Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Have a new old stock HSK70 that has maybe six hours running time.  It's on an old Ariens 724, and until the end of last season ran great.  The engine was delivered still in the original box and had never been used.

Problem is that at no particular time it just stalls out as if it's grounded, and is impossible to restart for awhile.  Then it starts up as if nothing had happened.

I suspect that melting snow is grounding it somewhere.  I thought it might have been from the chute control rod which passes close to the engine, but it wasn't contacting last time it shut down.  The ground wires around the carb area are fine, and the key circuit appears to remain open in use.  Checked once just after it stalled and the carb had fuel (at least there was a flow from the fuel drain valve).  Plenty of gas in the tank.

Does this model have a known problem?