Fix a Snowblower that Won’t Start | Snow Blower Help
It’s a frustrating thing… to have a snowblower and not be able to use it. If you’re in this situation, there is hope… Here’s some things to check.
Snowblower Start-up Maintenance
Check for Bad Gas – By far the #1 reason a snow blower won’t start is because the gasoline is bad. Many people don’t empty out the snowblower’s gas tank at the end of the season and the gas goes stale. If you’re in this situation, the solution is to drain the gas tank, and refill it with new gas. You should always let the snow blower run out of gas at the end of the season, and add new gas the following year.
Check that the Gas/Oil Mixture is Correct – If you have a two-stroke snow blower, you need to be sure the gas/oil mixture is correct. Our Toro snowblower takes a 50:1 mixture. Other blowers will take 40:1 or 30:1. Check the owner’s manual. Most 2-stroke oil cans will give you instructions to get the proper mix.
Make Sure You’re Using the Electric Start Option – Most mid-to-high end snow blowers come with an electric starter and a pull starter. The only time you should use the pull starter is if the snow blower has already been running and you’ve turned it off briefly to clean it or add gas.
Check the Engine Oil Choke - Just like a riding lawn mower or gas string trimmer, you may need to choke the engine to get it started. There’s usually a slide lever somewhere on the blower used to control the choke level.
Prime the Engine – Most snow blowers have a primer button on them to prime the engine. This is very important, particularly if you previously ran the lawnmower out of gas. Priming the engine moves fuel through the fuel lines and into the cylinder(s) where it can ignite. Our Toro snowblower recommends pressing the primer button twice. We’ve found it actually requires more like 8-10 pumps to get going. Be careful not to over-prime, however, since it can flood the engine. Prime the least number of times required to get it started.
Check the Throttle – For starting, the throttle should be set to full-open so that no air is restricted going into the engine. Some snowblowers have throttle control, and will usually indicate the ‘start’ position on the throttle selection lever.
Check the Blades for Lock-up – Ensure that the blades can move freely. Make sure the snow blower is off and disconnected from power, then check whether the blades can be moved by hand. When in neutral, locked blades shouldn’t prevent a lawn mower from starting, so this is rare.
Snowblower Engine Checks
If you’ve made it this far in the list and you still aren’t getting it started, it could be a bad spark plug. Consult the owner’s manual for assistance with these.
Check/Replace the Spark Plug – You should be able to find a replacement spark plug at the local big box.
Check/Replace the Fuel Filter – Some snow blowers will have a small fuel filter on the fuel line. This can become clogged over time and constrict fuel flow to such a great extent that it won’t run.
Check/Replace the Engine Air Filter – If the snow blower has an engine air filter, it can degrade performance. We’ve never seen an air filter prevent a snow blower from starting, but it’s still something to check.
Check/Clean the Carburetor – If you let gas sit in the snowblower over the last season, there’s a good chance the carburetor needs to be cleaned. Bad gas can gum up a carburetor. There are plenty of instructions online for cleaning a carburetor.
If All Else Fails…
Try asking a question in our Tools Discussion Forum to see if someone can help… or take it into the local service center.
(photo: joebeone)
P.S. Our friends over at Charles and Hudson give us some more Blizzard Preparation Tips … worth a read on a cold Winter day.
Comments & Conversation on this Article...
38 Responses to Fix a Snowblower that Won’t Start | Snow Blower Help
December 19th, 2009 7:08 pm
I already got hit with this storm (for the most part) and did my snow blowing the old fashioned way, I shoveled it! Was no fun since I got 18″ overnight but I limited it to a single path to my truck!
We are expecting another 4-6 inches tonight and more throughout the week, so I am WISHING I had a snowblower right now!
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December 20th, 2009 2:26 am
Just curious about the rationale behind always using the electric start. I have a brand new snowblower with ES and haven’t heard of this recommendation before.
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December 20th, 2009 4:09 pm
Karen, after re-reading what I wrote I realized I made it seem like there is a danger in not using the electric start. That’s definitely not the case.
However, when it’s very cold outside,the manufacturer intends the electric start to be the primary start method. I’ve heard of folks spending 30 minutes getting a blower started when it’s 10 degrees outside and they didn’t know it could be plugged in.
One additional tip I didn’t mention here is to not run the blower completely out of gas when you are mid-work. Emptying the tank clears the fuel lines and will require extra priming to restart the blower, which can make it more difficult if you are trying to use the pull start.
Again, nothing to really fret over – it will still restart, just might take extra effort.
