Old Ariens Snow blower won't start

[nofishfisherman]

This fall I inherited an old Ariens snowblower from my wifes grandfather. Before I recieved it he took it in to get tuned up and it has worked alright through most of the winter. It is a little tough to start on some cold days but it gets going sooner or later.

That of course was until this weekend when I went to clear my driveway. It started up for a second but as I adjusted the choke it died on me. After that I couldn't get it going again.

It has an electric starter on it where I plug an extenstion cord into it and then hit a little black rubber botton on top to get it going. Since it died it will now turn over but won't catch. I have no idea what this issue could be, I needs things dumbed down pretty good since I have no knowledge of small engines.

I am hoping to get it started before this next round of snow comes tomorrow. Any ideas? Or should I go to the gym to get in shape for my shoveling tomorrow?

I don't have the model numbers with me currently since I am at work but I can look them up when I get home tonight if need be. I do not have any owners manual with it, I'm sure that is long gone as it is a pretty old snow blower.

Thanks for the help.

[leechmann]

Have you used this blower all winter? When you say it turns over but won't catch? Do you mean you hear the starter working , or are you say the motor turns over but won't start. I think to start with, I would put a new spark plug in, or at least check the spark plug by unscrewing it and setting it on the head of the engine with the cap still on and turn the motor over. See if the plug is sparking. If it is, I would then look at the fuel. Poor a few drops of fuel into the cylinder and put the spark plug back in. See if the motor fires at all. If you have spark and it fires when you pour the gas in the cylinder, I would say that maybe you need to clean the carb out and maybe put a kit in it. Not real expensive. Just a few places to start.

[nofishfisherman]

I have been using the blower all winter. I'm on the second tank of gas now and put new gas in the last time i used it.

When I push the start button I hear it cranking up but it won't catch and start running. Basically like turning your car key when your battery is going bad. It cranks but doesn't turn it over completely.

I thought it might be the spark plug but I was just a guess. I'll see if I can pull out the spark plug and see what it does.

How would I go about cleaning the carb out?

[leechmann]

If it is the carb, you will need to bring it in to a small engine mech. They would just take it apart and clean it out and then replace all the gaskets. It wouldn't cost that much. Less than a $100.00.

See if you get spark first. That maybe your problem. Otherwise,

some of those old small engines have in line fuel filters that get clogged up. Thats why I thought you should see if it fires when you put a little gas in the cylinder.

[nofishfisherman]

i checked the spark plug last night and didn't see a spark. I'll try replacing it this evening to see if that does the trick.

Any other suggestions that i can do myself? I'm not afraid of attempting the repair myself if you think you know what it might be.

[IFallsRon]

Could be flooded and you've lost compression. Squirt some oil in the plug hole and turn it over several times.

[nofishfisherman]

how much oil? Any particular kind?

[Down Deep]

It might be the coil. As a caution don't keep cranking the electric starter because it will overheat causing damage to the coils and/or brushes.

[IFallsRon]

Less than a plastic spoon of 30 works. Put it in and let it set a few minutes. Keep the plug out and turn it over a few times. Put the plug back in and turn it over a few more times before you choke or give it any fuel.

[nofishfisherman]

I had a neighbor who repairs small engines come over and look at it. Apparently there is no spark with the current spark plug or a replacement plug that is known to be good.

I believe he's got the problem narrowed down and will help me fix it once it warms up and makes working on it less painful. Until then I'll just borrow his snow blower.