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

Ok a few weeks ago I bought a snowblower. Its an old Honda HS35 3.5HP 4 stroke. Its a single stage unit with only choke control (no speed control, runs only at full choke or full speed which is like 3000rpm)

First day I tried out the blower it ran fine, untill about 3-4 min into it, it started to die and woulnd't keep speed anymore (speed was surging and oscillating from idle to full speed, but wouldnt keep full speed anymore)

I figured someone was up with the carb so I took it out and let it soak for a week and put it all back together. I checked the fuel filter and its no clogged at all. I ran it the other day and it ran better, staying full speed untill I noticed the fuel bowl was loose and gas was leaking out, and then it started surging again. Since then its been in the garage because I have to tighten the fuel bowl better.

Im asking this because im wondering if a clogged main jet could be causing this or if you think my latest problem is more related to the fuel bowl issue and it should be fine? I want to make sure its running good tonight cause were supposed to have a storm overnight.

Just to recap things done so far:

-Carb soaked and cleaned (forgot to take a small wire and poke out the main jet though)

-Checked fuel filter (ok, fuel is supplied to the carb)

-Oil has been changed and is topped up

-All old gas has been drained from tank and fresh new gas with carb cleaner additive aswell

Pretty much it should be running ok. Could it also be a bad gascap? I did unscrew it when it was running but it didn't make much of a diff, although I only had the cap off for about 10 sec than put it back on.

Any tips are appreciated thanks.

Tighten the bowl bolt & be done with it.  Chances are the engine is surging again due to fuel leaking out of the bowl, not because of any clogging.

Marty

Thanks marty I will let ya know tomorro how it went. Tis my first snowblower and I have always wanted one since I was about 8 years old lol (22 now). I have this fixation with them I just can't put my finger on, so Im always jealous when I see others with their blowers and Im stuck shoveling....even if mine is a small single stage unit haha

Cheers

Ok I fixed the leak in the fuel bowl, went outside and put it all back together, fired it up and this time it wont even reach full idle anymore. Its starting to be a pain now. I played with the choke a little bit and slow went from full open to close and I get about half way and the speed starts increasing and then as soon as I get passed half it starts surgin again and wont keep a full speed, its almost running at like 2/3 speed and drops down like it about to die then goes back up again.

Could my carb be bad, even though I cleaned it.

The key thing here is that you said it was running fine for 3-4 minutes after your carb cleaning/rebuild. It began acting up after the bowl loosened up. Check the float & the float needle, run a wire thru the jet anyway & clean it. Its gotta be something askew in the bowl area. Again, you said it did run ok so it's gotta be something in the fuel bowl area...

Marty

Just a theory:

If it ran fine with a leak, maybe a vent needs to be open? Do these carbs have a natural vent? Maybe the experts can chime in.

I did some reading last night, and on this forum there was another guy with a honda blower (not the same model as me) but he was mentioning after awhile his carb would freeze up and he would have to take it inside to warm up before it would start running properly again. Im wondering if this is whats happening with him.

This is a pic of what my carb looks like:

Try it with the gas cap off.

You may have a venting problem.

                                            Fred

jubol:

do you think the effect would be noticeable right away if I took the gas cap off? I had it running last night for about 45 secs with the cap off but then gas started spillin gout the top so I put it back on. In that time the running condition didn't improve.

Try it with the cap just loose, or remove some of the gas from the tank.

                                                          Fred

sounds like the bowl is running dry... check the fuel filter, fuel shutoff, fuel tank and everything leading up to the carb.