bluejays6

Thanks Buttlint, I will check my mail.  I had to run errands, and when I got home, my neighbor had done my driveway, since I asked him about it yesterday morning.  so I told him thanks and that I owe him one! 

So I tried starting it again this afternoon, cuz he did mention that sometimes he runs his at 1/2 choke.  So I put more good gas, in let it run at 1/2 choke, and was going to let it run about 10 minutes, and gradually move the choke to the left.  But one time I did, it went down and killed.  Then I think I had it flooded, cuz couldn't start it.  so put it away for the day.  It does seem that it might just gradually idle down, but I definitely will check what you said.   When you say throttle plate, is that the throttle handle (up and down)?  If so, that does move freely.   I'll also try to track down the engine manual, either in my garage or online.  (online will probably be easier to find!)   thanks!    Julie

Hi Buttlint,

It started the first time I started it yesterday.  As far as the throttle shaft, are you talking about the throttle handle that you can move up and down?  I always put it up all the way to start and down to shut off.  Or is there something else besides that?  I'll locate the engine manual too (I know it's a two stage tecumseh 5 hp).  Now that I realize when it started happening, would it be because if there was a little old gas still in there?  I had put new gas in yesterday, but there looked like there was still a little old in there too. 

I just read a msg thread on tecumseh snowblosers and stale gas.  I haven't had a problem with that in past winters (think I bought it new in 1998?)  One guy had written that since it's hard to drain out every drop of old gas, to fill with new, let run for 10 minutes, and the problem worked itself out?  Would it hurt to let it run that long and see if it idles down?  And if I do, should I run with the choke on (runs normal speed) or chock off (running so high).  I might have the term on and off confused; I say on (or open) when I have the choke handle to the right, off when I put it to the left.  thanks again!!!

Hey!  How'd you do that????  LOL   Okay here's an update with good news/bad news:

I did go over to the lawn mower shop, and brought my printout of the diagrams, but since I forgot the model number at home, he couldn't really help, except said there should be adjustments to the cables, which I knew and hadn't tried.  So I did adjust the drive cable, and then rechecked the auger belt. There is about 1/8" to 1/4" open space between the auger belt and the belt auger wheel.  But I just tried it now, it DOES self-propel, and it DOES throw the snow!!!  WOOHOO!  BUT, the drive still moves much slower than it used to, and I thought I adjusted the drive cable as much as possible.

So I guess my issues are:  1) the drive moving slower than it used to (in any gear); 2) ever since I put the new belts on, I cant move the gear to 2nd reverse. (can use 1st reverse, and pretty tough to move the lever to #2, and it wont stay there; I saw in the manual that I can adjust the drive bar thing.  I can live without that til a warmer day.

2) the reason I didn't keep using it now, is it starts right away, but if I close the choke, it idles super high, so I used it with the choke open, and I don't know if that's ok to do???  Before, once I started it, I always could close the choke and it idled smooth.  Thanks so much!!!  Julie

Hi again,  Okay it's actually an MTD Yard Machine 2 stage snow thrower (Toro is my mower, sorry!)  the Model is 31AE614E149.  As soon as I figure out how to attach the pics here, I'll do that..  They mention that you might have 1 or 2 auger belts; mine only had 1.  Anyway, thanks again!  Julie

Thank you so much!  The problem was that when I was accessing the belts to get them off, I for some reason didn't notice exactly how they were on.  I am going out to tackle it tonight, so I'll get the model number, etc, and if I can't get it, I definitely will take pictures of it.  Thanks again!!!  Julie