Walk behind snow blower having blowing trouble

ed in cny

Member
Had finally snow enough to use the walk behind Toro snow blower yesterday. I find that when it gets into snow at what
it used to get into the blower has no guts and bogs out. I have to stop to allow it to empty, then reduce speed to
nearly stopped before it will keep up. The shear pins are good. Changed them just this fall to be sure I was ready.
Auger spins good. Second blower also is up to speed. Just it will not handle a pail full of snow without having
trouble. Belts look good. Engine has plenty of power to get through. What's up? What am I missing? These things aren't
that complicated to look at so what could be causing my trouble?
 
The type of weather we have been having, with high humidity is prime for getting water condensation in your gas tank, first thing I would do is dump some dry gas in the tank. If that does not cure the problem a good carb cleaning and flush of the fuel system may be required.
 
Yup that was done earlier. The tank was left dry when I was done. Didn't want that issue. The blower starts right up
with the electric starter and is a pull or two with the rope.

I'm thinking belts are the issue. I'm not sure haven't had time to get into it. There isn't much to this machine that
can't be fixed with a wrench. It's the same MTD unit everyone sells. She's old and I can't remember when I changed the
belts if ever. So likely they may be the issue.

Thanks for the reply.
 
Is the blower bogging down or is the engine bogging? Usually if belts slip you can smell them and engine will not bog down. Are you blowing wet heavy snow or fluffy snow? Is it an older blower with some rust in blower? My new snow blower will pull down in wet snow and I have to use low gear and creep through it if its deep.
 
Sounds like when my dad got hold of a spray can of belt dressing. He started to spray anything that was nearby. You should have seen the dual belts on the air compressor! Had magenta pulleys and belts on it. That stuff got so sticky that I ended up cleaning everything with thinner and put on new belts. In winter it wouldn't start and just blow a fuse.
 
The blower bogs and won't blow and it in turn bogs engine. I'm talking a couple inches. No smell of belts I know of. It's not a rust bucket machine either. But does have it's years of wear. I think this machine is going on 10 years if I recall. I keep it inside an unheated garage year round. Its been a good machine up till this issue. It bogs in wet snow as well. But that's what wet snow does right. I mean I've never seen a snowblower work well in the wet stuff. I though it was gas too at first but I've cleaned things up real good. Guess if a lull comes in again with the weather I'll pull the carb and soak it real good and see it that makes things work different.
 
check the clearance in the blower propeller and chute is it freezing there and the plugging,if it is i have solved issues by putting small pieces of rubber on blower paddles so it slight rubs against blower housing keeping it from freezing up. works wonders
 
Yes the belts may be the problem. The other thing you could do is a compression check, rings may be stuck, valves need adjusting or head gasket may be leaking.
 
So you guys are still thinking gas and engine issue. I'll have a better look this weekend when I have time. It just seems funny the engine really runs like a champ and has for years. But it's worth a second look. Can't hurt right?

So where do you all think I ought to look first? Gas? Compression? Belts? Other?
 
read your trouble again and you said engine bogs down then you say power to get thru if its bogging down thats usually fuel issue equals not holding your rpms where they should be
 
(quoted from post at 23:48:01 01/15/16) read your trouble again and you said engine bogs down then you say power to get thru if its bogging down thats usually fuel issue equals not holding your rpms where they should be
heck to see that the governor springs have not rotted off or crud is stopping the control mechanism from operating freely and not hanging up.
 

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