wood chipper not starting.

[reinhard1]

i have this wood chipper for 8 years now and have used it and it has worked fine for what i need it for on my property. it's a 10 horse chipper i bought at lowes. weel didn't use it the last two years and i kept it covered next to my house. i put a new spark plug in it and fresh gas and that's about it. i primed it and pulled on it ect but it just dont want to start. anyone have any ideas on what i should do? thanks. good luck.

[RebelSS]

Check for spark first, Rh. Pull the plug wire off, and put a spark plug or flat blade screwdriver into it, grounding it to the head. Should be a nice, fat blue spark. If not, check your coil/plug wire to see if it is broken.

Next thing, which I would bet is your problem, especially if you have "regular" (Non-oxy) gas in it, is the carb seat/needle/jet is varnished up, even if you have stabilizer in it. Nothing will prevent that from happening for two years with this [PoorWordUsage] ethanol in the gas. If you find spark, and your air filter/carb throat isn't plugged with something from critters, drop your fuel bowl, remove the needle/seat, and spray everything well with a good carb cleaner, including the float and carb throat. Re-assemble. Might then take a bit to get started, but....this is the easiest way to start. Next is pulling the carb...remember, you need 3 things for combustion, air, fuel, spark. Good luck! keep us posted...

[reinhard1]

thanks. not the best mechanic in the world but i will do this. probably not till next week but the mashine itself looks just like the day i bought it and i will make it work with the help of guy's like you that know their stuff. thanks again. good luck.

[RebelSS]

You're welcome. Hope it works. Forgot to mention if you DO get it going, put a snort of Seafoam in the gas...that will help, too, even though it's not a cure-all.

[reinhard1]

thanks for that reminder. once again thank you. good luck.

[delcecchi]

Easy check is to pour a little gas down the carb after taking the aircleaner off. If it starts for a short time, it means the needle valve in the carb is stuck. Whap the carb with the plastic handle of a big screwdriver and that will sometimes knock it loose.

It those don't work, look for mouse nests and chewed wiring. Otherwise you will have to do actual mechanic type stuff.

[reinhard1]

thanks again. i now have more options before the "actual mecanical stuff". when i grew up i swear my childhood dealt with cement work. every week we had cement projects. stairways, patio work, cement blocks for foundations ect. never stuck my head in engine work. fishing, hunting, pretty much all my life. let someone else fix things. well, like i said before, with the help of of the people here on HSO it's time to dig into it a little. thanks good luck.

[Ed Carlson]

OK...this is admittedly totally off topic...but kinda kewl. The Wood Chipper from the movie FARGO is at the Fargo Tourism and Visitors center on exhibition.

Yah....I got to go see it....why....just because.

You wouldn't have a leg stuck in yours, and that is why it won't start..do you?

[reinhard1]

never thought of that and i thought that was to support the mashine while i was pulling on the cord . good luck.