Tecumseh Carb snowblower cleaning 1 of 2 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Never cleaned a carburetor before, but followed your video and got it completely cleaned. My neighbors and I have shared our Craftsman snowblower for 11 years and now it runs like new. Thank you so much...very helpful!

Awesome video. My snowblower had the problem you described - it would only run with the choke fully engaged, and even then it would just barely keep running. I resolved the problem with a quicker version of your fix. I removed the shroud but did not remove the primer hose or fuel hose. I used a small C clamp to pinch the fuel hose behind the plastic fuel inlet to cut off the fuel supply. I put an empty plastic yogurt container under carb bowl. My version had a fixed jet as you described, so I used a 1/2" wrench to remove the jet and let the small amount of fuel drain into the yogurt container. I did not remove the bowl. I cleaned the jet with carb cleaner and a wire as you showed. I also sprayed carb cleaner down the throttle body which flushed some dirt through the bowl into the yogurt container. Replaced the jet, removed the C clamp, replaced the shroud, started it up, and it's running like the day I bought it!

Its Jan of 2019 and this video just walked me through cleaning up my snow blowers carburetor. I followed all the steps and it fired up on the first pull! I did add a little Seafoam to the fresh gas. Thank you very much for taking the time to upload this. Saved me at least $100.

Thanks I bought an old used snowblower last fall, never needed one before I bought this house with a long driveway. The thing ran great all last winter but I was thinking it’s about time to give it a little tlc while the sun is shining. Your video was very helpful, never worked on one of these techumse engine carburetors so your details and tips about the position of all the linkages are very helpful. Going to pull it off this afternoon and give it a go. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

Excellent video! Thanks for making this. You just helped me get my snowblower running again after being in storage all summer! The tiny hole on the needle valve was clogged. I never even knew it was there! Used a coper wire to clean it and now my snowblower starts up and runs great again!

I know this is an old video but it helped me out. That little tiny hole mentioned at 6:25 I think is actually the primer hole. I was having problems with mine not priming and starting. I had it apart a couple months ago and cleaned it but it still would not prime. I was going to pull it apart again and decided to do some searching and I stumbled across this video and decided to watch it since it is exactly the motor I have. I did not know about that real tiny hole that is above the other hole, it almost looks like a spec of dirt. Got a piece of wire and poked through it. Sprayed cleaner through it and if you notice it sprays upward through that hole. That is when it dawned on me that this must be the hole that gas is forced up through when you pump the primer bulb. Finished cleaning it up and got it backed together. I pump it twice and can actually see fuel in the throat of the carburetor again. It took a little to get it started as I may have pumped it a third time and got too much fuel in it but it did fire up. Got it tuned again and today will see if it actually works like it has in the past as we have about 6" of snow and need to go blow snow. I also didn't want to go the route of one of those cheap nonadjustable carbs. Thank you again for making posting the video.

I owe you a beer. I followed your instructions and had my snowblower running like new in just a few minutes. your video saved me $$ Thanks!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are expecting 4 to 9 inches of snow tonight and my Craftsman 5 hp snow thrower would not start. Your video was tremendously helpful and did the job.

Thanks! I watched your video - and had the intent of cleaning/rebuilding my carb. But i ended up finding a replacement carb on amazon- and it works like a charm - runs great! If i hadn't seen your video - i wouldn't have been brave enough to replace it. Appreciate your tips!

hey sixtyfiveford . my mtd 8hp snow thrower is 21 years old I never cleaned the carb once but I allways run the carburetor out of gas every time I use it . well this year I went to start it and it would run for a second and then die . I watched your video and thought yagh I could do that , but wasn't so confident on breaking down the carb to the level that you did although I probably could have , I left the carb on the machine took the bowl off and just removed the main jet and sure as shit the little holes had gunk in them I sprayed the jet as per your video and cleaned the holes with the wire like you did , reinstalled and the blower is running like it is brand new just wanted to say thanks for making the video so so so much and keep making them you rock dude, I didn't have the money this year to buy a new one . thanks again man .

Thank you for the video. I was trying to see how difficult it would be to access the muffler, but thanks to your video it looks like a very simple job.

Sixtyfiveford...I TRULY cant thank you enough for doing this video. My pops had very similar model and never...EVER...did tune up and the night before a big snow storm we asked him did you check to see if it works, his reply " it starts up every year, so its fine"...Im sure by now you see where this is going. Wake up next morning to him stressed out cause it will not start. So I had a little fun with him first and broke his balls about not checking it and etc etc, then broke his balls about not having a smart phone, which if he did he could youtube some videos. Just when I was about to see steam coming out of his ears...I took out my Note5 phone, searched and found your video...did everything you showed and it started right up. Again, I really cant thank you enough for putting this video up! YOUR THE BEST

Thank you, it's amazing what we can learn from youtube and your videos. You give us all the confidence to tackle what seems so hard yet is relatively simple. My dad has been trying to start his snowblower without luck and after watching this and following your instructions we got it to start. Now, I've found so much more on your channel that I'm checking out other things I want to learn. Keep up the good work.

