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

have a 1986 snowthrower and it has always ran pretty well without much maintenance,how ever it has been acting up the last couple of years.at first i thought it was because it wasn't used much but ? the starting has eventually gotten harder and harder. i have had the carb off once or twice the last couple of years and it did seem to help but the hard starting is still present. i have the idle mix at 1 turn out and the high speed at 1 1/2 out. at this setting with throttle set at full high,choke at full to right and two or three primer squirts it seems to start right off. once it pops it is extremely cold blooded and has to be run part choked for a couple of minutes. if i don't get the start right and it dies it then floods out and will not start. only way to get it started is to pull the plug and dry it off. it has never been this finicky before. it seems to flood out easy but initial start up seems to be set leaner than it ever was(cold blooded) what am i missing? i also could get rid of the cold blooded first start simptoms by richening the high speed a little but then i think it adds to the flooding problem if it starts and doesn't stay running. i have added a couple of ounces of sea foam to the tank.  too much? also i have changed the plug and it is an easy start plug ,small tip electrode on it. i probably will wait till spring and then try to resolve the issues as long as i can keep it running till then. anyone  have any ideas?

Sounds like a flooding issue.  How is your float and float needle?  The float needle might not be responding to the float lever or your float might be out of whack, which can be a real pain in the ass to adjust if you are unfamiliar with the process and don't have reference settings.   A rule of thumb is that the float seam should be level with the joint of the float bowl and carb body.  Make sure the float needle moves very smoothly and easily.  Then confirm that your float is set right.   

mk

does your machine have points/condensor, if so you might have an intermiten spark problem (weak spark) which could cause a flooded plug, that might explain the hard starting, also check for a intake leak (loose manifold or bad gaskets). l would replace the spark plug first.