(thread updated 12/15/13, same problem!)
I was negligent last year and never put my new 11.5HP Platinum Ariens into storage. It sat with 1/2 tank of fuel from the dealer, was never used during that remarkable winter and now.... when I tried starting it not a thing happened. The motor turned over without a sputter.
Having learned a few things from reading this board (thank you) I found the carb and cleaned out the not surprisingly clogged jet with a single strand of wire from lamp cord. The bottom of the bowl was clean, I reused the bowl gaskets tightening things enough that it didn't leak. I didn't want to overdo it. It started immediatly
I then added 1/2 tank of fresh gas to the 1/2 tank of old gas that came with it, some Stabil, and inflated the tires to 18PSI.
Some questions:
1) Should I check on or clean anything else?
2) Is there a service manual for the engine? Just looking at it, I didn't know which cover to remove to find the carb and still don't know which cover the spark plug is hiding under. I see generic instructions for operating the engine, but not for service.
3) The inside of the bowl was uniform all around, and there's a tail of sorts molded into the exterior underside. Does it matter which direction it's installed? I know with the older carbs it does, but it didn't seem to matter with this one.
Of interest, I had an older 9526DLE stored next to it, under similar circumstances, and it started instantly.
This message was modified Dec 26, 2013 by a moderator
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