snow blower sudden stall and no start

[Vikas]

After completing the snow cleaning and while bringing it back to the garage, it stalled out of nowhere. I restarted it and it lasted for about 10 seconds. Restarted again and lasted 2 seconds. Could not restart it and had to push it in the garage. There is still ample gas in it. I have used it for 4 or 5 times this season. It has never idled well for years but I had been able to get the job done and did not want open it up.

Mental exercise:- It is behaving as if it suddenly stopped getting fuel. One would think fuel related issues would be somewhat gradual. I understand what I need to do to systematically debug this but given the symptoms I am wondering if anybody can logically come up with the exact cause,

Snow King LH318SA Craftsman 247.887900 28" Snow Thrower

 

[tmorris1]

After completing the snow cleaning and while bringing it back to the garage, it stalled out of nowhere. I restarted it and it lasted for about 10 seconds. Restarted again and lasted 2 seconds. Could not restart it and had to push it in the garage. There is still ample gas in it. I have used it for 4 or 5 times this season. It has never idled well for years but I had been able to get the job done and did not want open it up.

Mental exercise:- It is behaving as if it suddenly stopped getting fuel. One would think fuel related issues would be somewhat gradual. I understand what I need to do to systematically debug this but given the symptoms I am wondering if anybody can logically come up with the exact cause,

Snow King LH318SA Craftsman 247.887900 28" Snow Thrower

Plugged fuel filter, trash in float valve of carb, water in fuel or a pinched fuel line?

 

[oldcodger]

You are using E0 fuel?

 

[racer12306]

I have a Tecumseh Snow King on the blower at work and I just had to pull the fuel bowl and clean out the screw. The fuel gets sucked up through the screw that holds the fuel bowl. I went from can't run, except with carb cleaner, to won't run at low engine speed but a bit surgy at what I have to use as idle. I'll clean it out more after the season or just buy a new carburetor.

This one sat for a few years with untreated gas.


Pull the bowl, get a paperclip and clear out those holes and blast it with carb cleaner.

 

[Vikas]

if water in the fuel/carb two questions:-
1) how would it run before? I did NOT open the fuel cap to get water in the middle of running the engine
2) if water got in the carburator bowl, would it eventually empty it out by just cranking or it will never come out even if cranked and cranked. I mean there is NOT even a sputter. No smell of gas. The spark is good. I have starter spray but no idea where would I spray it as air intake is not obvious. I could remove the spark plug and shot a spray or two there.
3) I thought may be water froze somewhere inside the line but the blower is in the garage with moderate temperature since yesterday and still no sign of life

 

[racer12306]

The air intake is behind the panel with the throttle control and key. They tend to not put air filters on snowblowers.

 

[Vikas]

OK; completely and utterly stumped:-
Took the spark plug out; confirmed I have good spark by cranking while the plug was out and connected to the plug boot and also verified that I was feeling strong compression air escaping during cranking Gave few shots of starter juice and put the plug back and put the wire back and cranked. Still not even a sputter!

What the heck? I have spark, compression and fuel still nothing

 

[JTK]

Is the red plastic "security" key inserted all the way into the engine shroud? If not, it will kill ignition.

Oops.. Sorry. Looks like you tested for spark.

Problem is, if you've got spark, compression and it still wont start with starting fluid, you gotta re-visit your steps.

 

[Vikas]

3 shots of starting juice inside the cylinder should get it to sputter for at least 3 seconds, right? Unless by the time I put the plug back in and put the wire back on, the juice vanishes. I guess I have to remove the shroud to start more poking around.

 

[mk378]

Usually better to put starting fluid in through the intake not the cylinder itself. As someone noted this is easy to do on a snow thrower since there is no air filter. A flooded engine will not fire on starting fluid because the last thing it needs is more fuel. Ignitions or plugs can be weak and have "spark" outside the cylinder but not fire under compression. Substitute a new or otherwise known good plug. The spark can be out of time if the flywheel has moved on the shaft. That is common after hitting something with the blade of a push mower, but it could conceivably happen to any engine. Check by removing the air shroud and plug so you can confirm the magnets in the flywheel pass under the coil a few degrees before the piston reaches TDC.

 

[Vikas]

Did try a different plug and also the engine was running and I was just bringing it back to the garage when it quit on me. I pull started it and it lasted for few seconds and few feet of moving. Died again and then I could not pull start.

 

[hemitom]

Float bowel screw is plugged or float is stuck .
pull the bowel and dig in .
Also needle may be stuck in the seat.

 

[Vikas]

Few love taps to the bowl; still no go

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I don't think tapping the float bowl will fix it. IMO, the bowl needs removed and cleaned. You also should try to clean the fuel passages while the bowl is off. Based on your description and symptoms, I believe you have a gummed up or clogged carb.

Just my $0.02

 

[Lubener]

Try starting fluid and check for a loss of spark before taking anything apart. Try starting it today in case some melted snow found its way onto the coil or anything electrical.

 

[97prizm]

After completing the snow cleaning and while bringing it back to the garage, it stalled out of nowhere. I restarted it and it lasted for about 10 seconds. Restarted again and lasted 2 seconds. Could not restart it and had to push it in the garage. There is still ample gas in it. I have used it for 4 or 5 times this season. It has never idled well for years but I had been able to get the job done and did not want open it up.

Mental exercise:- It is behaving as if it suddenly stopped getting fuel. One would think fuel related issues would be somewhat gradual. I understand what I need to do to systematically debug this but given the symptoms I am wondering if anybody can logically come up with the exact cause,

Snow King LH318SA Craftsman 247.887900 28" Snow Thrower

4 stroke or 2? I had a Similar issue last summer on my mower. From my deduction it happened only when hot. So you could have a coil going bad, or have picked up dirt in the fuel and clogged a jet in the carburetor. I've also seen a white reside build up in the float bowl due to ethanol in gas. I run an inline fuel filter on my mower, which has vastly reduced havingto clean out the carb. Second are you using automotive pump gas? If so find Ethanol free or avgas. The Ethanol makes the fuel lines and seals harden.

 

[Vikas]

4 stroke engine - Spark is there, compression is there, starting fluid is there (Somewhere!) but still no sputter but this was running engine and it quit when I had completed the snow blowing and just bringing it back to garage. It has always been garaged and already tried to restart after it got warm

 

[Lubener]

4 stroke engine - Spark is there, compression is there, starting fluid is there (Somewhere!) but still no sputter but this was running engine and it quit when I had completed the snow blowing and just bringing it back to garage. It has always been garaged and already tried to restart after it got warm

Maybe the flywheel key sheared and the ignition timing is thrown way off where it won't run anymore.

 

[facility1]

the carb. fuel line (rubber) that connects to carb,remove and just inside inlet where it connects to carb body maybe a fine screed, try to remove this and clean (carb spray) ,it's for removing larger particles like rust flakes in the fuel, its the primary filter of sorts ,may be the problem, and clean the bowel, and needle & seat also. Use only premium non-alcohol fuel, with a very small amount of B-12 chem tool added. check your gas can,if its metal,well thats your problem,rust flakes,,,use only a plastic fuel can.

 

[Vikas]

Good news is that when sprayed the starting fluid in the throat, it fires up and runs for few seconds. That rules out all the major problems such as sheared flywheel or weak coil or no compression etc.

So now it is just matter of draining the stale gas and checking the bolt main jet holes and the float etc