appreciated (other than move to a warmer climate).

 

[Junior Samples]

Sounds like the bowl screw is the prob. pull bowl, and bolt that holds it on. 4 holes. Two opp of each other near the head of the bolt, one through the center, and one real small one is near the end, in the unthreaded part. that little small one gets clogged all the time and hard to see that it is clogged and easy to overlook.

 

[turbojimmy]

Sounds like the bowl screw is the prob. pull bowl, and bolt that holds it on. 4 holes. Two opp of each other near the head of the bolt, one through the center, and one real small one is near the end, in the unthreaded part. that little small one gets clogged all the time and hard to see that it is clogged and easy to overlook.

I cleaned that top one out with a safety pin. The two opposite each other looked fine. Does the hole in the middle of the screw do anything? Looks like it's plugged at the bottom of it so it doesn't seem like it does anything in this application (on others there may be a needle valve there?).

Anyway, put it back together and I can now start it with the pull start but it's still surging.

I wonder if I can just get that bolt/jet thing? I think I'll just let that thing sit in carb cleaner for a few hours.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Junior Samples]

We got hammered last night and still comming down...good thing my kid knows how to fire up a snow shovel although it took a few lessons on how to set choke...LOL

 

[turbojimmy]

We got hammered last night and still comming down...good thing my kid knows how to fire up a snow shovel although it took a few lessons on how to set choke...LOL

It's still coming down here, too, though I'm not sure what 'it' is. What's on the ground is a couple of inches of very fine ice - like sugar or salt. Not really snow. What's still coming down is starting to look like rain.

I have the carb and jet/bolt thing soaking in a little tub of carb cleaner. Maybe that will magically correct it.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Well now I've rendered it inoperable.

I took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together. Then it wouldn't run for more than 10 seconds at a time. I took it apart and found a chunks of gasket inside that brass tube. I put it back together and it did the same thing. Took it apart again and found that there was gasket material all throughout the main jet area and that the gasket between that brass tube and the main jet was torn up. I removed what was left of said gasket, cleaned it thoroughly, and put it back together. The surging has stopped but it won't run for long under a load. I suspect that gasket I took out was important.

I'm hoping the rain will help wash away the snow. At least I was able to clear the bottom of the driveway (where the plows made a mess) before I gave up.

My neighbor was kind enough to lend me his - an Ariens with the same engine on it - and it is surging too. It's not as bad as mine and can be corrected by choking it a little. But this thing was such a pain in the butt to use I just gave it back and thanked him anyway. The chute wouldn't stay pointed and it didn't have 'positraction' (one wheel just spun in the snow). I don't know how he uses it. It's newer than mine, smaller and cost him $300 more, too. But it does have a headlight

Jim

 

[gnxtc2]

Jim

Mine does the same thing in the video. Same motor. What I found out was this.

I was leaving the gas in it. When the first start up happens of the year, it would run miserable. I just out the old gas and put new stuff in. I had some Sunoco 116 laying around and yep it went in it. The thing ran great.

Moral of the story, put some fresh gas in it. I didn't believe in gimmich things to add to fuel or oil. I started to use the Stabile stuff and so far it works.

I learned my lesson in trying the simple stuff first....this goes for cars, trucks and home stuff.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[turbojimmy]

Jim

Mine does the same thing in the video. Same motor. What I found out was this.

I was leaving the gas in it. When the first start up happens of the year, it would run miserable. I just out the old gas and put new stuff in. I had some Sunoco 116 laying around and yep it went in it. The thing ran great.

Moral of the story, put some fresh gas in it. I didn't believe in gimmich things to add to fuel or oil. I started to use the Stabile stuff and so far it works.

I learned my lesson in trying the simple stuff first....this goes for cars, trucks and home stuff.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

Thanks Billy.

I think old gas is what did it last year but it's never been the same since. Last year when it first started acting funny I put new fuel in it. It didn't help but since then I've boogered up those seals so it needs fixed now.

A few hours ago I borrowed my dad's carb (he has the same machine and baked a drive belt today) and it ran awesome. It moved the 2-feet-high mounds of packed snow and slush that the plows left behind with no problem. I'm thinking a carb rebuild kit should do it.

I destroyed the fuel line on my dad's machine removing the carb so I have a bit of a project there to get his back running again. I'm just glad to get my driveway cleared because this time of year if you don't clear it you can be stuck with it for a while. I spent more time goofing around with the snow thrower than had I just picked up a shovel. But it was a matter of principle....

Jim

 

[ChrisCairns]

But it does have a headlight

Jim

Hahahaha.

 

[jetmech]

Always Run Your Equiptment Out Of Gas Whether It Be Your Snowblower Or Lawn Mower If Putting It Away For The Season. I Run My Little Toro Out Of Gas Put It In The Basement Bring In Out In The Winter Fill It Up Prime It And It Runs Great. Run Your Stuff Out Of Gas!

 

[John Larkin]

I borrowed a friend's pressure washer this summer and of course it started surging after the first tank of gas (just what I love to do - borrow something then look like I tore it up). We took the carb off and found the gasket under the power piston had moved allowing it to suck air. Once we repositioned the gasket it was like brand new.

 

[turbojimmy]

We took the carb off and found the gasket under the power piston had moved allowing it to suck air. Once we repositioned the gasket it was like brand new.

I'm not really sure where things went wrong with mine. Ever since I let the fuel sit in it for a summer it's been messed up. I think the torn gasket was the result of taking it apart and trying to fix it 5 or 6 times but it was not the original problem.

Rather than gamble $15 on a rebuild kit, f'ing it up and then having to buy a new carb, I just bought a new carb. Should be here in a few days. Problem solved.....I hope. It works like new with my dad's carb on it (it oughta because it IS new).

I am NOT letting gas sit in this thing again. The Stabil works to stabilize the gas (keep it from turning to varnish), but the local small engine dude said the Ethanol eats everything if you let it sit.

Jim