Snowblower Question

[stevej37]

^^^ I might do that if the additives don't smooth it out.
I don't want to do a carb switch during the snow season....it might not go good and my shovel is not fun.

[Alan A]

Took 20 minutes on my backpack blower.

Fired up first pull. $20 and 20 minutes to fix a $500 blower worked for me. I loathe messing with carbs - they are like black magic afaict.

gl.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I might do that if the additives don't smooth it out.
I don't want to do a carb switch during the snow season....it might not go good and my shovel is not fun.

Worst case is back on with the old carb. I can't see a down side to a job that takes maybe 20 minutes.

[stevej37]

^^^ 20 minutes...if nothing goes wrong.

I thought you would suggest getting this....

[cabmandone]

Nah. If I suggest something it'll be something with a cab and heat!

[stevej37]

This guy shows an easy fix....I can do that.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Just finished doing the drive....started good but had to let it warm up more because of the low temp. After about 3 minutes at a med idle, I opened it up and it surged, but not as bad. That was after adding a quart of TrueFuel.

After a couple minutes of surging...it leveled out. I'll add the Techron on Tues. and see how it goes next usage.

back in the day, Techron was the go to fuel system cleaner

surge usually indicates a lean mixture, which makes sense if the jets are gummed up

I just use non-ethanol pump fuel in mine, main benefit is little to no water absorption which is the main issue w/ ethanol fuel

[stevej37]

^^^ Yeah...I've resisted using rec fuel because it's not readily sold at most stations here.
I'm going to start using it though....also it's 90 octane here instead of our 87 regular.

[Cajundaddy]

Fresh Top Tier premium fuel for the season and run it nice and hot. After use turn off the gas petcock and let it run til the carb bowl is dry and she dies. I do this with all small carbureted engines to avoid shellacking the carb jets and float bowl. Ethanol blend is evil.

[stevej37]

^^^ I don't see any 'gas shutoff' on my Tecumseh. I could drain the bowl, but the plastic cover that includes the ign switch, throttle and primer have to come off first. Could be done.

[stevej37]

I like this one.

[flipper35]

Mine was surging, needed a new spark plug at 17 years old. (already had a new carb, only run straight gas in it, always use Stabil for summer storage)

[stevej37]

^^^ Going to switch to rec gas....not easy to find/buy it here.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

When I was growing up we had a Pontiac wagon that Dad used to pull our camping trailer. It had 10.5:1 CR and three 2-bbl carbs and would only run correctly on Chevron Custom Supreme that at that time had an octane rating of 101.
To blow the carbon out of it when it started pinging, we'd fill an orange juice can full of water and pour it down the middle carb while holding the throttle open at about 2-3k rpm. Carbon chunks would come out of the exhausts. It always ran better after doing that.
I try to run Chevron gas in our cars because it has Techron in it from the pump. So far all's good, and my V-6 has 10:1 CR.
I don't think you're going to get a cleaned piston like those videos start with, with the application of only one can.

My Dad used to do that too. The cloud of steam was mighty impressive.

[911 Rod]

Did you put fuel stabilizer in before you put it away for the summer?

[cabmandone]

Something about that video where the guy drills the jet doesn't make sense to me. He says it's the air jet. That doesn't seem right. Adding more air doesn't seem like it would fix the problem when he says applying the choke smooths the engine out. By adjusting the choke he's cutting air and changing the mixture. That has to be a fuel jet he's making larger.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I don't see any 'gas shutoff' on my Tecumseh. I could drain the bowl, but the plastic cover that includes the ign switch, throttle and primer have to come off first. Could be done.

Should be easy enough to add a shutoff to the fuel line between tank and carb just like a motorcycle. Running the carb dry is the secret sauce with ethanol blend gas these days.
I did that every day after mowing the lawn with my Honda mower and it kept all the carb jets clean.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Seafoam but it'll need to be pulled for a cleaning.

Probably can buy a Chinese carb for 15 bucks.... I always add a shut off valve on stuff like this so it drains the bowl on the last start up of the season.

I tried the Chinese carb for my lawnmower. It leaked like a MF.

I had similar issue living in Hawaii. Ethanol gas just sucks in moisture to the carbs. A guy that worked for me had an airplane with air cooled engine. He had to replace an entire cylinder and barrel for his engine due to the E Gas. Our solution was getting marine gas down where the SS Minnow set sail on a 3 hour cruise.

Ah Marianne...

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Did you put fuel stabilizer in before you put it away for the summer?

No...I did not. It started right up a few weeks back after sitting all summer...no problem.
The surging was a little more pronounced this season...that's my problem. I'm going to switch to rec gas, so that should keep it from getting worse yet. If not, I start with the carb.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Should be easy enough to add a shutoff to the fuel line between tank and carb just like a motorcycle. Running the carb dry is the secret sauce with ethanol blend gas these days.
I did that every day after mowing the lawn with my Honda mower and it kept all the carb jets clean.

I'll look at that this spring. The 5hp Honda engine on my Trac Vac has a shut-off....wonder why it isn't on a 8hp Tecumseh.