Ariens Sno-Tek 24 not starting with pull start

[johnnyh55]

I bought a sno-tek 24 last year and used it for the season and it worked great. I would prime it 3 times and apply full choke and pull the cord and it would start. I stored it for the season but forgot to add fuel stabilizer to the fuel and I changed the oil before the beginning of the winter this year but now it doesn't start as easy as it used too. I mainly use the electric start but even when cranking I have to prime it like 7-10 times for it to start. I tried yersterday to prime it 10 time and pull starting it and eventually did start but I was tired just from pulling the cord 20 times. Also in the new fresh fuel I am using I added seafoam and I always run it now.

What could cause it not to start as easy as last year? I was thinking maybe a dirty carb or bad spark plug? If it is the carb, is it easy to clean the carb, I haven't done it before.

 

[Audioquest]

Check youtube channel "donyboy73". He has just about every repair known to man on outdoor power equipment including carb cleaning.

 

[eljefino]

If you have a "torch" OE spark plug, chuck it and put in a bosch/ ngk/ champion etc.

The carb is super easy to clean, undo the 10mm nut on the bottom and take the bowl off. Check it for goo, you can wipe it with a paper towel. You'll see the jet going straight up, you can spray up that jet with carb cleaner or unscrew it and do a more thorough job.

 

[Doug051]

I've owned one for 3 winters and have experianced this from either old gas or primed too much. What i did was drained the carb through the drain bolt. Then primed three times and played with choke and it will start with a couple pulls. Another thing I tend to do since its very cold in WI, is use the electric start while priming at same time. It will fire right up, Good Luck!!

 

[webfors]

I'm going on the year 4 (or 5) with the same blower. MMO and Stabil in gas *all the time* has resulted in this engine starting with 3 primes and one light pull *every* time. I never drain the gas, just top it off before I store it.

The moral of the story is to treat the gas when you buy it. I have a 10 liter red gas jug and I add the MMO and Stabil when it's empty and add gas. Don't wait until summer to treat your gas. Treat it at purchase time.

I also use ethanol free Premium.

This regiment has resulted in *no* required maintenance on any of my small engines.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

No seafoam! I had run stabilizer but have found it unnecessary on my 17 YO Yardman w/ a 8hp Tecumseh snowking. I think I had to drsain the carb through the poppet on the bowl boottom a bit once.
DONT OVERFILL OIL and don't put junk in the oil! Don run Too thick an oil. You can put a little dribble of oil in the gas.

Wather in the gas, forzenb carb and poor gas are usually poor strart culprets as well as OVER priming. Rule If its under -17C, and the unit is outside, use the E start.

 

[SubLGT]

Originally Posted By: johnnyh55
……..I would prime it 3 times and apply full choke and pull the cord and it would start……….I have to prime it like 7-10 times for it to start. I tried yersterday to prime it 10 time and pull starting it and eventually did start…..


I believe you may be flooding the engine with over-priming. I had the same problem with my Sno-Tek.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3586136/1

 

[JTK]

I prime my 28" Ariens Sno-Tek 8-10 mashes, full choke and it starts with barely a yank. I've never even tried the E-start.

I haven't even looked at the OEM spark plug yet..

If need be, I think replacement LCT carbs are pretty cheap. Can never go wrong with a name-brand replacement carb too.

 

[j4life]

i had the same blower, and had the same issue after leaving untreated gas in it over the summer, I took the carb bowl off and spayed carb cleaner in there i could not get the jet out so i made sure to get as much carb cleaner in there as possible then after about 10-15 pulls it started up after letting it run for a bit it now starts with out issues on 1st or second pull I now use marine stabil for my gas

 

[gonefishing]

OP: Did you drain the old fuel out? If not I would and start with fresh (vs just adding fresh fuel). I'm also a big proponent of E0 fuel for small engines (if you can find it).

