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

I have a 1996 Ariens single stage snowthrower with a Tecumseh HSK 600 engine.  It has not been used much the last few years since I bought a Toro.  Well, I intended it to be a backup and needed it last year and it started fine but died under a load.  I decided to tinker with it this year…either get it running or get rid of it.  I got the top cowl off.  (I can see why they want so much to service this baby...you almost have to dimantle evrything just to acces sthe engine!) I am no mechanic but with some help on another forum I identified the carb, the bowl, the float, the needle and the seat.  I removed everything.  I sprayed carb cleaner through out. I ran a wire through the holes on the bowl screw etc.  It started and ran well under load but leaked gas.  I bought a new gasket / seat / needle kit and installed it.  Now it won’t start at all.  Actually, if I add some gas directly to the little opening below the choke lever, it starts up and runs a few seconds.  I do know gas is flowing from the tank down because when I pop the line of gas comes out and when I remove the bowl it wet.  Any ideas what could still be wrong?  Someone said a bad gas cap but I would not know what to check on the cap or how to fix it…? Ideas?

I think your bowl gasket is not on correctly. It may be keeping you float from moving down and letting fuel in the bowl. Your engine is not getting any fuel from your carb, Hence you have to "bottle feed" gas to get it to start..

Good Luck,

Friiy

Well the gasket really only fits one way.  The bowl itself has a funny shape...perhaps it needs to go on in a paticular direction...

The shallow side of the bowlis made to go tward the hinge end of the Float, Sometimes the bowl o-ring will roll up and inhibit the float from moving..

If you take the bowl off now is there fuel in it? Does the float drop down and allow fuel to enter the bowl area with the bowl removed? Is the fuel clean? (no bits of rust, dirt, rubber and bubbles of water)..

Then engine, ignition, compression are all up to snuff if you bottle feed it and the thing runs... You still have a problem with your carb...

Good Luck,
Friiy

I did find a manual it notes the position of the bowl could affect the float...I think I have it right though...will check.  With the bowl off the float moved freely.