almichell

My Craftsman Snowthrower 8.0 hp 27" was also part of the recall.  It has started up fine with the electric start for two winters.  The technician who placed the screen on the carburetor and gave it a free tune-up over the summer also crank-started it just fine.  I was on the phone for 3 hours today with the Sears support line.  We tried everything mentioned in this thread, except my model doesn't have a throttle.  After all that, and even after flushing a possible vapor lock in the carburetor, it won't start.  The techie walked me through taking the screw out of the bottom of the carburetor to drain what possible old gas was in there.  Took the screw off expecting a flood of stuff, but nothing came out.  After that, I drained the gas tank using the fuel line that goes into the carburetor.  Refilled the tank with totally fresh gas.  Still not turning over.  Support said that the only calls coming in from the northeast today were from people with machines in the recall.  Support also said that the nnew screen on the carburetor, especially in the cold weather, was making gas have a harder time getting into the carb.  They told me to prime 8-10 times, not just the 2 it says on the sticker on the machine.  I primed and primed and nothing worked.  Checked the spark plug and it was completely dry.  Tomorrow I'm going to try spraying the smallest amount possible, maybe half an eye dropper full, of raw gas onto that new screen where the air intake to the carburetor is, while using the electric start.  It used to work on old cars in my younger Motor City days.  But from the sound of your 3-second runs, even that might not get the gas flowing.  Also toyed with taking the front of that screen off altogether.  My technician appointment isn't until Jan. 11, 2008.  It would probably be faster to deliver it to the Sears in Framingham, where I bought it.