Many of us have that person we call when we need help with car issues, home maintenance or remodeling projects, equipment that won’t start and millions of other problems. That dad, uncle or grandpa that just seems to know how to do everything. That’s Bowie. Bowie is our family’s go-to, and I’m sharing him with you in this ongoing feature called, Ask Bowie. So, need to rewire an outlet? Snowblower won’t start? Furnace won’t fire? Wondering what that strange tool in your toolbox is used for? Submit your questions in the Ask Bowie topic on our Brew City Dads Forum and check back to view this feature often for answers and general wisdom.

Ask Bowie - February 7th, 2021

Question - My snow blower worked great all last winter and now I can’t get it to start. What could be the issue?

Bowie - Funny how issues with snow blowers sneak up on us right when we have our first significant snowfall of the season. You’re not alone. Companies who service snow blowers are always inundated after the first significant snow and oftentimes have long waits, which means it may take weeks before you get your machine back. Cross your fingers we don’t have significant snow in that time, or you’ll be dealing with a sore back from all that shoveling. Whatever your issue is, taking it to a shop may ultimately be unavoidable. But, before you make that call, let’s see if we can identify the issue and save some time and money with a quick fix at home.

When a snow blower won’t start, a lot of times it has to do with the fuel. Either it’s not getting any or what it’s getting is not good. The first thing you should look at is if the machine had a full tank of gas leftover from last season. If so, that could be the culprit. The alcohol blended fuels they use today can break down over time, causing havoc on a carburetor. If you left a full tank of gas in the machine when you stored it in spring, you should have used a fuel stabilizer to protect it from any kind of deterioration. Sta-bil and Sea Foam are common types. Just pour it in with the gas and run the machine for a few minutes so the gas and stabilizer mix can run through the system. Then you can store it. If you did not take this step, then there is a good chance that bad gas is the problem. Drain the tank and the carburetor of any gas and fill with fresh gas and see if that fixes the issue.

If you stored the snow blower with no gas, or a treated full tank of gas, then your problem may be a little more complicated. Before we get too carried away, always double check the simple things first. Is the key on? Is there gas in the tank? If your machine has a gas valve, is it on? If your machine is equipped with a starting lever, are you holding it down? Did you pump the gas into the carburetor? Assuming you took all of those steps, let’s dig in further to see if it is another type of fuel problem.

You’ll need some starter fluid and a basic set of tools for this next step (check out my recent column about the tools every new homeowner should own). Starter fluid can be found at most hardware stores and should be a staple in your garage. Find the carburetor. A carburetors function is to deliver a mix of air and gas to the motor. Often times it’s hidden under an annoying plastic cover because God forbid, they sell a machine with a bare motor these days. You will need to remove the plastic cover. If you don’t know how to identify the carburetor, you’ll need to either grab the manual that came with the machine or search for your machine’s make and model online to find a diagram. YouTube can be a good resource. Once you have identified the carburetor and have clear access, spray some starter fluid into it (see photos). Try starting your machine. If it sounds like it wants to run, but doesn’t stay running, it means that your machine is getting spark, which is good, but gas is not getting to the carburetor. 9 times out of 10, it means your carburetor is clogged. If you’re lucky, you might be able to fix the issue by giving the carburetor a few gentle taps with the back end of a screwdriver. Make sure they are gentle taps so that you don’t cause any damage. Give it another spray of starter fluid and try starting it again.

If it still doesn’t start, then you probably need to clean out your carburetor. This can be an intimidating job for some, but it’s not as bad as you think. I wouldn’t always recommend YouTube for fixing engines and equipment, but in this case, there are plenty of videos of various makes and models that will walk you through the process. A clean carburetor should take care of your issue and your machine should start right up.

If earlier on in the process, your machine did not sound like it wanted to run, then it may not be getting spark. Your machine has a spark plug. You can locate that spark plug using your manual and replace it to see if that works. If not, it’s probably time to tap out and call in the professionals.

Remember, one of the easiest ways to avoid issues in the future is to make sure you store your snow blower properly in spring. Either run it completely out of gas or add a fuel stabilizer before you put it away and take the opportunity to change the oil. Lastly, don’t make the mistake of firing it up for the first time the day we get our first snow, because by then, it could be too late!

Got a question for Bowie? Email your questions to publisher@brewcitydads.com.