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

My main unit is a toro single stage. Its 4 years old.  I kepy my old Simplicity single stage as a backup and try to run it a little each storm.  It is likely 10+ years old.  It was giving me a hard time starting a season ago so I had it tuned up at the beginning of last season.  It now starts up on the first pull.  The trouble is, after a few seconds under load it just stopes running.  Prior to that I noticed it was throwing the snow very far either.  We are talking only an inch or 2 of snow.  It does not putter, smoke etc its almost as if I just turned it off.  If I hit the primer twice, it starts right back up but then dies again as soon as it hits the snow.

It has fresh gas and a new plug---thats the most I can do.  Is the engine just shot?  Any ideas what could be wrong or if worth having it looked at?  I have never replaced the belt..would that have anything to do with it?