Snowblower help

[Stock R]

I didn't know where to post this, but figured a snowblower is close enough to a car :P

My snowblower, 6.5hp 4-stroke won't start right now and as a result my family had to shovel the driveway by hand which wasn't very fun. It's worked fine since we've owned it and I usually do the maintenance (oil, sparkplug, etc) on it.

Problem is that when we try tugging the starter cord, it's loose as heck. There's no resistance whatsoever. When we prime up the fuel like mad, it gives resistance for about 1" of tug and then it's loose again.

Any mechies here have an idea what is wrong and how I can fix it?

Also, the metal scooping strip has worn down unevenly. Where would be the best place to buy a replacement?

TIA!

[dasaylay]

Is there an alternative way to start the snowblower? Like a spot where you can plug it in and start by pushing a button?

And the metal scooping strip = the auger?

[Samir]

If only snowblowers were made by Honda.

My ****** Canadian Tire snow blower is inoperable 50% of the time. I feel like I own the snowblower equivalent of the Cadillac 8-6-4 engine.

[BobW]

If only snowblowers were made by Honda.

My ****** Canadian Tire snow blower is inoperable 50% of the time. I feel like I own the snowblower equivalent of the Cadillac 8-6-4 engine.

Honda does make snowblowers...just pony up the bucks and you can get one....

[corrupt123]

How much resistance is no resistance? Like pulling toilet paper off a roll?

The mechanism that engages the start-cord-spool to the crankshaft might not be connecting, might be a faulty spring or something.

[Stock R]

How much resistance is no resistance? Like pulling toilet paper off a roll?

The mechanism that engages the start-cord-spool to the crankshaft might not be connecting, might be a faulty spring or something.

That basically sounds like what's happening. Anywhere online with instructions on how to fix something like that? I'm pretty good mechanically so if I see how one's done, I can probably figure out the rest.

Where would I buy the parts?

[Stock R]

Is there an alternative way to start the snowblower? Like a spot where you can plug it in and start by pushing a button?

And the metal scooping strip = the auger?

No alternative start. I think the model had an optional electric start though, but it's too old to find it.

I don't mean the auger. It's just a thin piece of metal on the back of the housing to scrape against teh pavement.

[corrupt123]

If I was you I'd spend 2 seconds looking for instruction on google, otherwise just pull it apart yourself and see whats up. Usually it's very basic, when you pull two latches are pushed out and grab onto the crankshaft and it spins, and he second you relax or the crankshaft takes off, the lack of tension pulls the latches back in. This is how it works on a lot of the 6.5 brigg's engines I've used, dont know exactly for your model.

The metal strip, well, that you'll have to look around for. In my experience the hardware stores that sell snowblowers stock almost no accessories. Best bet here is probably look around online and/or contact the manufacterer for a dealer. If you've got the tools, and you claim to be handy enough, just buy a strip of steel and drill out the holes necessary to mount it.

[C_4_S]

I didn't know where to post this, but figured a snowblower is close enough to a car :P

My snowblower, 6.5hp 4-stroke won't start right now and as a result my family had to shovel the driveway by hand which wasn't very fun. It's worked fine since we've owned it and I usually do the maintenance (oil, sparkplug, etc) on it.

Problem is that when we try tugging the starter cord, it's loose as heck. There's no resistance whatsoever. When we prime up the fuel like mad, it gives resistance for about 1" of tug and then it's loose again.

Any mechies here have an idea what is wrong and how I can fix it?

Also, the metal scooping strip has worn down unevenly. Where would be the best place to buy a replacement?

TIA!

Sounds like the same thing that happens to mine every year the first time I use it. With mine, the recoil sticks. Inside, there are like these little ball bearings that fall into the cogs in order for the pull cord to "bite".

Try tapping (lightly) where the recoil connects on the end of the crankshaft. I find after sitting over the summer months, that's all mine usually takes to loosen the balls up. I have had to take it apart though and clean it manually ... :|

[Stock R]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm actually 400kms away from the snowblower at the moment. I'm just trying to figure as much out as I can now before I head home this weekend and take a stab at it. Looks like I'll have to buy myself a space heater too if I'm going to rip it apart in the garage.

Let you know how it goes...

[maxgohan]

go buy a can of gas from the gas station

spill entire can of gas all over the driveway, light it on fire and watch the snow melt :)

[corrupt123]

go buy a can of gas from the gas station

spill entire can of gas all over the driveway, light it on fire and watch the snow melt :)

I'm actually curious on the effectiveness of melting snow vs. shoveling it. A wide-spread propane torch or something perhaps might be effective once you've dropped the snow to <1" thick, but I think anything more and there is so much snow (at suck a low temp) that you'd need to create a lot of heat to melt it.

[stealth]

I didn't know where to post this, but figured a snowblower is close enough to a car :P

My snowblower, 6.5hp 4-stroke won't start right now and as a result my family had to shovel the driveway by hand which wasn't very fun. It's worked fine since we've owned it and I usually do the maintenance (oil, sparkplug, etc) on it.

Problem is that when we try tugging the starter cord, it's loose as heck. There's no resistance whatsoever. When we prime up the fuel like mad, it gives resistance for about 1" of tug and then it's loose again.

Any mechies here have an idea what is wrong and how I can fix it?

Also, the metal scooping strip has worn down unevenly. Where would be the best place to buy a replacement?

TIA!

So basically it sounds like theres no compression. The easiest thing would be to take out the sparkplug and put it back into, to make sure its seated tightly and not letting any pressure out.
If that doesnt work, and you've ruled out any problems with the starting pull mechanism, then you've got motor problems...most likely rings, and need to consider the cost to repair vs the cost to buy new.
But check the spark plug...Maybe someone took it out last year with the hope to replace it with a new one and didnt put it back in? As for the blade strip, get a phone book (anyone remember those?) and look up small motor repair shops or dealers for snowblowers/lawnmowers.