I just want to say thank you for your video you help me get my snowblower up and running this year

Thanks bud, I've been trying to get mine running all day, I cleaned the carb and didn't notice that spot

Helpful video. Thanks for posting. Now I'm all set for the blizzard tomorrow.

Thanks for the videos. I have to adjust the idle screw - it stall under any load with the choke off - but it runs now whereas it didn't before. I just tackled my first job and did my driveway this morning (with choke on halfway) so now I will tinker with the adjustment screws. Starts on first pull with the choke on full. Thank you!

Dead on instructions....and the night before a snowstorm. Thanks so much for taking the time to put it together. I can leave the shovel hanging on the wall tomorrow!!

Thank you so so much just cleaned up my carb and was able to get it the snowblower going for this storm here today. Thanks again

Thanks for keeping me from over trouble shooting my snowblower repair. Great video

Thanks for watching. Kirkland (Costco) Nitril. Carb cleaner eats them but not as fast as other gloves. They seem to hold up better and if you do get a tear they dont continue to tear.

Have not seen a lot but wow great video. Very thorough and pointing things out. Love the replace screw in the hole so you don't lose it . Need to fix something now , thanks

was just about to give up on this carb getting it to idle. Cleaned it too much on and off 3 times, saw your vid and the magic idle hole on the adj main jet/bowl nut. couldn't even see the hole. till I cleaned it with 0000 steel wool, and yep it was clogged. Strangest place for idle fuel supply. tuned carb and runs perf, thx again for sharing

Thanks!! Stuck throttle...FIXED ...runs great! Ready 4 this snow storm on the way.

Great detail. Thank you. Funny to see the carb cleaner flying all over the place in your work area, Ha!

Thanks for the video it really helped me in getting my snowblower going . Especially the part about the pin hole on the jet didn't see it the first time I tried to get it going

If you have an adjustable jet it will have the little hole. Sometimes it's in the top threads. It gets plugged and looks like it is not there in this video I have a hard time finding it and I know what I'm looking for. You need to scratch around with a wire to find it. The hole controls idle so if you can't find it on your old one the new jet with it will allow you to idle.

Thank you so much, great instructional videos. You're a natural teacher

It can be cleaned up easily. Even if it looks slightly pitted or stained it will work fine. The reason it dies easily is; not enough fuel is reaching the engine through the main jet. A piece of fine stranded copper wire through the passages of the main jet will help ensure correct flow. There are 1 or 2 large holes at the base by the nut head, 1 super small one in the thread area, and one through the middle of the bolt(main jet). Carb cleaner will give you a good visual if flow is smooth.

Compressed air is a trick used on larger carbs with large jets and passages. Carb cleaner allows you to physically see if a jet is flowing properly through these tiny passages. It wont hurt to use compressed air but it doesn't really benefit it either.

Ty soooo much. I was looking for the carb throttle hole. You are the man!

Yes you can. I do this quit a bit on machines. Pull the spray tube in and out of the hole while spraying.

I know what you mean, I was fed up loosing the tip. I got it off a WD -40 can (they still sell this style). I have used it on 30+ cans of carb cleaner and have loved it. I just pull off the stock sprayer and this one snaps right on.

Thank you very much! This gave me the confidence to do it and saved me from a weekend of shoveling.

I found all you vids excellent and easy to follow. Great help in cleaning a similar carb on my 2 stage Ariens. Like your flaps on the 2 stage for non-clogging and better throw.

Thanks for the informative cleaning tutorial. The very small hole that you were pointing out in the vid was clogged on my snow blower. Been having idling issues and sometimes chokes at full throttle. After cleaning it out it runs like new again. Such an easy fix :P

Thanks for the video, it helped me get my snow blower running again.

Man you rock. Best instructional video I've seen on carb repair.

I just wanted to drop a quick "thanks," because this video made it a snap for me to replace a gummed-up carb on my Simplicity with an HSSK50.

great video man, it was a good idea to make it in hi-def now you can really see the parts clearly. have the same model engine on my troy built 5hp snowblower, thing wasnt running unless on full or 3/4 choke so i pulled the carb thanks to your video and sprayed it with some good ol' supertech carb cleaner and soaked it over night ran good as new. also thank you for the close up on the main jet, wouldve never known to clean that its so tiny. well thanks again keep up the good work!

great video thanks. I did all that during a storm. turned out that the problem was the gas did not make it to the carburator, the tank cap was screwed too tight and the gas was hardly getting out of the tank. that kind of shit ALWAYS happends during the worst snow storms

I do have a video on how a governor system works but you never need to adjust them. The slight surging is do to a lean idle passage/jet. Turn it out another 1/2 to 1 turn and see if it smooths out.

