Problem Starting Snowblower - Please Help

[Seahawk]

Spark plug...I cannot tell you how many times new tools have not started because of the spark plug.

Clean it first, check gap, and after that doesn't work, go buy a new one!

Works every time.

[LakeCleElum]

Sez he got 'er going!!!!!!!!!!

[on-ramp]

ha ha

very funny!

thanks everyone. I'll continue this in the AM. Gonna pull out the spark plug first and measure the gap.. .and then figure out where the carberator is.

I appreciate your help - this board is great!!

[lonewolf]

???

[ken_xman]

Ever get it going?

[on-ramp]

Hi everyone, I haven't messed with it since last week ... no more snow here. the first i'll do is take the spark plug out and replace it.

Thanks for your help!

[Superman]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Spray starting fluid (ether) into the air filter and try to start the machine. If it does not sputter, you have no ignition. If it does sputter, you need fuel.

Yup.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Seahawk
Spark plug...I cannot tell you how many times new tools have not started because of the spark plug.

Clean it first, check gap, and after that doesn't work, go buy a new one!

Works every time.

Nope. got a new sparkplug, installed it...still no start. I'm using the electrical starter. The engine is turning over but not starting. Doesn't seem to be flooded because there is no gas smell.

I did locate a screw under the carberator. It seems to be spring loaded. When i push up on it, nothing happens.

there's a big storm coming tomorrow.

[Tishabet]

Originally posted by on-ramp
Nope. got a new sparkplug, installed it...still no start. I'm using the electrical starter. The engine is turning over but not starting. Doesn't seem to be flooded because there is no gas smell.

I did locate a screw under the carberator. It seems to be spring loaded. When i push up on it, nothing happens.

there's a big storm coming tomorrow.

A spring loaded screw is probably for mixture...I would leave that one alone and look for one that is flush with the carb.

[LakeCleElum]

The spring loaded thing under the carb is often the float bowl drain. If you, you should get fuel out when you depress it. If not, no fuel is getting to the carb (most of these are gravity feed, so it would be a plugged line or filter). Are you getting spark with the new plug?

If so, give it a shot of starting fluid and see if it fires....The electric starter takes some of the voltage going to the coil. Try the rope pull a few times.....

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by on-ramp
Nope. got a new sparkplug, installed it...still no start. I'm using the electrical starter. The engine is turning over but not starting. Doesn't seem to be flooded because there is no gas smell.

I did locate a screw under the carberator. It seems to be spring loaded. When i push up on it, nothing happens.

there's a big storm coming tomorrow.

Sorry that didn't work...when was the last time it ran?

If it has been in storage since last year, did you use Stabil in the tank? If not, flush the fuel and add new. Check fuel filter as well.

I'd use starter fluid first, however...if it starts and stalls, could be fuel.

Also, I find that old fuel and electric lines crack and prevent starting. Bend and check.

Good luck with the storm

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
The spring loaded thing under the carb is often the float bowl drain. If you, you should get fuel out when you depress it. If not, no fuel is getting to the carb (most of these are gravity feed, so it would be a plugged line or filter). Are you getting spark with the new plug?

If so, give it a shot of starting fluid and see if it fires....The electric starter takes some of the voltage going to the coil. Try the rope pull a few times.....

Right. no fuel comes out when I press it... so there's no fuel getting to the carb. how come?

the fuel tank is full with fresh gas. Last season I ran it until it was all out of gas, as instructed per manual. snowblower has less than 30 min. total running time.

[madmmac]

Did you turn the gas supply on....may or may not have one, but most do.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by madmmac
Did you turn the gas supply on....may or may not have one, but most do.

there is no gas valve in the line from tank into engine.

[mtelliott]

I had trouble with mine this year. Got some excellent advice from the board and this is what I found.

There is a float bowl. Take the cover off the float bowl. If you have fuel in the float bowl, then you have a problem elsewhere. If there is no fuel in the float bowl, then you have a blockage going from the gas tank into the float bowl.

You will need to remove the little plastic pin that lets fuel into the bowl. The pin is connected to the float. Pushing up shuts it off, pulling down opens it up. Pull the pin, open the fuel valve, and spray carb / choke cleaner into the spot where the plastic pin enters until you can hear it entering the gas tank. This is the first likely spot where the fuel is getting clogged.

Now, if you have fuel in the float bowl when you take it off, you probably have blockage between the bowl and the carb. I doubt this though since you mentioned that you ran it out of gas last season. That's why it seams to point to the fact that you didn't drain the float bowl and you had gas residue left in there which then turned to varnish.

If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas from this end.

Michael

[madmmac]

Did you try the starting fluid??

What make and model?

[Noah930]

Hey, in anticipation of the big storm coming tomorrow to the NorthEast, just a little snowblower safety:

Mind you, I have no personal snow blower experience. I grew up in SoCal, and have lived in apartments my entire time here in Boston.

However, I do have a lot of experience with people who have whacked off fingers from sticking their hands in the output chute when the blower gets clogged. So, even if the blower is turned off, there may be some kinetic energy stored in the impeller blade mechanism. As you stick your hand down there to unclog it, the blade may be freed up enough to make another revolution or two. Enough to mangle your hand permanently. A surgeon may be able to stick it back on, but unless you're a salamander, don't expect it to ever work properly again. So just remember to turn the motor off, and USE A PUSH STICK of some sort, please.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Noah930
Hey, in anticipation of the big storm coming tomorrow to the NorthEast, just a little snowblower safety:

Mind you, I have no personal snow blower experience. I grew up in SoCal, and have lived in apartments my entire time here in Boston.

However, I do have a lot of experience with people who have whacked off fingers from sticking their hands in the output chute when the blower gets clogged. So, even if the blower is turned off, there may be some kinetic energy stored in the impeller blade mechanism. As you stick your hand down there to unclog it, the blade may be freed up enough to make another revolution or two. Enough to mangle your hand permanently. A surgeon may be able to stick it back on, but unless you're a salamander, don't expect it to ever work properly again. So just remember to turn the motor off, and USE A PUSH STICK of some sort, please.

Noah. thanks. the snowblower came with a long plastic rod that you can stick down the output shoot to release any clogs.

[Tishabet]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
The spring loaded thing under the carb is often the float bowl drain.

Hmm...maybe I was envisioning a different kind of "spring loaded." On my antique cars and at least one of the brigs and stratton motors I've worked on the drain was flush with the bowl and had a little rubber seal. I was just afraid that on-ramp might be doing more harm than good if the spring loaded screw was an adjusting screw.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by madmmac
Did you try the starting fluid??

What make and model?

no, i dont have any starting fluid.. Manual clearly states not to use any starting fluid.

I guess I need to take this "float bowel" off to see what's going on. Hopefully all the fuel will not spill out onto the garage floor.

for all it's worth , here's the model #

Troy Built Model 31AE6GQ3711