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

Hi,

I picked up a MTD snow blower that has a 5HP Tecumseh engine (HSSK50).   I bought the snow blower second hand about 3 months ago.  It seemed to run ok then.

About 2 weeks I gave it a test run and noticed that the engine didn't run for more than a couple of seconds.  It would fire up, then run for a few seconds and then slowly die.  It sounded like it was starved for fuel and only running off the fuel from the priming.

After doing some research online I figured that the carb was gummed with the old fuel that it had been in there for months.  I replaced the carb with a new 640084A one, changed the oil and drained the old fuel.  Tonight I just tried it again and I have exactly the same problem.

Any suggestions what to try next?

Thanks,

Tim.

Next time it dies on you check spark right away. You maybe having a coil problem here or at least a spark related problem.

There is plenty of spark, but the plug is dry.

Thanks Marty.

I opened up the bowl of that new carb and it looked pretty clean. There were a few bits of black stuff in the bowl which looked like residue from the fuel line.  To be sure, I clean the jet holes in the brass nut at the bottom of the hole.  Still the same problem.

I rang a local repair shop and they suggested it could possibly be a stuck valve?  Would this explain the symptoms I see?

I took the snowblower to a repairman yesterday - he is going to look into it more thoroughly but his initial diagnosis was lack of compression. Hopefully the valves just need cleaning, and that the rings are not shot.

I bought a 724 Ariens a few weeks ago.  Last week I received a call from the dealer about the Tecumseh engine.  He wanted me to read the build date and other numbers off a decal on the engine.  Apparently they had a recall recently.

could it be a blocked vent in the gas cap.  try again with cap loose or off.    fitting clear fuel line helps checking fuel related problems too.  eric e. still looking for 1988 craftsman  5/28 snowthrower, sears, part number  

Thanks - I have tried it with the cap off.

I gave up and took it to a repair main.  He told me that I have a compression problem that is not easily fixed (he wasn't able to give me the exact cause of the problem, other than the valves look fine).  He recommended that I replace the engine for $330.    Any suggestions where I can track down a reconditioned engine?

Thanks, Tim.

New engine is the way to go. You will never know the history of a used engine. It could've been soft seized at any time and still run ok.

try     www.smallenginewarehouse.com