Cub Cadet barely used snow thrower low RPM and must be run with choke on

[ArghArgh]

I've had this pretty beefy machine for 3 years, given the lack of snow in the northeast I've used it maybe eight times.

First snowfall yesterday. It wouldn't start (tank was empty and stabil run through it last year). Just put in fresh gas, and let the carb float drain for a bit it started right up.

However, using it today it runs smooth but requires I keep the choke on and the RPMs are really low (like I moved the throttle to its lowest point). Did the job but clearly isn't running optimally.

Ideas how to troubleshoot?

Thanks.

[Dean]

It sounds like the blower isn't getting enough fuel to work under load. Is there a fuel filter on it? Does it have a sediment bowl with a filter screen? Is the screen possibly plugged? Can you use some sort of compressed air to blow the line from the carburetor to the fuel tank? What happens if you loosen or remove the fuel tank cap?

[z38.310]

That happened to me right after gasohol hit the market. I had to disassemble the carb and clean it out.

[Bob F]

Plugged main jet. Clean that jet. Clean the carb. Something like that.

[trader_4]

There are carb rebuild kits for many carbs on Ebay for like $10. They give you gaskets, new float valve pin, welch plugs, etc.

[Ralph Mowery]

Often for under $ 20 you can get the whole carb, gaskets and some other parts. Instead of rebuilding some small engine carbs I just replace them along with the other parts that come with it such as the primer bulb and fuel lines. Just not that extra $ 5 to $ 10 to take the time to do the rebuilding if the whole carb is avaliable for that .

A quick look shows up lots of carbs with some extra parts for $ 11 including shipping. Hard to believe those things are so inexpensive.

[Bob F]

But then again, I can clean the main jet on my lawnmower in a few minutes, far faster than I can change the carb that took 2 weeks to get after I ordered it.

[Ralph Mowery]

True you can. But what if it is not the main jet but one of the parts that the ethanol gas messed up or a gasket gets messed up.

I have no problem with working on a carb if you want or need it like the snow blower. Many things I ordered off ebay from the US suppliers arrive in a week or less.

It all depends on the engine. Some like my generator has a bolt that holds the bowl of the carb on. It also has some places for the gas to go that can be cleaned and may solve a problem. I believe Trader was thinking of a complete rebuild the same as I was.

[Clare Snyder]

1 worf - SEAFOAM. put about 3 oz id seafoam in a tank of fresh gas and run it on choke untill you can keep it running with no choke as the seafoam "reams out" the crap in the jets of the carb - then use as per instructions on your gas all season - then put a couple oz in the tank of fuel when put in storage.

IT WORKS!!!!!!!

[Snag]

Most of the time ... sometimes you'll get bits of rust from a steel float bowl , the only solution is mechanical removal . The small diaphragm carbs are now so cheap I just replace them if Seafoam won't clear up the problem .

[ArghArgh]

This thing is effectively brand new used 7 times now. I tried running a quart of seafoam thru it I still had to leave it on choke to keep it running, after about 10 minutes it did start to chug a bit, but still couldn't bring off choke or it would stall. Kicking myself in the a$$ for leaving gas in it for 6 months over the first summer. If it can't come off choke, what part of carb might be malfunctioning? Thanks.

[Ralph Mowery]

summer.

There is probably a small hole called a jet that is plugged up. Look on Youtube and see the many vidios that tell how to take a carborator like the engine on yours has. You normmally have to take the carborator odd and run a very small wire through it to clear the blockage. The wire will be about the size of the wire twist that comes on some bread packages after you burn off the paper.

When running poorly with the choke on is usually a sign of not enough gas. Unless you have had the carborator off and a gasket is leaking air.

[hubops]

Running it on full choke for extended periods will flood the crankcase with gasoline. ... diluting the oil - a bad thing. You can ruin your engine with this behavior. Address the problem. John T.

[Clare Snyder]

I've had VERY GOOD results putting SeaFoam in the gas and running it on choke until the jet clears. Out of the last 10 or so I've serviced for that problem I've only had to open the carb on 2? - Maybe 3 - 2 of which had water in the bowl.

[Clare Snyder]

With plugged jets the choke doesn't dlood the engine becuse it just makes the mixture almost as string as it should be. You need to back the choke off bit by bit as the sea-foem opens the jet

[Hiram T Schwantz]

On Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:38:35 -0800 (PST), ArghArgh posted for all of us to digest...

it for 6 months over the first summer.

Watch Chickanic (sp) on U tube. I believe your issue is one of her latest vids.

[cshenk]

Carburator cleaner may help if it's not too bad.

[invalid unparseable]

It has been years ago that my snow thrower would not start after leaving gas with sta-bil in it. I had the shop work on it and apparently was leaving gas with ethanol in it which messes it up. Someone else said depending on carburetor gas could evaporate leaving sludge.

Recently my generator needed choke to run but Sea Foam took care of it. I can leave gas in generator because it has a shut off valve to carburetor which I run empty. Snow thrower does not have one and I siphon gas and run dry.