Snowblower not running, help!

I have a 1.5 yr old snowblower, a Troy-bilt 2620. I am terrible with small engine care and I left the gas in it after last winter.

I tried to start it on Monday night to make sure all was ok because we were initially supposed to get some accumulating snow tomorrow.

It only ran when primed and it would die after that gas is burnt.
I drained the tank, drained the bowl.
I put in some sea foam and fresh gas. Primed it and let it sit for two days... Same issue.

I replaced the spark plug and still... Same thing. I can keep it running if I continuously push the prime button but once I stop it quits.

Is it time for professional help? I am less than a novice at tearing into things like this and my work area- the garage- is nice and cold so long term work out there is probably not going to happen. Fortunately, no snow in the immediate future.

Looking for ideas. Thank you for any assistance.

 

https://www.troybilt.com/wcsstore/T...m 2410_2620_2840_3090XP Snow_769-06897[1].pdf

Page 8 says dirty carburetor and choke not used , dirty stale fuel . Empty fuel and fill with fresh stuff , then try to get it running again .
Let us know what happens after you drain and re-fill with high grade fuel .

 

I just did drain it and went out, bought fresh gas and put that, along with some sea foam, into the tank. It did nothing. I changed the plug to it- same condition.

 

So the engine runs and starts if you prime it but doesn't stay running?

Makes me wonder if the fuel line has some gunk in it, but the fact that's it's starting would suggest the jets in the carburetor are ok

I would prime it, give the button several good hard pushes and get fuel and seafoam moving through

If that doesn't work might be a good idea to pull the lines and the carb apart some then give it a good shot of carb cleaner

 

The choke is in CHOKE position and the throttle is maxed out, the key is in the on position, the cord is plugged in, machine is primed.
Fresh gas, no debris in the gas cap vent, brand new spark plug. Old gas was siphoned out and the drain on the bowl opened but nothing came out.

 

Do you have idle jets high and low speed? A basic start point used to be screw them all the way in, then back them out 1 1/4 turns. Then you can fine tune from there. Sounds like you might cheat and open the low speed jet some to give a bit more fuel.

 

Yeah, and disassembly on this frightens the hell out of me. I was hoping to avoid that. You cannot even see the fuel line.

I did all of the steps, primed it with seafood in it, then left it overnight. Still a no go.

 

Idle jets? Speaking foreign language.

 

Stupid question but is the gas cap on too tight creating a vacuum so no gas can get to it?

 

Haha, seafood.....
I don't think it has jets, (old stuff) You might have to clean the carb.

 

It's the ethenol in the gas. Always run the carb dry. Add a fuel shut off before the carb if you don't have one. I buy ethenol free gas for my blower and my 2 stroke yard tools. It's well worth it.
You need to pull the carb, take it apart, buy a rebuild kit, and a new fuel filter if it has one. Soak it in gas overnight and use carb cleaner and compressed air to blow the Jets out. Rebuild it with new gaskets and you should be OK.
Buy ethenol free gas, or buy 93 octane and add star tron ethenol treatment. After the gas is 30 days old, dump it in your truck and buy fresh gas, and always always run the carb dry after every use. And drain the tank and carb after the season is over.

 

Take the carb apart, pull the main and pilot jet out. Clean the gelled gas out of the jets to insure they lwill let fuel pass. Next clean all passage ways in carb. Set air fuel mixture screw to 1 and 1/2 turns out. Reassemble and put fresh gas in the tank. Put stabil in the tank and never have this problem again.

Cheers

 

I love autocorrect....

 

Not a bad question, but I tried to run with the cap off and with the cap on. I had an old snow blower that ended up with ice inside the cap stopping the release of the pressure and it would only run with the cap cracked open.

 

http://www.pure-gas.org/

Once it's running again (may require a pro to do a carb kit, fuel line, etc.) ONLY use non ethanol fuel.

Wa-wa around here has it now. At the very worst you can usually find it at a marina. Stupid prices (at a marina), but you don't use much, so it's worth it.

 

Will it continue to run if you continue to push the primer bulb while it is running?

edit: Nevermind...just saw the answer in your OP.

 

Any chance that this engine has the vacuum operated fuel pump? If so, remove, blow out fuel line gently (mouth pressure), clean out port from intake of oily debris, then re-install.
Has the needle and seat been cleaned? Gently spray some carb cleaner up inside the jet, (holes on the side of the tube where the carb bowl attaches. Try to spray down inside the jet from the venturi. Don't blow anything out with high pressure air. Hopefully helpful hints. Good luck.
If you can locate Pri-G fuel stabilizer and put in fuel, I've had it correct these situations because it chemically reformulates the fuel.

 

If you get sta-bil get the marine version.
It's gummed up with old fuel.
Clean the carb and get new gaskets

 

My solution for snow blowers was to just move South...

 

Try opening the float bowl drain again. If no gas comes out I'd guess plugged needle/ seat or stuck float.