Thank you for the help. You are a very good teacher, explaining every detail. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the video. I now have a running snow blower.

Thank you, This saved me a bunch of headache learning the hard way!

Mine was the last fix.The main under the float needle. But the local auto shop has the small kit for that.

Thanks for this. I just might be able to find the carburetor in the spring.

@Garen15 Main jet is clogged. Excessive priming will cause fuel to leak out throat of carb. You definitely need to tear into it.

very helpful video, do have a question? can oil get into carburetor by picking up lifting up or shifting it side ways

Awesome. Thanks for the comments, -Moe

Hi 65, I finally got it all rebuilt just as you did in this video, I think your video is the most precise one on RU-vid thank you... Today I put the carb back on and she fired up on the second pull and it runs real smooth, the only thing I have to do is adjust the idle mix screw a wee bit as it goes up and down a little on idle but starts on the 1st pull without the choke as it was 60 degrees today. Have you ever done a Video on adjusting the governor or changing the auger belts? Thanks !!

Thanks. Sorry it didn't work out but $38 is a great deal. My little Vado HD has put quite the mileage on her and has taken a fair amount of bumps and bruises (probably the best $100 bucks I've ever spent on a video camera).

You're welcome. Now your a professional carb technician. -Moe

You are the shit man. I will not be shoveling today because of your video. Thing purrs like a kitten idles better than ever and is a one pull start. I LEARNED IT FROM WATCHING YOU ALRIGHT!!! Thanks man.

Nicely done. Thank you so much for doing this. I now feel confident that I can do this as well.

I would just leave it dry. Awesome I'm glad you found the tiny hole it blends in so well.

Awesome.

Hey thanks for the video. I cleaned everything with carb cleaner but my snowblower still won't go. Appears it's not getting any fuel. I order a brand new Chinese carb for cheap. We'll see how that works.

g.r.e.a.t. vid , nearing perfection with such clarity and swiftness of teaching this task

I got a new kit to rebuild with, and you're right there IS a second hole and wow is it tiny. It's like the size of a human hair on the tip of the second thread right on the crown of the thread. I couldn't find it on my old one until I lightly touched it with a fine brass wire toothbrush...boy is it small.. I plan on using the new one.. Would you recommend something like Vaseline or Plumber grease on the new O'ring for the bowl? Or just leave it dry ? Thanks...

Thanks. Glad it's up and going good.

Hi, I tried everything, again, ran cleaner into idle port hole no luck, took carb apart redid the entire thing, still wouldn't idle, it ran great on high speed though , so it must have a real bad obstruction in idle passage somewhere. The good news is I got a NEW carb with FULL adjustments for $38 and it runs as it should. Sorry for all the notes, but if not for your HD Video I'd have been lost. Thank you again, you really save the day. Make more Vids, we love them !! what camera do you use?

You can also try my quick 5 minute clean and see if that gets you going before you rip into it. Look on my channel under Tecumseh and you should find it.

All good stuff, this and all your other videos. Question, I have a gas gas leak and therefore a strong odor, do I need to run through this entire process or is there something less that can be done to fix this. Where should my focus be? The float?

Hey, just thought id let you know, after I did everything from your video, it runs like a champ! Just like you said...like new! You rock bro! Keep up the awesome videos bro! Ad glad you saw my zip line video!

I rarely find what I'm looking for on these you tube videos. But this is EXACTLY what I was looking for and need. The gas is continuously leaking from my carb. I believe its my bowl leaking. The drain valve also appear very weak. I guess I'll do the full cleaning even though all I probably have to do is replace the gasket on the bowl and the drain valve. Good Job, Thanks! where is part 2 of 2?

I have a fixed jet. I took it out and gave it a good cleaning. One year i forget to purge the bowl of gas and it gunked up. The area where the o ring sit in the bowl is rough from gunk. Should the bowl be replaced or can i take an abrasive pad and clean it up.

Thanks, there buddy. I have a 5hp yard works snowblower. Is it the same motor?

Bad news I tried adjusting the idle screw but it doesnt seem to do anything no matter where I set it to, the engine doenst change it just idles up and down in surges, not too bad but it's not right. I wonder if I didnt get enough carb cleaner to the idle passages, or should have washed out the gas tank when I had the carb off since it had real old gas in it that had turned orange. It starts first pull, and runs great on high and med speed but idle is rough. Might have to pull it and do over ?

