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

One of the two bolts that hold the muffler onto the engine of my snowblower broke in two pieces. It's a 10 hp Tecumseh L-Head, if it matters. Do I need to go to the outdoor power shop and get special bolts, or can I go to Home Depot and match the thread and length and be done with it? Thanks in advance.

Matt

Since the bolt is gone, the gasket is suspect. Since you need to replace the gasket, just get all new parts from the dealer. I doubt if the bolts will be any more expensive there than at Home Depot.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Hi Matt,
I would like to first know how the bolts broke? Is part of the bolt still in the engine?

These bolt's are just ordinary bolts, go to a hardware or farm store and they will be able to help you out, may even just give them to you. I would get grade 5 bolts, grade 2 is a weaker bolt and grade 8 is a harder bolt. HTH

Not sure how it broke. I was blowing and it just started to run like crap. Took the shroud off to check the carb and noticed the muffler didn't look right. One bole broke at the point where the threads stop and the shoulder stops. There was enough sticking out that I could grab it with vice grips and take it out.

You got pretty lucky you could get the bolt out, if it would have been rusted in they can be a real pain to get out alot of times. I would also suggest getting some anti-sieze to put on the bolts, it will make it much easier to get the bolt out someday if you want to and the exhuast bolts tend to rust in more than most bolts too. You should be able to get the anti-sieze at a hardware or farm store, if not an auto parts store will have it. Good luck