I feel like a misfit with my snowblower

[daveswoodhauler]

Had some issues about a month ago with snowblower, and kind folsk here walked me through the process. Had another issue come out, and just can't figure it out.

Its an Ariens 8 horse.....starts and runs fine.....but after about 45 minutes or so (maybe warmer tems) it starts to bog for a second, then goes back to full running. Sometimes if I move the choke lever one click, it will then run strong/normal......after it runs normal I put the choke back to the left, and then it will run fine for about 10 minutes and start bogging a little.

It only seems to do this in temps above 30, and when its been running for a good long while. Took the bowl off, cleaned the carb, new fuel, etc.... Its just weird as it starts and runs fine, the starts to act up around 45 minutes of use.....pull the plug and check it? what to look for?

 

[velvetfoot]

How about just running it with the choke on a click? That's what I do.

 

[Bret Hart]

Was there any debris in the bowl when you took it off to clean it? Sounds like there might be a small piece in one of the jets or something is floating around in the carb.

Could also be an issue with the gas cap. Some newer fuel caps come with charcoal in them to slow the off-gassing of the fuel and once they get soaked from splashing around, the fuel doesn't flow as well. Kinda like a heat related vapor lock.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Bowl was very clean. No debris. New gas/91 Octane.
I'll have to check the cap...thats one thng I didn'tthink of....maybe when it starts acting up, I'll just loosen the cap a bit to let some air in and see if that makes a difference. Good ideas

 

[Bret Hart]

Bowl was very clean. No debris. New gas/91 Octane.
I'll have to check the cap...thats one thng I didn'tthink of....maybe when it starts acting up, I'll just loosen the cap a bit to let some air in and see if that makes a difference. Good ideas

Was going to mention cracking the cap slightly but was afraid someone might get hurt. Just be careful.

What engine is it? I may have a troubleshooting chart.

 

[FrankMA]

A lot of fuel starvation problems are due to vapor lock from faulty gas caps.

 

[ScotO]

when you had the bowl off of the carb, did you check the small jet in the inlet tube? There is a very small jet there that can varnish shut. When I say small I mean REALLY small.......

Also, that gas cap vent could be the problem. I've had that problem happen to me on my old tractor years ago. changed the gas cap and voilla...problem solved....

 

[daveswoodhauler]

I think I'll pick up a new cap and see how that goes.
Hope this is the last storm of the year...was looking at the starter rope, and its worn down at a point that there is only aboue 10% of the cord holding it together

 

[Lighting Up]

Had a JD lawn mower do that but would stall...turn out to be the gas filter...good luck

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I hate carb work because I never seem to be able to get them tuned correctly afterwords. Anything else on an engine I don't have any problem with.

The way I found to fix this is to run a tank of gas with seafoam in it every spring. The solvent will dissolve any gunk in it. I start it and let it run a bit so the gas with solvent is the only gas in the carb and then I turn it off and let it sit the night. I run the rest of the gas through the next day. I haven't had to do carb work in a long time.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Had it running for a while today for final cleanup...ran fine for 45 minutes, then had to choke a little to keep it running ok.....finally stalled out, as the temps were almost 50 degrees. Tried unscrewing the gas cap a bit while running, and made no difference....I'm guessing its something in the carb or needs to be adjusted.

 

[Hogwildz]

Maybe the coil is going bad. Had that problem with my mower with a Briggs engine.

 

[JustWood]

Running too hot of a plug ?

 

[Hogwildz]

Ahhh Lee just reminded me of a problem I hav with my log splitter, that was very similar to yours. I even cleaned the carb, and then put a new carb on. It ended up being the spark plug went bad. Put a new plug in and runs fine ever since.

 

[MasterMech]

$5 neon spark tester, when it starts to break up - Watch the tester. Steady flicker = good ignition system. Erratic = faulty ignition module.

(broken image removed)

 

[heat seeker]

Not too likely on a snowblower, but you might want to make sure the engine's cooling fins and fan aren't clogged.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Thanks for all the info folks. I pulled the plug yesterday, and the area where the spark is was pretty black/dark. I'll pikc up a new plug and give it a whirl. KISS right?

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Well, put the new plug on, and issue seems to be resolved. Had 12 inches of the freakin wet/heavy stuff and the snowblower did not skip a beat. Thanks to all!

 

[Hogwildz]

;-) Great news. I was kicking myself in the arse after cleaning the carb, replacing the carb, then putting a new plug in and finding that as the issue. LOL

 

[daveswoodhauler]

;-) Great news. I was kicking myself in the arse after cleaning the carb, replacing the carb, then putting a new plug in and finding that as the issue. LOL

Know I know I am not the only one out there who has done the same
Thanks for your help