Gas left in snow blower — what are easy things to try, and HOW?
I am a 50-year old recent widow with no small engine experience. Gas was left in Craftsman 7.75HP snow blower after death of husband. I understand (now) about the varnish residue building up in the carburetor. It's too big for me to take in for repair and too expensive to pay Sears for a home service call at this point. Are there some easy things I could try myself to try to get it running and can someone spell out exactly how to do them?
I guess I forgot to specify that the blower will not start. It has sat for a year and a half now.
Try starting it first, If that doesnt work, get a small bottle of Sta-bil and put that in the gas tank. You could remover the air filter located on the top of the engine, and spray some carbuerator cleaner in there ,that will dissolve any varnish residue.
The cleaner you can buy at any auto parts store or hardware store. I would try starting it first though. If it hasn’t sat that long it should be ok. I have let gas sit for over a year in my snow blower and it has started. Once it is started, any varnish residue will dissolve from the gas running through the carb
Try starting it before you do anything.
If it won't start, dump or siphon out old gas and put in new gas. Start it and let it run until empty (don't put too much new gas in).
There is a product called Seafoam that you can get at Autozone which is supposed to really work on gas varnish.
This will only work if it will at least start and run roughly.
Ditto on draining the old gas. DO NOT use a siphon tube you suck with your mouth or it might kill you.
place new gas in it and try taking a small hammer and hitting the carbretor gently to knock any of the residue free. good luck and sorry for your loss
Do you have know someone in your community that would be willing to help you out? Neighbor, church,VFW, Husband of a friend?
First see if it will start and run. Be sure there is adequate ventilation.
Drain as much gas as possible from both the tank and the carb. Add 1/4 can of “Sea Foam” top off the gas and run it. It’s avail at auto parts stores for under $10. Sea Foam has been known to clean out carbs in small engines; run at 3/4 throttle for 20-30 minutes, expect lots of white smoke.
In the future mix “Sta-Bil” to your Fuel container whenever you fill it.
Sorry to hear of the loss of your husband.
The first thing to check to see is if the gas is turned-on…there’s a little valve on the tube that comes out of the bottom of the gas tank. He may have simply shut it off at the end of the season.
If it does start, don’t let it run long..these engines are designed to run at temps below 40 degrees. Running them at warmer temps isn’t the best thing.
If the valve is open and it’s not getting gas, you’re best served having any reputable service guy clean it out for you. And have the oil changed as well. The seafoam does good work, but sometimes you get a little bit of sticky old gas on the inlet washer and you just have a miserable time getting it to run right.
This is also the time to think about getting the lawn mower’s gas tank dried out so it runs well in the spring. If you have a helpful neighbor, you may also ask to see that the outside spigots are turned-off on the inside of the house and the outside valve is opened and drained so it doesn’t freeze and crack.