Snowblower backfires

[ssaamm]

Merry Christmas. My Frontier (like a John Deer I think.) back fires and shoots out flames once in awhile. The silver piece where the exhaust vents out is glowing red. Never noticed this before. Runs pretty good still. It's about 10 yrs old. Run SeaFoam through it regularly. I assume it's not going to blow up, but doesn't seem good. Any thoughts? Thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

If your muffler is glowing red, this is bad. Prolly won't blow up but it surely might melt.

I'm thinking you're running lean. Way lean. Or you have a valve issue. Without actually seeing it I'm leaning at running lean. Pun intended.

You may want to go through your carb.

[Jeremy airjer W]

While it's running add a little choke. If the red exhaust and backfire resolve themselves then you know for sure you are running to lean.

[ssaamm]

Hate to ask this. "Running lean" means just what exactly. Not enough oil? Appreciate the help.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Air/fuel mixture is lean. Meaning, too much air and not enough gas. Lean = hot.

This is why Jer mentioned choking it a bit and seeing if the muffler glow goes away. By choking you will reduce the amount of air entering the carb, making it run a bit "Richer."

[delcecchi]

Could another possibility be that the timing is way off? I am thinking maybe retarded? Could the flywheel have slipped or the points be worn?

Just a thought, not sure what the ignition on those is.

[ssaamm]

Thanks. I will choke it and see what happens. It's electric start or pull it like a mower. There is lever that has a tortoise on one side or the hare on the other. I have it set all the way toward the hare. Does this effect much. Can a guy adjust something to make it run richer if that's the issue. I admit to not being overly handy. Thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yes, could be timing.

Saaaamm. I recommend bringing this in to a professional if you don't know what's going on.

[efgh]

If the engine is a brigs, they use a aluminum half moon key to mate the flywheel to the crank shaft. This key sometimes shears and the flywheel moves a little on the crank shaft and makes the motor out of time. If you can;t find anything else wrong I would check this.

[leech~~]

Air/fuel mixture is lean. Meaning, too much air and not enough gas. Lean = hot.

This is why Jer mentioned choking it a bit and seeing if the muffler glow goes away. By choking you will reduce the amount of air entering the carb, making it run a bit "Richer."

Plus+ 1 when I first read the title that is what I first thought, running lean. You may have a bad carb intake seal and sucking in extra air. Try spraying some "Gumout" cleaner right around the carb intake seal when running and see if the rpm's increase. If so the seal needs to be replaced. Or if the motor is really old the valve seats maybe worn to much?

[harvey lee]

I would for sure look at the timing. Not good if it glo's red.

If the choke does not help, look at the timing as suggested.

Running lean it may not blow but you could have some serious meltdown.

My gues is the timing is off.

[Surface Tension]

Do yo have a choke lever? That tortoise and Hare. Sometimes the choke is at the Full throttle Hare position. So you would push to full and then back off after the engines starts.

Being a 4 stroke the extra fuel is sent through the exhaust valve and into the muffler.

The red glow and flames is like running with and afterburner, Well not really but it looks cool.

Anyway if it ends up you have this type throttle and choke back it off after it starts.

You should change the oil before using the thrower because you might have a lot of fuel in the oil.

[ssaamm]

Thanks for the replies. Ran it this morning with the choke cranked up. No backfires and no red hot exhaust housing. Does that info help? Thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yup, sound like a lean condition. While running, spray a little carb cleaner on the carb intake gasket (Where the carb and jug meet). If the sound of the motor changes, you have a leaking gasket. Replace gasket and hopefully you're good to go.

[jkrash]

The jet is probably at the bottom of the carb bowl,looks like a screw with a spring, turn the screw counter clockwise a little until it runs like it should, if you turn it to much it will be rich and flood.