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?

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?