Fixing Snowblower that Stalls Under Load

Snowblowers are wonderful machines and frustrating machines...I love mine and I hate mine 🤣. When it works, it's a miraculous machine saving my back and my heart from exploding shoveling tons of snow every Michigan Winter. However, when it doesn't work, it can really throw a monkey wrench in a daily schedule of trying to get out of our driveway to get to work, school or appointments on-time. When a snowblower stalls at it hits the wet, heavy snow, my heart sinks when it conks-out! In the past, I've learned to change the belts but this time, I needed to clean the carburetor. I didn't have time to thoroughly clean the entire assembly so opted to clean the main jet by simply removing the bowl. I cleaned the jet using a clipped wire brush wire to clean out the jet's main orifice and the idle hole orifice. I used WD-40 to clean the bowl gasket. When it was all put back together, I think this worked as my snow blower never missed a beat hitting the heavy stuff. Check it out...
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🔺WARNING: This video is for entertainment and observational curiosity and is not a how-to video. Refer to snow blower manufacturer documentation-media for safety, operation, maintenance, repair and warranty information.
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[@jhengis1971]

I replaced with new carburetor. Fuel lines good, gas cap good. Governor good, compression good. Auger spins fine until under load and dies.

[@WorksIRL]

Bummer! Watch my video on replacing belts…that was the fix to the first time I had my snowblower conk out under load. Obviously, be sure you have fresh gasoline and check spark plug, too. Let us know if you find resolution and good luck 🤞

[@Matthew_Does_To_Many_Things]

I have a old tecumseh just like this. Starts first or second pull always a idles and moves. Just like yours bogs under light load and stalls under medium load. I really gotta inch it around so it actually throws snow. Already has a new carb a few years ago. Pervious owner never changed oil so I think the compression maybe be lowered but when I pull the rope it has decent resistance. I might try looking at the main jet and possibly drilling it out to a larger size for extra fuel.

[@WorksIRL]

These 2-stage snowblowers are tricky to troubleshoot in my opinion. I had similar symptoms prior to this and made a video regarding the belt and even then it was not intuitive...so much in fact, as I write this I'll need to re-watch my own video because I made that older one to remind my future self which belt to change 🤣. I always think it's the "auger belt" but it turns out to be the "drive belt"...or vice versa...see? I can't remember every time! Please check out that other video of mine and see if you think it might be your belt. If you figure it out, please stop back and let us know! Thanks for watching!

[@Matthew_Does_To_Many_Things]

@@WorksIRL I also replaced the auger belt when it snapped 2 winters ago so it’s not that. We even adjusted the governor so it would rev to the moon and still doesn’t have power. I think it’s time to retire the old 5hp and I’m looking at MTD 8 or 10 horsepower 24 inch snowblowers used so I can really not bog down lol

[@WorksIRL]

@@Matthew_Does_To_Many_Things That does sound nice having "full power" 🫡 One other thing I'm curious to check on mine is a small "spring" that applies pulley tension against the auger belt (may be one for the drive belt, too). I may pull it off and "spread it" a bit to provide a bit more tension or even source a "new spring" just to see if it makes any difference. Good luck on your's and stop back and let us know if you do get a bigger, meaner snowblower 💪Thanks again for watching!

[@bobchan1666]

Great video.
100% agree gas snowblower's weakest point is the carb. I picked up an aftermarket carb from Amazon and worked like new. They are dirt cheap.
Your tecumseh engine should be an easy find.

[@WorksIRL]

That's great to hear you sourced and replaced the entire carburetor and it did the trick! I'll have to do that as well and have it on hand before next Winter season. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! I really appreciate it!! 💪