Proper Snowblower/Small Engine Start up procedures

A common cause of engine failure.

Winter of 2022, Wasilla, AK

You wake up in the morning and it’s dark outside.  You turn on your porch light to see a fresh twelve inches of snow sitting on your front porch and it’s still falling.  Grumbling under your breath, you get dressed and put on your jacket, boots, hat, and gloves and head out into the cold mess.  You grab the pull cord on your snowblower and start pulling.  Pull, pull, pull, pull, pull.  Nothing.  It seems like these things always fail when you need them most.  Aggravated, you grab your shovel and start pushing the snow, dreading the late afternoon back ache you’ll have from this morning. 

How often has this happened to you?  Probably more than you would like to admit.  Believe it or not, a lot of the time the simplest solution is the answer to the problem.  Did you start the motor in the correct sequence?  Crazy as it may sound, this can be the difference between an engine that starts and an engine that won’t. Improper small engine start up procedures can cause the engine not to start or can cause flooding.  Either way, knowing how to correctly start your machine is the key to success.   

Because we live in a litigious society so I’ll leave you with this disclaimer before we talk through this: Follow the starting procedures listed in your owner’s manual as this will provide the best results for your model.  If you no longer have the owner’s manual, these general steps will likely resolve your issues. 

Let’s talk about engine start up:

Step 1. Turn fuel shut off valve to the on position.  Not all models have a fuel shut off valve, but if yours does, it needs to be turned on.  Generally, most valves will be in the “ON” position if the lever is in line with the fuel line.  On a side note, this goes without saying, but make sure there is fresh fuel in the tank.

Step 2. Turn the On/Off switch to the “ON” position or insert the plastic key.  Again, not all models have this feature, but most do. 

Step 3. Turn the throttle to the “ON” position.  This is the lever with the rabbit and the turtle on it.  Go ahead and push it all the way to the rabbit (fast) position. 

Step 4. Turn the choke all the way on.  This is generally a knob or lever.  The symbol for the choke looks like a set of lines depicting the closure of a passage: |/| or | | |.  This symbol is choke on: |/|.  The other symbol is choke off.

Step 5.  Press the primer bulb two to three times.  Anything more than three pumps will cause fuel to spill out of the front of the carburetor. 

Step 6. Pull the pull rope until the engine starts.  On four stroke engines, this should really only take 1-3 good strong pulls.  If you find yourself pulling and pulling and pulling, there is likely something wrong with the engine that is preventing it from starting. 

Step 6a. If your machine has an electric start, this is the time when you would push the “Start” button.  Only hold it down for a few seconds at a time to prevent burning out the start motor.  Make sure you release the button as soon as the engine starts to prevent damage to the starter gear or flywheel. 

Step 7. Once the engine starts, immediately turn the choke off to prevent flooding the engine.  If the engine stalls immediately after turning off the choke, then repeat steps four thru six until the engine starts again.  This time, turn the choke only half way off and allow it to run for five to ten seconds before turning the choke off again.  If the engine stalls again, there is likely something wrong with the carburetor. 

Step 8. Get to work!

If you can’t get your machine to start after following these steps then it’s time for help. Give Polar Tree and Engine Care a call at 907-414-0600.  We can diagnose and repair your machine quickly and efficiently to keep you moving.  Winters in Alaska are harsh.  Let us take the burden of fixing your machines so you can relax by the fire.