Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
anyway?) I'll never know.
And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
damned thing.
Like the others say I run mine a couple of times over the summer.
I run it hard in November.
The butane trick can also be replace by rosinol the lighter fluid for
the old wick style lighters. It works well.
I always put stabil in... no matter what. I turn my petcock off every
time I run it. I just turn it off and let it run out. Don't know why you
would keep fuel in the carb. It gums up, even with Stabil which only
protects the gas itself.
On 1/12/2011 3:02 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
>
On Jan 12, 12:55=A0pm, Nova <[email protected]> wrote:
> J. Clarke wrote:
> > Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> > Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> > damned thing. =A0Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> > Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> > anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> > And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> > drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> > I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> > store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> > damned thing.
>
> I've been running and Ariens with a Tecumseh engine for over the last 30
> years. =A0Learned a long time ago to add stabilizer to the gas, top off
> the tank and leave the fuel petcock turned to "ON" for summer storage.
> I haven't had a starting problem since.
Like Jack says, add gas stabilizer. I really like my Toro (Tecumseh
engine) with electric start (that electric 110 Volt plug-in & not a
battery). Never had a problem starting it either, even at 30 below
zero. I haven't had a problem with my lawn mower (in the spring) or
chipper shredder (in the fall) (both with Briggs & Stratton engines
with pull starts).
Luigi
Luigi
Lee Michaels wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote
>>
>> (apologies to Chaplain Howell Forgy and to Frank Loesser)
>>
>> The second cleaning did it--it started up and ran like a champ, ate
>> the mountain that the plow had thrown up, no problems. In fact it
>> hasn't run this well in at least a decade. I guess in previous
>> attempts I hadn't been getting it completely clean.
>>
> If at first you don't succeed...
...find someone else to do it.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
J. Clarke wrote:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
>
I've been running and Ariens with a Tecumseh engine for over the last 30
years. Learned a long time ago to add stabilizer to the gas, top off
the tank and leave the fuel petcock turned to "ON" for summer storage.
I haven't had a starting problem since.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
"J. Clarke" wrote:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
------------------------------------
Contract snow removal outfits exist for a reason.
-------------------------------------
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off
> and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
-------------------------------------
And when did you test start the snowblower prior to the first snow of
the season?
Lew
[email protected] wrote:
< snip>
>>
>
> The secret is to start it in November, before you need it. Then again
> evry 2 weeks, snow or no snow.
>
Some of us have to get to it a bit before November.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote
>
> (apologies to Chaplain Howell Forgy and to Frank Loesser)
>
> The second cleaning did it--it started up and ran like a champ, ate the
> mountain that the plow had thrown up, no problems. In fact it hasn't
> run this well in at least a decade. I guess in previous attempts I
> hadn't been getting it completely clean.
>
If at first you don't succeed...
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
>
All I've ever done is leave gas in the tank and put the machine away.
There it'll sit until next time I need it. The only time I did anything
special was last winter when I left a small amount in the tank instead of
something closer to half a tank. Drained that gas out and replaced it
with fresh. It probably would have started and run, but I wasn't taking
chances.
Around here (Central IL), gas takes a super long time to go bad. It
seems to me that environmental conditions are as important to storing an
engine as anything else.
Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.
tiredofspam wrote:
> Like the others say I run mine a couple of times over the summer.
> I run it hard in November.
>
> The butane trick can also be replace by rosinol the lighter fluid for
> the old wick style lighters. It works well.
>
>
> I always put stabil in... no matter what. I turn my petcock off every
> time I run it. I just turn it off and let it run out. Don't know why you
> would keep fuel in the carb. It gums up, even with Stabil which only
> protects the gas itself.
>
Keeping the tank filled and gas in the carb keeps the air out of the
system. I was told by a small engine mechanic that if you keep the air
out the carb won't gum up and it also prevents the seals/gaskets from
drying out and becoming brittle. Seems to work for me.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
J. Clarke wrote:
> 'an 'de drive's snow free
>
> (apologies to Chaplain Howell Forgy and to Frank Loesser)
>
> The second cleaning did it--it started up and ran like a champ, ate
> the mountain that the plow had thrown up, no problems. In fact it
> hasn't run this well in at least a decade. I guess in previous
> attempts I hadn't been getting it completely clean.
>
Shit! I just got the plow truck warmed up and was just about to head over
to help out a fellow wRECer. Oh well...
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Jan 12, 12:02=A0pm, "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. =A0Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
Well, IME, Indians can keep snowmobile engines going in any kind of
weather, especially if they are far from home on their trapline.
Luigi
Markem wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:02:48 -0500, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>>
>> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>> anyway?) I'll never know.
>>
>> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>>
>> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off
>> and store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need
>> the damned thing.
>
> Buy some Stabil put it in the gas, and leave it full. Has worked for
> me in the lawn tractor, push mower, generator, chain saws ect.
>
> Try it as an experiment, if it does not start you can curse me out
> about this time next year.
>
Just don't get the pink Stabil. It's not formulated for ethanol gas.
