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

I need help.  I took a 2 year old snowblower to a shop for repairs.  Dropped it off last spring with a mower that needed work.  Shop said they would look at it during summer after it slowed because I didn't need until winter.  They got back to me and said it needed a carburater for $50.  I approved work.  I've been trying to get a hold of them for 4 weeks.  Stopped by today and saw what kind of looked like my snowblower in a brown box.  Owner wasn't in and no one new anything about it.  They said they would call me within an hour.  4 hours later I called, got owner on phone and he said he called me an couldn't reach me.  He said that the engine has no compression and that the snowblower is worthless. 

My question... Do you have to take the engine apart to check for compression?  He said it took 1 1/2 hours and he would have to bill me $90 to put back together and it still won't work.  Or get this!  He can put out in the trash as it would cost at least $400 for an engine.  The Snowblower only cost $400. 

He also stated that I didn't put the proper mix in which probably caused the failer.

Sounds like I'm being hosed.  I take a 2-3 year old snowblower in and get nothing.

Any suggestion or advice.

It would appear that the OP is unfamiliar with mechanics. Period. Not knowing the difference between a two cycle and a four cycle engine is a pretty good indicator of mechanical ignorance. Assuming that the OP mixed the fuel incorrectly or did not mix oil in the fuel at all is a little presumptive. Mixing gasoline with 25% or 30% oil would certainly not destroy the engine. I'd be surprised if the engine would run with that rich of an oil mixture. At the other end of the spectrum, it no oil at all had been added to the fuel, the chances are probable that the engine would seize in short order. There's a chance that the engine might free the piston when it cools down but, depending on damage, it might not. Accordingly, there would not be a compression issue if the engine will not turn over. Generally, a new engine that seizes will have heat deterioration on the sides of the piston. Seldom is the bore damaged unless a piston ring breaks an scours the cylinder. Being that the service man suggested loss of compression, I doubt that the engine had seized. The information provided that revealed the serviceman recommended an new carb really perplexes me. Unless the carb was physically damaged, I cannot understand why a replacement would be required. I've NEVER replaced a carb on anything I've owned or worked on. I have not come across a carb yet that was not repaired by a good cleaning or an inexpensive carb kit. I say that the serviceman is a shyster who has better skill at selecting his victims than he does repairing OPE. Get your stuff, don't pay him a freaking dime and either fix it yourself (which seems unlikely due to inexperience/lack of knowledge), or bring it to a reputable service man. Talk to people who can recommend a decent service shop. I'd love to hear a second opinion from a reputable source.

Pretty safe to say it doesen't take11/2 hours to do a compression test and certainly not worth a $90 charge.

I would like to know what make and exact model the machine is. The OP claims the unit is 2 or 3 years old. Some of the Toro 2 stroke GTS models have a 5 year GTS(guaranteed to start) certification by the manufacturer. If the shop is a  Toro Agency I would be in touch with them. Of course if  the OP ran the engine without the proper fuel mix all bets are off.  However the shop should be able to produce the seized engine.

I realize that OPE shops are not philanthropic organizations but as a matter of good will and reputation the owner needs to accomodate the OP with at least an explanation of how the situation got to this point. I also would be suspect of any shop that would suggest I leave any type of machine with them for an extended period of time. OPE shops always have a shortage of space and are generally desirous of you picking up/them delivering your machine asap. In addition when they do keep your machine it is usually outdoors in a fenced in area. Do you really want your machne stored outside for a protracted period of time? 

Marc