Poulan Pro Snowblower - choke problem?

[shiltsy]

My old snowblower bit the dust half way through the first storm of the year yesterday. Today, I picked up a new Poulan Pro PR624ES from Menards. I know it's not a Honda, but it also wasn't $1800.

Anyway, I'm curious if the choke/throttle system is working right. On its' first start, it was running rough, almost like it was choked. I moved the throttle all the way over to "Run" and no difference. I took the plate off that covers the throttle/carb area and tinkered with it a bit. It seems like the throttle control moves freely and doesn't really have any contact with the carb. After I got done tinkering it ran fine. I started it cold a few hours later and it popped right off.

I guess the real test will come when it's 10 degrees out, but I'd like to make sure it's running like it should sooner than later. Am I just experiencing how these automatic throttle's are supposed to work?

Any thoughts or ideas give me a shout. My next step will be to find another model on a showroom floor and see if that throttle operates the same. BTW, the snowblower has a LCT motor.

Thanks!

[McGurk]

Don't mess with it anymore; take it back to Menards and have them make it right. You shouldn't have an idle issue right out of the box EVER!!!

BTW; what went wrong with the old blower? Was it engine related, or mechanical? Most of the time a few simple things can keep a motor running if it was taken care of during it's life.

[shiltsy]

McGurk... yeah, probably worth loading it up on the truck and driving over there tomorrow. IF a piece of the throttle broke on day one, I might just have them keep it!

Well, it was a 30 yr old Ariens with a newer Tecumsah engine... after the cheap pull start mechanism broke in the middle of our storm Saturday and the throttle arm broke last winter, I decided I was done messing with it. I ordered parts and will sell it online sometime next week.

[Surface Tension]

The governor will move the butterfly according to the load on the engine. If you didn't have a governor to do that you'd bog when loaded. All that is connected together by linkage. You won't see that butterfly because it is behind the choke plate. I'm not familiar with your model. Do you have a separate choke lever or is it on the throttle past Run. If the choke has its own lever you can verify its position by looking at the choke plate.

You wouldn't be the first to get the on and off choke position mixed up.

If the choke is part of the throttle, then again you can look at the plate as to its position according to the throttle lever. It could be that it is choked but doesn't line up with the Choke position on the throttle.

As long as you know when its choked or partially choked that is all that matters.

Don't try and make adjustments because they are tricky even with an experienced tech.

Really there is rarely a need to ever make any adjustments to the gov.

You can keep that linkage clean and free from oils that collect crud.

Later down the road if a fuel related problem occurs it'll be the carb and not the gov.

[shiltsy]

I can't see any linkage between the throttle/choke control arm and the carb. I'm 99% sure that something is broke/disconnected/etc.

Here's where it gets fun. I called Menards today to see if they have one in stock to swap out (I bought it yesterday). They refused and said it had to go to a repair shop. I talked to the store manager, was very polite and got the same story. I called the repair shop and they are 2-3 weeks out on any repairs.

Not in a million years would I have this issue at Home Depot. Lesson learned.

[Surface Tension]

OK I look at the manual

The choke has its own lever.

Therefore there won't be any linkage between the throttle and choke.

Are you sure you didn't have the choke on or over primed?

If it runs and you can change the engine speed then it probably is fine.

What did you change when you tinkered with it?

[shiltsy]

I just confirmed my suspicion that it's broken. I took it in today and the small engine repair company confirmed that the plastic linkage between the throttle control arm and the piece that goes down into the carb is broken.

Menards basically sold me a broken product and refused to do an exchange a day later. I've turned the issue over to my credit card company and they are taking care of it from here. It's really too bad that Menards took the line they did. Next time, I'll spend the extra $100 for customer service alone....

[shizzy]

not to stir the pot, but that is commom when you buy a gas powered item at any box store. they sell it but you cant return it there.

[psepuncher]

  shizzy said:

not to stir the pot, but that is commom when you buy a gas powered item at any box store. they sell it but you cant return it there.

same thing happened to me at Lowz

Bought a blower from them and had to leave it at a small engine shop

the next morning.

I just went ahead and bought a Husqvarna from them and swapped the difference.

[Pinusbanksiana]

You better make sure you have a good shovel handy this winter.

[Surface Tension]

The carb and linkage are behind a cover for a clean look but more importantly to keep the snow away from the carb and linkage so its all protected. Maybe a goof up in assembly.

Whatever the case its too bad that it happened and now your new snow thrower is in the shop.

Once you put gas in it a lot of places won't take them back. Same with electronics, once you open the package you'll have to deal with the manufacturer.

Did you call Poulan and is this shop an Poulan authorized repair center?

[shiltsy]

Yeah, the shop is authorized and the repair is under warranty.... just a matter of principle at this point. Ultimately, it's a big issue for me if a retailer sells me something that is broken and refuses to exchange it the next day. Most retailers will allow the exchange within 30 days. It would also be a little different if it showed visible signs of abuse/damage/etc.

Definitely learned a lesson through the process, but not worth losing sleep over at this point.