Stabil now makes a new product that I believe is either blue or green in
color, that is formulated for today's gas.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On 1/12/2011 4:21 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
> > J. Clarke wrote:
> >> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
> >>
> >> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> >> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> >> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> >> anyway?) I'll never know.
> >
> > Techumsa? One of the best engines ever developed. The Snow King is a great
> > engine. Be happy you have it.
> >
> >>
> >> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> >> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
> >
> > Shoot. I hate it when someone beats me to the punch.
> >
> >>
> >> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> >> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> >> damned thing.
> >
> > Today's gas though does impose some new issues. Ethanol gas creates a
> > corrosive environment. You did all the right things, and frankly you should
> > not have found yourself in this spot. (sucks to be you...). Fogging
> > usually prevents this problem. Weird. So - what did you have to do to get
> > it running?
> >
>
> I had the same problem with a leafblower. I solved the problem by
> replacing it with a four cycle leafblower. With not preparation except
> carefully placing it on the shelf in the fall, I can go out in the
> spring prime the carburetor, and one pull and the engine is running.
>
> There is one thing else you did not mention about burning ethanol. It
> creates twice as much Carbon Dioxide as gasoline. One mole when burned
> and one mole when fermented.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Tecumseh _is_ four cycle so that's a
non-issue.
And after tearing down the carburetor and soaking it for an hour in carb
cleaner it started up, but it would run for about 20 feet and then I had
to fiddle the needle valve and if I fiddled it the wrong way or wasn't
fast enough it would die. So, pulled it again and am giving it another
soak and maybe this time I'll get out whatever I didn't the first time.
'an 'de drive's snow free
(apologies to Chaplain Howell Forgy and to Frank Loesser)
The second cleaning did it--it started up and ran like a champ, ate the
mountain that the plow had thrown up, no problems. In fact it hasn't
run this well in at least a decade. I guess in previous attempts I
hadn't been getting it completely clean.
In article <[email protected]>, tiredofspam
says...
>
> Like the others say I run mine a couple of times over the summer.
> I run it hard in November.
>
> The butane trick can also be replace by rosinol the lighter fluid for
> the old wick style lighters. It works well.
>
>
> I always put stabil in... no matter what. I turn my petcock off every
> time I run it. I just turn it off and let it run out. Don't know why you
> would keep fuel in the carb. It gums up, even with Stabil which only
> protects the gas itself.
>
> On 1/12/2011 3:02 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
> > Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
> >
> > Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> > damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> > Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> > anyway?) I'll never know.
> >
> > And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> > drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
> >
> > I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> > store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> > damned thing.
> >
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] wrote:
> The secret is to start it in November, before you need it. Then again
> evry 2 weeks, snow or no snow.
...or a month after you last use it in spring, and every month after
that. Or, as a friend a bit more in need of things working reliably (due
to island-ification) does, every motor on the place for an hour every
month. Yes, that means lawnmowers in winter and snowblowers in summer.
Letting things sit is the killer.
--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by
?
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
Mine is named after a cowboy named Briggs.
Every year I start mine as soon as snow is predicted to give it a test run.
The damn thing starts every time . It was a cheap MTD blower from Wal Mart
that my mother-in-law bought for me about 11 years ago. One part of me
wants it to die so I can get a better 2 stage, but this still manages to get
the job done.
Test run it first around Thanksgiving next season.
On Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:02:48 -0500, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
>Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>anyway?) I'll never know.
>
>And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
>I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
>store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
>damned thing.
Buy some Stabil put it in the gas, and leave it full. Has worked for
me in the lawn tractor, push mower, generator, chain saws ect.
Try it as an experiment, if it does not start you can curse me out
about this time next year.
Mark
J. Clarke wrote:
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
Techumsa? One of the best engines ever developed. The Snow King is a great
engine. Be happy you have it.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
Shoot. I hate it when someone beats me to the punch.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
Today's gas though does impose some new issues. Ethanol gas creates a
corrosive environment. You did all the right things, and frankly you should
not have found yourself in this spot. (sucks to be you...). Fogging
usually prevents this problem. Weird. So - what did you have to do to get
it running?
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:55:47 -0500, "Josepi" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>WD-40 can cure anything. Gargle some.
>
>I always hate gas engines. I have no luck with them either. Even my Honda
>generator rakes about ten pulls after sitting for three years. I used to
>just use the shovel because when we had a three foot snow dump it was leass
>work than getting the snowblower working again. Now I live in snow country
>and that ain't happ'nin', now matter what the cost to keep it runnin'.
>
>
>"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
>Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>anyway?) I'll never know.
>
>And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
>I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
>store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
>damned thing.
>
The secret is to start it in November, before you need it. Then again
evry 2 weeks, snow or no snow.
On Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:09:20 -0500, knuttle
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On 1/12/2011 4:21 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
>> J. Clarke wrote:
>>> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>>>
>>> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>>> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>>> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>>> anyway?) I'll never know.
>>
>> Techumsa? One of the best engines ever developed. The Snow King is a great
>> engine. Be happy you have it.