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January 2nd, 2010 9:12 pm
Fred,
I am having trouble getting a 357cc engine to start. The engine is on a Cub Cadet snow-blower. It is definitely getting a spark, as there are flames that can be seen from the exhaust and out the rear of the carb. I was told it could be a timing issue, and we checked the gears inside the crankcase to make sure they were all aligned- they were. Cleaned the carb out as well. Have no idea why it will not turn over. Also, it looks like it has something to do with incomplete combustion, as there is fuel coming out of the exhaust manifold area, as well as out the rear of the carb. The only thing I can think of that may be wrong would be an electrical issue- mainly having to do with the ignition. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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February 18th, 2010 12:12 pm
Our 2 cyl Toro snow blower was flooded. Now it blows white smoke and won’t start. What can we do to get it running again?
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February 18th, 2010 12:15 pm
We have a 2 cyl Toro that was flooded. It was running good until that happen. Now it won’t keep running. What can we do to make it run again?
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February 21st, 2010 12:28 pm
Valerie, how did you flood it? Did you over-prime the engine? Usually this problem will work itself out if you just wait a while…
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February 23rd, 2010 10:22 pm
I have an Ariens ST824 snowblower that I was using 2 weeks ago during a big storm in NY. After using it for about an hour, it started to choke and eventually died. I tried to re-start it usign the manual recoil and the ES but it wont restart. THe tank is full of new gas and we’re looking at another 10 inches later this week. I let it rest for a few days but it still wont start. What should I do?
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February 27th, 2010 10:31 am
Gf’s brother purchased a toro 180(Recoil)..It had been sitting for about 2 months(with gas)…We finally get our first hit of snow and he attempts to finally use it: Anyways it turns on no problem but he starts seeing blacks smoke and turns it off right away…3 days later he calls me and we cannot get it to start! Spark Plug cleaned, squirt some oil into spark plug hole and still nothing! What I do notice it that upon pressing primer, no gas, as there is a clear tube behind primer button….I can press primer button 15x and nothing happens(no smell, no gas seen in tube behind primer button)..is something plugged as he turned off machine as soon as he turned it on?
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December 3rd, 2010 11:46 pm
I have a 10-yr-old Toro CCR2450 Snowblower. It was tuned up every year, except last year it was not used and was stored empty in a garage. Started it up this year, and it’s blowing a ton of white smoke out of the exhaust. Any idea what the problem is?
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December 5th, 2010 12:49 am
Lori, not 100% sure, but whenever our lawnmower blows white smoke it’s because you’re burning oil at too high a rate. If its a 2 cycle lawnmower, I would check the fuel mix (and if you left fuel in it, probably empty and change). If it’s a 4 cycle, I would probably change the oil, spark plug, and air filter, and make sure especially that the oil isn’t over filled.
Good luck
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December 6th, 2010 3:11 pm
Hi, I have a Yard Machine snow blower that i can’t get started. When I try to prime it, the pimer is just moving air – now fuel. How can I fix this?
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December 9th, 2010 12:48 pm
I have a Craftsmen snow blower and it won’t prime, I’ve tried blowing out the fuel line and have emptied the gas tank and put in new gas. When I prime it all I here is are and no gas, I pulled the plug and looked in there just to verifie that was the case and it was dry as a bone.
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December 9th, 2010 8:41 pm
I have a Craftsman single-stage 179cc snow thrower and the electric start won’t catch. It revs but never turns over the engine. I have the key, primed it, and have the throttle and choke set correctly. After a few attempts with the electric, I pulled the cord and it fired right up on the first try. It seems the engine runs just fine but the electric start won’t turn over the engine.
The electric start does not sound abnormal, weak, or bad, It all seems fine, except the part where the engine doesn’t start!
Thanks in advance for any advice, thoughts, or comments!
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January 6th, 2011 5:36 pm
I have an old Montgomery Ward snow blower that I cant get to start. I used it last winter and it ran like a champ. It was getting a little rusty so I decided to paint it over the summer. while I was painting it I tipped it back so i could get paint some hard to reach spots. I didn’t notice any oil leaking at the time but I left it tipped up over night and found oil on the floor in the morning. it looked like oil was coming out of the exhaust. I figured I could just flatten it out and the oil would drain out of the cylinders and back into the oil reservoir no harm no foul. I went to start it this winter and I cant get it to stars. I got one sputter out of it with the first or second rip but after that there was nothing. however when I ripped it, oil did spit out of the exhaust. I would appreciate any advice, thank you.
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January 6th, 2011 9:26 pm
Chris, we’ve had this problem with a lawn mower. I’m assuming this is a 4-cycle snow blower. Here’s our best suggestion (use at your own risk)….
