After you take out the snowblower on a chilly winter morning, you might suddenly find that it isn't starting.
Having faced this problem many times, I understand that it can land anyone in confusion. But then, I’ve learned some effective tricks to resolve the problem in most cases.
And that’s what I’ll be telling you all about in this guide on what to do when snowblower won't start.
What to Do When Snowblower Won't Start
The Preparatory Steps
Before you try troubleshooting a stalled snowblower, I’d advise pulling out the owner’s manual that came along with it. While all snowblowers come with more or less the same parts, that is, gas tanks, fuel lines, carburetors, switches, filters, and valves, their configuration will vary based on their brand. Referring to the manual will help you identify and locate all the parts.
Speaking of the tools required for troubleshooting, you’ll find them all in any store that supplies automobile parts in case you don’t have some of them.
What Should You Do?
1. Checking The Valves And Switches
The snowblowers of today come with several buttons, valves, and switches that must be positioned correctly for operation. You’ll have to refer to the manual to ensure they are all in the correct position. For instance, the throttle might have to be in the “High” mode, and the shut-off valve “Open”. Speaking of the run switch and choke, they must be in the “On” and “Full” positions respectively.
2. Draining & Replacing Old Gas
If the snowblower hasn’t been used for months, chances are that the gas has developed a gummy residue that can cause difficulties in starting it. So, you’ll have to take out the old gas using a siphon pump and dispose of it. Then fill fresh gas in the tank and try starting the snowblower again.
3. Adding Fuel Stabilizer
Sometimes residue in the old gas could clog the carburetor even though you’ve drained and refilled it. So, dissolve it by adding a stabilizer, which is a product for gasoline treatment that helps liquify the residue.
Make sure to add the stabilizer to the gas tank at a rate that’s specified on the jar or container of the product. Even if the machine doesn’t start immediately, continue cranking it using the starter cord. That way the fresh fuel and stabilizer will work together through the clogged carburetor.
4. Priming The Engine
Gas engines don’t often start immediately during cold weather, so you’ll have to try giving it a fuel boost at this point. First of all, you will have to press the flexible primer bulb of the engine, which is a silicone bulb positioned near the carburetor. Make sure you do this 3 to 5 times, as that will force a little bit of the fuel to enter the carburetor to ignite easily.
5. Cleaning Or Replacing Spark Plugs
To ensure your snowblower is able to run the right way, three parts must be in order — proper engine compression, fresh fuel, and a spark for ignition. And to meet the third criteria, the spark plug must be working properly.
In case the machine fails to start, you can try replacing or cleaning the spark plug. If you opt for cleaning it up, make sure to clear the built-up deposits from the spark plug electrodes using a wire brush or a carburetor cleaner.
6. Examining The Fuel Line
For the snowblower to start, its fuel line should also be pliable and flexible. Note that the fuel line of a machine runs from its gasoline tank to its carburetor. A leak might prevent the fuel from being transmitted to the carburetor and keep the machine from starting. So, in case you find the line to be kinked, cracked, or hardened, go ahead and make a replacement.
7. Cleaning The Carburetor
Last but not least, the carburetor might need cleaning if none of the alternatives discussed above work to start the snowblower. You’ll have to clean it aggressively to ensure all the residue and gunk dissolve entirely. A carburetor combines the fuel and air in a particular ratio to enable efficient combustion, so it won’t work properly in case there is a clog within.
Check the manual for instructions on accessing the carburetor, and then use a suitable carburetor cleaner for the job. After you’ve removed the air filter, you’ll find the carburetor, which is actually a metal case having cylindrical openings.
Final Words
Feel more confident about addressing the issue now? So, gather your snowblower toolkit and a cleaner and get started. But in case you can’t make the machine start even after trying the above tricks, it’s best to call in a mechanic to resolve the issue. They might need to disassemble some parts of the machine for the job.
See you next time!