>>
>>>
>>> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>>> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>>
>> Shoot. I hate it when someone beats me to the punch.
>>
>>>
>>> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
>>> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
>>> damned thing.
>>
>> Today's gas though does impose some new issues. Ethanol gas creates a
>> corrosive environment. You did all the right things, and frankly you should
>> not have found yourself in this spot. (sucks to be you...). Fogging
>> usually prevents this problem. Weird. So - what did you have to do to get
>> it running?
>>
>
>I had the same problem with a leafblower. I solved the problem by
>replacing it with a four cycle leafblower. With not preparation except
>carefully placing it on the shelf in the fall, I can go out in the
>spring prime the carburetor, and one pull and the engine is running.
>
>There is one thing else you did not mention about burning ethanol. It
>creates twice as much Carbon Dioxide as gasoline. One mole when burned
>and one mole when fermented.
>
>
Just got a call from a senior friend of mine - couldn't get his 2
stroke Toro snow-thrower running. I went over and could not start it
either - gave it a shot of Butane and it started, so I knew it was a
fuel problem. Pulled the float drain plug and thick blue 2 stroke oil
slowly flowed out. After a second or two I started getting thinner
fluid - gave it another huff of butane, pulled the rope, and away it
went, smoking like a fiend.
The lesson? Mix the stuff well. Told him add half a gallon of gas to
the oil in 5 gallon can - shake well, then fill with gas.
On 1/12/2011 4:21 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
> J. Clarke wrote:
>> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>>
>> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> Techumsa? One of the best engines ever developed. The Snow King is a great
> engine. Be happy you have it.
>
>>
>> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> Shoot. I hate it when someone beats me to the punch.
>
>>
>> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
>> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
>> damned thing.
>
> Today's gas though does impose some new issues. Ethanol gas creates a
> corrosive environment. You did all the right things, and frankly you should
> not have found yourself in this spot. (sucks to be you...). Fogging
> usually prevents this problem. Weird. So - what did you have to do to get
> it running?
>
I had the same problem with a leafblower. I solved the problem by
replacing it with a four cycle leafblower. With not preparation except
carefully placing it on the shelf in the fall, I can go out in the
spring prime the carburetor, and one pull and the engine is running.
There is one thing else you did not mention about burning ethanol. It
creates twice as much Carbon Dioxide as gasoline. One mole when burned
and one mole when fermented.
On Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:11:23 -0500, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>'an 'de drive's snow free
>
>(apologies to Chaplain Howell Forgy and to Frank Loesser)
>
>The second cleaning did it--it started up and ran like a champ, ate the
>mountain that the plow had thrown up, no problems. In fact it hasn't
>run this well in at least a decade. I guess in previous attempts I
>hadn't been getting it completely clean.
>
>
>In article <[email protected]>, tiredofspam
>says...
>>
>> Like the others say I run mine a couple of times over the summer.
>> I run it hard in November.
>>
>> The butane trick can also be replace by rosinol the lighter fluid for
>> the old wick style lighters. It works well.
>>
>>
>> I always put stabil in... no matter what. I turn my petcock off every
>> time I run it. I just turn it off and let it run out. Don't know why you
>> would keep fuel in the carb. It gums up, even with Stabil which only
>> protects the gas itself.
>>
>> On 1/12/2011 3:02 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>> > Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>> >
>> > Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
>> > damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
>> > Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
>> > anyway?) I'll never know.
>> >
>> > And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
>> > drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>> >
>> > I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
>> > store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
>> > damned thing.
>> >
>
Just a suggestion. Forget Stabil, but get your paws on some "sea foam"
fuel conditioner and use it religiously following the instructions for
"maintenance". It will almost totally eliminate the "greenies" and
varnish/crap buildup in the carb. Mariners swear by it. Lots of 2
stroke ultralight guys do too. and it works just as well on 4 strokes
as on 2 strokes. With ethanol in the gas, particularly.
Here in Ontario I GENERALLY use Shell Ultra in my small engines -
blower and mower - because there is no ethanol in Shell Ultra in
Ontario (and I believe all of Canada)
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
>
> Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
> damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
> Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
> anyway?) I'll never know.
>
> And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
> drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
>
> I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
> store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
> damned thing.
>
Daaamn!
WD-40 can cure anything. Gargle some.
I always hate gas engines. I have no luck with them either. Even my Honda
generator rakes about ten pulls after sitting for three years. I used to
just use the shovel because when we had a three foot snow dump it was leass
work than getting the snowblower working again. Now I live in snow country
and that ain't happ'nin', now matter what the cost to keep it runnin'.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Well, went to blow snow today, damn thing won't start, as usual.
Every damned season I need to rebuild the damned carburetor on the
damned thing. Why I bought anything with an engine named after an
Indian (what the Hell are Indians supposed to know about engines
anyway?) I'll never know.
And before anybody says "drain the gas", last spring I ran it dry,
drained the carb, shot it full of fogging oil, the whole nine yards.
I give up, this spring I'm just gonna pull the damn carburetor off and
store it in a jar of carburetor cleaner until next time I need the
damned thing.