 

[johnnyh55]

Well I just got around to fixing it(used e start last winter). I took the carb off and it was pretty darn clean but I cleaned it anyway. When I went to reinstall it, I noticed the primer line was cracked. I replaced it and it has fixed my issue. Now the snowblower starts after 3 primes and 1 pull just like it used too. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[JTK]

Johnny- too funny. I perked right up when I saw this thread because the EXACT same thing happened to my Ariens Sno-Tek LCT engine last year. Suffered with the hard start for a few weeks. The primer bulb did seem to press too easily, but I didn't think it all out at the time. It wasn't doing a darn thing with that hose being split wide open. I believe I used a piece of silicone aquarium air line tubing to fix mine. Funny that it still needs a full prime even though these engines have a manual choke. EPA super lean carb I guess.

 

[BrianF]

I ran into the same issue with my Poulan (Husky built) blower. First winter it ran great and towards the fall of the next season I could not get it to start. FOund the primer line dry rotted out. Once fixed it has been good for years. I think they did not use fuel rated line for the primer. Last winter it would still fire on the first pull when it was -30 Celsius.

 

[SubLGT]

Had to replace the primer tube on my 24" Sno-Tek also. I do not like the location of the hose bib on the prime bulb, it it too close to the carb and it forces a very sharp bend on the tube. I also installed an inline fuel filter (red B&S filter).

 

[SubLGT]

For the 3rd winter in a row, the God of Winter has cursed my 24" Snotek with a no-start for the first winter storm. This despite adding fresh EO gas (with Stabil Marine) 5 weeks ago, and testing it for starting (started on 1st pull at 45F). After 5 cranks with the starter, I pulled the plug and it was soaked with gas. Will let everything dry out overnight, and give it another try, without priming.

This Snotek is the fussiest, most cantankerous OPE I have owned during the last 40 years. Good thing I have 2 snow shovels.

 

[andyd]

My 40 yr old Tecumseh flat head was burning out its electric starters and stll not starting . Once started it was hard to keep running. I spent more time tinkering than blowing. After spending 8 hrs with a shovel, I spent about 4 hrs adapting a 100$ Predator 6 HP. 4 yrs later, the engine started on the 2nd pull. Because it has a metal tank, I store it full to the neck with MMO laced E10 87. After 8 months, if it takes more than 3 pulls, it is because I forgot to open the switch. People rant about Chinese junk, but junk made as well as Predator is hard to pass up. If your OPE, has a fuel shutoff, use it after every use.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: SubLGT

This Snotek is the fussiest, most cantankerous OPE I have owned during the last 40 years. Good thing I have 2 snow shovels.


Sorry to hear you're having issues again with it! It's not really a Sno-tek/Ariens thing, it's an LCT engine thing. This exact engine is used across the Ariens line and many others. I've used mine twice so far his season. Fires up with 1-2 pulls now that I sorted the primer hose deal last winter. My fuel shut-off valve is still feeling sketchy though, like a rubber seal in it swelled.

 

[iahawk]

Donyboy73 posted a video recently (on his youtube channel) about starting flooded OPE...said many people prime and choke too much...results in hard starting. Might want to give it a look?

 

[Rand]

Try starting it without priming and half choke if its not that cold.

After a couple pulls go full choke..

after a couple pulls prime it 2x.


you will soon figure out what it takes to start it..

They are more finicky than my 1970's-1980's era tractors.
but almost always the issue is flooding it.

 

[SubLGT]

Originally Posted By: SubLGT
... Will let everything dry out overnight, and give it another try, without priming...


Still a no start. Have a healthy spark. Gas is reaching the combustion chamber.
Have drained the tank and carb of the 5 week old E0 91-oct gas, and will buy a gallon of fresh E10 87-octane.
Fresh E10 solved my no-start last winter, and I hope it works again.

Am wondering if the E0 gas is really a winter blend, and has adequate vapor pressure for a start at 25F ?? It was adequate 5 weeks ago, when the temp was around 45-50F.