Change the air filter, change the spark plug, make sure engine oil isn’t overfilled (or underfilled), put in new gas if you have stale gas.
Most likely culprit is the spark plug is covered with oil…. could also be that the carburetor is gummed up if you didn’t let it run out of gas last year…
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January 10th, 2011 10:06 pm
i just bought a toro…power clear 210r snowblower….no electric starter..just a coil…can you give me some tips on getting this started…i am kicking myself for being cheap and not getting the model with the electric starter…should you only prime twice? it seems that i need at least 3 pulls to get it started..and sometimes it doesnt even start..and i am afraid that i have flooded the engine…any advice?? have the right mixture of gas and oil…
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January 12th, 2011 8:24 pm
Hey Paul – starting a 2 cycle engine is a trick, especially when its cold. Here’s what you should do: (1) follow the priming instructions included with the unit. Generally speaking, the manufacturer knows how much to prime it. Turn the choke all the way up (full choke). Pull the cord until you hear the engine make a few turnovers beyond the initial pull (the engine may still stop). Move back to half choke and pull again – engine will probably start. If it doesn’t, move to full choke and pull again until you get that first few turnovers… once you get that, move back to half choke and then pull. Repeat until the engine starts. Once it’s going at half choke, move the engine to no choke and let it warm up for a few minutes before using.
Over priming can flood the engine, but that’s usually not the problem, unless you’ve primed it a lot more than recommend.
If this doesn’t work after 10 or so pulls, you might try priming a bit more. Obviously, good gas and good oil are key – make sure you mixed at the proper proportions.
As for kicking yourself, we’ve been there. Electric starters are a real nice feature on these devices.
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January 15th, 2011 10:51 am
What is wrong when you push the button on an electrisc start and nothing happens not a sound. My blowere started running rough the last time out so I shut it down drained the gas and mixed up fresh gas. It is a one stage toro. The first couple times I pushed the electric start it sounded normal but just would not catch then after trying the electric start for a while it just quit all together. Still can’t get blower started even with rope. Don’t hear it firing at all.
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toni Reply:
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I have the same problem, but mine is a cub cadet.. no noise when trying to electric start… yes it is plugged in.. help bought last year and , still is crappy
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Fred Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Likely burned out the start or tripped some kind of internal fuse…
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January 17th, 2011 8:29 pm
I have a 1988 Toro 824 when starting with the pull start, the motor starts.
hwever the rope recoils hard, almost pulls my arm off. What causes this,
how do i fix it. Luckily I use the elec. start most the time.
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January 21st, 2011 7:23 pm
Just got a new 2-cycle electric start snowblower, but can’t get it started. I have in on full throttle, choke in proper spot and primed it several times, then have the electric starter on for 30 secs or more, but it won’t turn over. Any ideas? It’s brand new never been used.
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January 29th, 2011 5:30 pm
My yard machines wont start, I can’t pull the start cord more than a few inches and it stops cold.
The electric starter is not working either. My partner tried to just replace the starter but the gears seem to be locked.
I have no problems taking it apart (it’s broken anyway right?) so I’ll give it a try if anyone can suggest fix.
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January 29th, 2011 7:04 pm
@ Jim Koenig, I have an older Artisan brand 8 HP snow thrower that will not start. It has an electric start and after using it for about 5 minutes, the starter motor heats up and the relay shuts off the starter button. I have to wait about 10 minutes for the starter to cool down before I can use the ES again. There may no problem with your ES except you may have to wait for it to work again as I do. Hope that helps.
Fred, my spark plug has good spark (checked and confirmed), I replaced the gas, opened the choke, turned up the throttle, then tried various combinations of choke and throttle and it still won’t start. I also poured 1/2 ounce of gas into the spark plug hole which will run the engine for a second then it quits. The only other thing I can think of is the primer button is not pushing gas through but the primer look good (no tears or holes). Sometimes I can hear gas sucking in and out of the primer when I push it. Any other suggestions I haven’t considered would be appreciated. I’m going to try again in an hour hoping that perhaps I’ve flooded the carb.
Thanks.
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January 29th, 2011 9:19 pm
Gorden, yuck! OK – well, probably one of two things then – fuel line could be clogged or a fuel filter on the line could be clogged if it has one. Carburetor could also be gummed up – that’s usually a repair shop fix unless you’re adventurous. Google for “clean carburetor” and you’ll find some videos and instructions. Let me know how it turns out.
