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

I have an MTD Yard Machine single stage snowblower (model 31AE 150-000) that has quit on me just when I need it most -- when there are two feet of snow in my driveway.  It has done this each of the past 4 winters I've owned it.

This morning was typical: I'd start it with 3 shots of prime, it would run for 5-10 seconds or so and then die.  Now it refuses to start, no matter how much I prime it.  The electric starter will turn it over, but it won't catch.  I have fresh fuel, a recent tune up and I keep the thing in a dry place.  I'm also careful when refueling to not let snow or other water get into the tank, and I try to avoid letting the thing get buried in deep snow.

The dealer who just serviced it, and from whom I bought it originally, keeps insisting that I'm doing something to cause water to get into the fuel lines and therefore into the carburetor bowl, where it then freezes up.  After the first trip to the shop, the "technician" wrote the following on the work order: "Note: Refrain from tipping unit to the point where the snow blows under augur and into the rear of the blower.  Where the spit cup holds the snow, when you go to restart the engine.  Because of the ice or water it won't start".

Is this a bunch of b.s.?  I avoid tipping the thing, but how can I avoid having snow fly around when I'm using the thing?  It is a snowblower, after all!  My neighbors don't have this problem with their Toros.  Does anybody think this is a design defect in this machine, or am I really doing something wrong?

Yes....It is a crappy design made worse by light, powdery snow.
Putting a strip of tape over the slit of the choke lever cover will help a little.
Toro had a similiar problem on thier newer single stage r-tek blowers. ( 2450, 3650, snowcommander)
Toro went thru all kinds of fixes too clear the problem up. (carb flap, new rear cover design)
MTD has had the problem for years and choose too do nothing about it.

So in other words...this is just the nature of the beast, right?  The service people make it seem like I'm expecting too much for a cheap snow blower.

If I junk this thing, after just 3 1/2 seasons, what should I look for in a new one?  How can you judge or foresee these problems?  Or Maybe I should just buy whatever seems to be working so well for my neighbors.  :-)

Yes Alex.....its the nature of the beast.
If you are in an area that is prone too light, fluffy snow and cold temps those machines do have lots of problems.
Not only the carbs icing, but the electric starters tend too freeze up and the pull starter pawls also freeze rendering the recoil useless.
There isnt much people in shops can do about them. The lack of a cover over the back of the engine makes them extremely vulnerable too flying snow.
Perhaps a small hole drilled in the bottom of the spit cup....and leaving the machine tilted back on its handle would help the melting snow drain away onto the ground where it wouldnt do any harm. I dont know if that's a real solution, but it may at least keep the water out of the bowl, where it causes real harm. (A lot of carbs get replaced on those because of the corrosion caused by the water.)
All snowblower's are susceptible too carb icing under the right conditions. I wont pitch you on Toro's...because I work in a Toro dealership. But.....I do know that they spent a lot of money too make that a non-issue with thier single stage products.
Perhaps asking your neighbors what they like is a good approach if you choose too replace it.

Your neighbors don't have problems with their Toros... something to think about...

Yahoo!  We've had a thaw (over 40F today) and the stupid thing started.  Naturally!

Now I'm wondering -- should I add dry gas to my fuel to prevent a future freeze up?  Or stabilizer?  Or both?  I looked at the engine manual and Tecumseh recommends adding Fuel Saver Plus Fuel System Cleaner, but there's no mention of dry gas and I don't want to screw things up.

Thanks for the previous advice.

How about fuel line antifreeze?