snow blower advice

[mr12182]

TIA. I know nothing about engines, etc. Can't figure out why every winter I have to take my Toro snow blower in for a tune up because it won't start. Are these engines that much more complicated than a lawn mower? Any suggestions for me so I don't have to go through this every winter?

 

[Ollie4ISU]

Fresh gas, change the spark plug, start it the first time when it is 60 plus degrees, not 30. The plug is easy to change and costs $5-7.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

Fresh gas, change the spark plug, start it the first time when it is 60 plus degrees, not 30. The plug is easy to change and costs $5-7.

Bingo. In the past I did everything except starting it the first time when it was still mild out. Now that I do that in say late October, everything goes fine when it snows.

 

[Catfish_ Crazy]

TIA. I know nothing about engines, etc. Can't figure out why every winter I have to take my Toro snow blower in for a tune up because it won't start. Are these engines that much more complicated than a lawn mower? Any suggestions for me so I don't have to go through this every winter?

You need a shovel.

 

[ChrisVarick]

Agree with all the advise above. It is most likely just a gas issue and not having the carb primed. Put fresh gas in. Give it some extra pumps. Start it when it is warmer out the first time a few weeks before you will need to use it.

 

[Funky Bunch]

 

[hansenhawk]

Ariens 2 stage. I have a Husqvarna was isn't bad, but if i had to do it over again, I would go with an Ariens.

 

[naturalmwa]

I store mine in the heated part of the house any it pops right off every time.

 

[Wahawk56]

I hope I get to use mine I just bought.

 

[Pepperman]

I have a single stage Toro that I love. It was about $450 at Home Depot. I much prefer it to the more expensive two-stage models I've used. My dad has a huge John Deere snow blower that I think only beats mine when we get more than a foot which happens almost never and mine still gets the job done even then.

Every spring, I am sure to run it completely out of gas.

Every fall, I do what has been described above - get it out while it is still somewhat warm (same day I run my lawn mower out of gas) and get it started to be sure it's still fine.

Every third year or so, I'd advise changing the oil. I change my mower oil every year, but of course the lawn mower gets used about 6x as much.

If you don't run yours out of gas, it can cause some big problems sitting in a tank for 9 months unused. I guess some people add an octane boost, but I'd prefer to just run my tank dry.

 

[InsHAWK]

I have a single stage Toro that I love. It was about $450 at Home Depot. I much prefer it to the more expensive two-stage models I've used. My dad has a huge John Deere snow blower that I think only beats mine when we get more than a foot which happens almost never and mine still gets the job done even then.

Every spring, I am sure to run it completely out of gas.

Every fall, I do what has been described above - get it out while it is still somewhat warm (same day I run my lawn mower out of gas) and get it started to be sure it's still fine.

Every third year or so, I'd advise changing the oil. I change my mower oil every year, but of course the lawn mower gets used about 6x as much.

If you don't run yours out of gas, it can cause some big problems sitting in a tank for 9 months unused. I guess some people add an octane boost, but I'd prefer to just run my tank dry.

if you have a vented gas cap, make sure it isn't clogged.

 

[artradley]

About once a month I fire up my portable generator, my lawn mower, and my snow blower. This seems to ensure they will always start up when needed,

 

[HerkyHopeful]

I have an old friend from 89. Starts right up when need it to!

 

[THE_DEVIL]

I don't know what kind of a snow blower the guy I hire has.

poors...