It’s frustrating when your snowblower suddenly stalls just as you’re about to clear the snow.
The same thing happened to me last year when I engaged the augur. Fortunately, my husband was present to guide me through the process of resolving the issue. So, I decided to inform my readers about what to do in case the snowblower stalls when auger engaged.
Continue reading to know more!
Before I tell you what to do, let me explain why a snowblower stalls. There is more than one reason why it happens when an auger is engaged, like:
1. Engine Stalling
An inadequate supply of fuel might be the primary reason behind the issue. This is caused by the accumulation of dirt and dust particles inside the carburetor, which clogs the tiny fuel passages and restricts the flow of gas.
When you engage the auger, the oil must flow to the engine, and if the carburetor becomes clogged, the engine will stall. This event is known as fuel starvation.
Apart from carburetor blockage, there are other reasons for fuel starvation. In several instances, when the machine retires after running and cleaning snow for an entire season, the gas in the engine begins to degrade, which in turn leads to stalling.
In fact, this is the reason many owners drain the fuel present in the fuel system when the snowblower is not in use. Fuels, especially ethanol, can start to degrade in very little time.
2. Augur Brake
Although fuel starvation might be the most common issue, it isn’t the sole reason for the snowblower engine stalling. Any damage to the augur brake assembly can also be a potential reason behind the engine stalling when the auger is engaged.
If the root problem is the deposition of dirt or dust inside the carburetor, then cleaning it is the only solution. But it's not as complicated as it appears, so let me explain how to do it.
First, identify the carburetor bowl inside the snowblower engine, take it out, and check its contents. You will see dirt, corrosion, or a gunky deposit inside, which should be cleaned. In some cases, cleaning the fuel jet and carburetor bowl will solve the issue, so you might not need to clean the entire carburetor.
Reinstall the carburetor bowl and check for any potential leaks and try to turn the engine on. If it still doesn’t work, you have a big task at hand. You’ll need to clean the carburetor from the inside.
And here the steps to do that:
Step 1: Removal
Small 2-cycle engines are easy to work with, and you need only a few basic tools, which include:
- Pliers fuel clamp
- Screwdriver set
- Sire brush
- Carburetor cleaner
- Syphon
- Gas stabilizer
First, remove the intake housing and gas line, and then the choke linkage and throttle. Before removing the throttle and choke linkage, take a picture of their placement. Once done, remove the carburetor fasteners and then take a picture of the gasket orientations and placement before removing it. Rotate the carburetor slowly to remove it
Step 2: Teardown
In the carburetor, you’ll find the following parts: gas bowl, valve, float, emulsion tube, jet, and fuel mix screw. Using pliers and screwdrivers, remove each of these parts from the carburetor.
Step 3: Cleaning
First, spray the carb cleaner into the passages of the carburetor using the provided nozzle. Then, clean any remaining dust or dirt trapped inside it using a clean cloth or brush. Once done, clean the portholes of the idle and main jet along with the emulsion tube using a wire brush strand.
Step 4: Rebuild And Fit
When building your carburetor in the reverse order, keep these tips in mind:
Tip #1
Make the same number of turns when refitting the fuel mix screw as you made while opening the carburetor. And drain out all the gas from the tank before reinstalling the carburetor
Tip #2
Check the photo of the gasket location and orientation to ensure that you install them properly. Make sure not to over tighten the fasteners
Tip #3
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely to fit the float needle, bowl fastener gasket, gas bowl seal, and gas filter. Likewise, use the photo of the choke and throttle linkage to reinstall them correctly in the engine.
That’s all I have today for you all.
Since a snowblower runs only for a few months and is left idle in your garage for the rest of the year, you need to maintain it well. I’d strongly recommend changing the oil, cleaning the carburetor, and starting the snowblower at least one a month to ensure that everything is working well.
With that, I will wrap up now. Goodbye and take care!