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

Hello all.  I picked up another snowblower at the beginning of this season.  It is a Ariens 7hp 30" cut w/ the H70 engine.  I had a hard time pull starting it.  It would pull nice and smooth, and then very hard like binding.  I could pull up, and if it binded, I would lift the maching right off of the ground pulling the cord (and destroying my shoulder).  I bought an electric start, but it just engages and then gets stuck and trips out my 2000 watt generator.  I could start my 5 hp Ariens off the generator and also a 750 watt inverter hooked up to the car battery.  BTW, I have no electricity in the garage I rent, so that is why the generator comes into play. 

For the hard pulling, any ideas?  Once it is running, it runs great.  I will probably opt for a replacement intek from small engine warehouse if it is something major, but I hate to do that if it is something silly.

You guys seem to have quite an information database going on here, so I figured I would ask.  Thanks,

-Gary

Worcester, MA

Disassemble the pull start to look for problems with the engagement mechanism.   Sounds like something is out of alignment and possibly binding on the housing.  By pulling as hard as you describe, you may have damaged it even more so.  When something isn't working as intended,  it shouldn't be forced.  Take the time to have a look to see what the problem is.  Otherwise more damage will happen the more it's forced. 

Thanks Borat.  When I say it was hard to pull, I meant it would all of a sudden bind.  What it felt like was there was too much compression in the cylinder while still going up, for if I got it past this point, it would fine again for a few more revolutions of the engine.  I pulled off the cover today, and also the plug.  It pulled over just fine without the plug.  No problems at all.  When I put back in the plug, it would pull normal, and then hit that hard spot again.   When I checked over the electric starter, it need a couple of washers as shims in the back to make better engagement, and now starts the blower fine (for now) on the generator.  I started and stopped it ten times without any problems.  Seems the case was rubbing on the rubber ring on the starter when it would throw out.  Fixed that by repositioning the cover a bit and banging it into a better shape. 

Thanks for the help.  Any other suggestions would be welcomed.

-Gary

Check your exhaust valve clearance. (.008)
Excessive clearance on older engines will not allow the decompression system too operate properly.

How does the engine turn over using the pull start with the spark plug in but the spark plug wire off?  If it pulls over fairly evenly with no sudden stops with the plug wire off, your timing might be off a bit causing the engine to fire too early.   Try turning it over using the pull start with the plug wire off and let us know how it goes.