Snowblower hard to start (Tecumseh HMSK-80)

This is really clever, I will definitely try that. I will do a lot of experimenting tonight.

Man, I would not have thought of that in a million years. Thanks.

Steve

Arizona, sounds like a good place, if it is anything like Oklahoma.

Just be prepared to buy another one about every two years. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Only problem I've had is moisture in the carb. bowl - take it off and wipe it clean. Now I use extra gas line antifreeze in every can of gas, and start the machine once per week, snow or no snow; then when I do need it - full throttle, full choke, three pumps on the primer and one pull on the rope to get it puffing and back off on the choke then the throttle. After a couple minutes warm up, away we go to play in the snow. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

I've had float problems on 3 SnoKings.(all of them over 20 years old

- one was close to 30)

I forgot to mention - this machine was new in1985. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Hell....I thought everyone knew that trick. Small engines, motorcycles, chainsaws etc etc

Gunner

"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for Western civilization as it commits suicide"

- James Burnham

Not quite everyone, simple tricks need to be posted occasionally ;)

On Wed, 7 Feb 2007 13:28:25 -0800, with neither quill nor qualm, "Steve B" quickly quoth:

Y'know, I've been using mowers for 40 years now and have never emptied or had to change gas. (I did once with a premix can which was 10 years old, though. It wouldn't start my 2-stroke weed eater.) Maybe the gas goes bad in super-cold states, but it never did in CA and hasn't so far in OR. A shot of ether for the first start in the season will get my neighbor's machines going with many fewer pulls, but I've never had to do it with my good old Murray mowers (B&S engines.) I just fill the half empty tank and pump the bulb a dozen times, then pull a couple times at most. Vroom! Maybe you aren't holding your mouth right, Steve.

Or rain. (LJ, who survived the Floods of '74 in his lone year in Phoenix, getting 3 months free rent for helping the landlord move soggy furniture and carpets out of the lower set of Osborn East apartments.)

- Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened. ---

On Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:02:39 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm, Nick Hull quickly quoth:

Ether's easier (to me), and you can spray it on the outside of the air filter if necessary.

- Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened. ---

Gas formulations differ all over the globe depending on local smog politics(MTBE or ethanol added, depending) and season. Really cold areas get lower boiling fractions added in the winter so the cars can actually start in 40 below. I'd expect CA gas to be mostly the same stuff, winter to summer, at least away from the hills. Winter gas in most cold areas will have all the goody evaporate in warm weather leaving a foul-smelling residue that just doesn't vaporize very well. Ethanol will pick up water, too.

Stan

Quite possibly, the gas I have in my snowblower is not a winter gas.

Also remember the propane bottle needs to be warm. If the torch was stored with the blower, you are out of luck.

Check the expiration date.

Steve ;-)

It is also washes the oil off the cylinder walls and can..can bust a hole in a piston.

And its hard to find in some places. Wd-40 will also work in a pinch when sprayed into the intake, but too much fouls the plug.

Gunner

"Liberalism is a philosophy of consolation for Western civilization as it commits suicide"

- James Burnham

On Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:02:10 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Gunner quickly quoth:

Sure, if you use a 30 second spray. I'm talking about half-second bursts where only the vaporized ether get into the cylinder..

- Inside every older person is a younger person wondering WTF happened. ---

Propane has enough vapor pressure at 10 below zero, but butane would not.

Better than ether or WD-40 is Walmart carb cleaner aerosol can. Cheap, multi-purpose and the best starting fluid I've found ;)