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February 2nd, 2011 3:57 pm
I bought my snowblower from a friend that moved to a warmer client (lucky him). We just got hit with 17in overnight. This morning, I go out to start it up to do battle with massive amount of snow, and it wouldn’t crank. I read the directions which said prime with 2 pumps. I did that several times, almost to exhaustion. I came inside frustrated and found your blog. I tried priming with 8 pumps and it started right up! The snow has been cleared from my driveway and I was even able to help my neighbor across the street because his snowblower 2x the size of mine died. Thanks for the sound advice!
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February 2nd, 2011 4:14 pm
Great time for my Toro snowblower to quit – the blizzard of 2011. Used it last night and worked fine. Got up today and electric starter just whirls – doesn’t catch. Tried recoil but there isn’t any tension in cord at all. Resorted to manual labor. Any thoughts on problem with snowblower?
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February 4th, 2011 3:49 pm
i have a ariens model 922024 i was using it for about 4hrs and it shut off and wont start . i bought carb kit and rebuilt it thinking it was something with the carb . i check for gas flow and its has good gas flow , i check for spark to the plug and its ok . please can you help!!!
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February 4th, 2011 6:39 pm
tony – can’t say from what you’ve written here. Go through the list and look at everything – make sure you’re using good gas. No reason it shouldn’t start…
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February 4th, 2011 10:27 pm
I HAVE A CCR 3650 GTS SNOWTHROWER mODEL 38518..i HADN’T HAD IT VERY LONG…BOUGHT FROM A FRIEND….tHE FIIRST FEW TIMES I USED IT, IT RAN WELL…HOWEVER THE LAST TIME I USED IT ….WHEN I FINISHED I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND HEARD A RATTLE…..THEN I COULD NOT START IT
WITH THE PULL CORD OR ELECTRIC START…I TOOK IT APART AND FOUND THAT THE RECOIL STARTER WAS OK…BUT THE FLYWHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. hOW CAN I FIX THE PROBLEM AND BE ON MY WAY. THANX…..ALEX
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February 13th, 2011 3:11 pm
Hey, I am running into some problems, which I am not sure if it s common thing for New users…
I got my snow thrower a year ago, used it, twice, tested it, it works. let it ran out of gas on last use, to ensure there is no gas left in it for Summer.
This winter, I refilled it with gas, it works twice. The third time (now) it just won’t start, I was dumb enough to buy it with out electric start (as last year, it cost 200 bucks more and my experience with my 12 year lawn mower at the time, tells me I didn’t really need the electric starter…)
Any suggestions?
When I yank at the manual start, it would some time start a bit, but eventually dies after a few seconds. Some times, it just gives off a ‘bang’ like a Pistol. Its not like it didn’t work this entire winter, it just won’t start right now.
Should I continue pulling at the manual start?
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December 7th, 2011 10:11 am
Hi, I have an 80′s Simplicity 524 Snow Buster with a 5hp Tecumseh engine. I just had the engine rebuilt last year..i got it started in Oct. and turned it off..when i went to restart it I couldn’t get the engine to turn over..I checked everything..i bought a new ignition switch which didn’t work and replaced my gas primer hose b/c i found it had a slice in it…didn’t work. I find when I push the primer button it blows air out which i can feel but doesn’t sound like it’s sucking gas in….any recommendations? Thanks
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Samson Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Joe,
I think that the fact air is coming out is a good sign. At least the rubber is still soft enough and didn’t age.
have you check the Spark plug??
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Joe Cutler Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Thanks for responding…yes i checked the plug..i didn’t see a spark..i thought maybe by getting a new ignition switch it would fix the problem b/c the connector on it was loose and actually ended up falling off. I just figured that when i primed it and that I could feel the air coming out that maybe that was the problem. I can usually figure these problems out but this one has me in a bind…really trying to avoid spending more money on this..for what i’ve spent on it including rebuilt engine I could have bought a new one….Thanks
Joe
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December 8th, 2011 7:19 pm
i have an older snow blower…20 yrs at least ( probably a montgumery wards or sears)….been running every year but getting harder to start….has an electric starter and pull cord….found the primer tube has come off the engine but do not know where it goes back on….i might need to change gas and spark plug as well
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December 10th, 2011 6:04 am
I found that as i prime the snowblower before trying to start it that air was coming out from above the filter bulb…i found a small hole and covered it with duct tape to see if it would work..i found that the primer bulb became resistant to being pushed down…i’m at a loss..
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February 4th, 2012 2:42 pm
We got the snowblower in 2009. Came winter, very cold would not start. tried everything. Hand shoveled. In 2010 started the blower in July worked like a charm. Big storm 2011 in Colo, yesterday. Tried blower again will not start. What is this this a wanbe lown mower. I am so mad, it get cold and will not work. This thing is new. started once in the summer. Tried elec start, no go. pumped several times, no go. HELP
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