Hi again 65... Do you think I can just remove the idle jet screw and push carb cleaner through that hole without removing the carb to see if it will idle smooth without surging up and down? If not I guess I'll have to remove the carb and take it all apart and re-do it... hate to do it all over but oh well I should have cleaned the gas tank I'm sure..... thanks....

If it plugs up and then dies watch my video called: "Modify a snowblower to never clog and throw 2x as far" If it just wants to cut out when it starts hitting a heavy load the carb isn't delivering enough fuel to the engine. Does your carb have an adjustable main jet(bolt with center screw located on very bottom of the carb like the one in this video 5:15) or a fixed main jet shown at 5:25?

Greta video. Have this same engine on my MTD. It was running but bogging down whenever any load was put on it. Cleaned the carb, replaced the spark plug and checked fuel lines. Now it won't start. It'll start briefly if I spray carb cleaner in the carb but only for a few second then dies down. When I prime it, it doesn't seem to be putting any gas in the carb either. Any ideas? Many thanks!

I have a self propelled Craftsman EAGER 1 Mower. Will start run for about a minute & then stall. Have to wait a couple of minutes & prime , the same. It has a carb that I cannot find in any video. Part # 7.538F7H the Model # is 917 377 362 the Engine # is 143.976602. The jet is plastic, the bowl is plastic. I sprayed whatever ports I found out. The needle is held by plastic so I did not take it apart but blew into the carb. Air passes when held upright & does not when upside down. Any help

Thanks I got one of those Motors on a home made gocart

snowblowers don't have air filters. They would ice up and snowblowers don't work in dusty environments.

I inherited a snow blower that is it running. If you put a little gas in with the spark plug it will run but i when it runs out. When you push the primer button nothing happens. if you cover the hole in the primer button you can't depress it. It's like pushing on a balloon. Does this mean the primer line and the carb are all just full of junk? Great video.

Wow, awesome video sixtyfiveford. Thanks a lot. Makes me want to give it a shot. Would compressed air help to clean out the jets, or would it make things worse?

Great video, just what I was looking for, I have the exact same snow blower , same carb, as yours but my main jet only has the one tiny hole in the side near the bottom. I notice all the rebuild kits ( 31840 ) show main jet with the tiny hole at the top as you have. Will those work ok since my jet only has the one tiny hole? I've looked with a huge magnifier and there is no second hole on mine...Its been cleaned with carb cleaner and looks like new but no second hole.. thanks again...

How does gas get into the oil...I have a generator and a snow blower with the same problem...I have a habit at the end of the year to empty the tanks on all my machines and then let them run and stall before I put them away for the season...This year I filled the tanks with gas,did routine maintenance, started them and all was good...Three days later, no gas in the tanks and I could smell fuel mixed with the oil...The problem seemed to clear, but I'm concerned this problem may come back...I'd like to address it now, thanks Bob

Do you suggest using compressed air after cleaning the Carb with cleaner, or will this do harm rather than good to the carb...

If it is leaking out the mouth of the carb then it is your needle/seat or float.

My blower leaks gas out the carb when I push the primer bulb and will not start (no gas evident on the spark plug and it WILL start with a spritz of starting fluid in the plug hole). It runs great once it starts though. Is this a plugged jet? How does the bulb push gas into the cylinder? Thanks in advance.

Great! I hope it helped

I have an 11 hp tecumseh. Is there no air filter on it? I cant seem to find it. I just see the choke intake and that is it.

I’m have a problem with my snow blower it starts but doesn’t stay. cLeaned it and chAnged the carburetor

how this engines breath. dont see an air filter. ? ? ?. just bought a snoblower with a 8horse didnt find the air filter. ?

I have an Ariens Snow Blower with an 11.5 hp Tecumseh Snow king motor. I am considering just buying a new carb, because I haven't had much success rebuilding mine. Do you know if I can buy a replacement that uses the adjustable jet? My current is a fixed jet. The motor is an OH318SA.

good video. Do you have to wear goggles and a mask when working with cleaning fluids? I've noticed a lot of warnings on some cleaning fluids about not breathing the vapors. I'm very safety conscience. Thanks

Hello Ford I got a Problem With my Snowblower Same Engine. I believe it Might be the Choke.. the snow blower will run fine till it warms up about 10-15 min.. Then it dies outs. I need to wait till it cools off or it wont start... Once it is cold again it will start up fine... Any sugestions on this thanks...

its cold out now and it will not start 2 weeks ago it started will a shot of carb cleaner help ???

I have a video on the carb ( tecumseh composite machined carb rebuild). Your issue is: pluged gas cap air vent (try running engine with loose or off cap), restricted fuel line, or swollen needle seat from ethanol in the fuel.. Look on my channel for that video.

Good vid. I'm guessing you dont smoke or weld near that bench...LOL

Where would I get the float needle? I have an 84 toro 421 so it's all older and not sure what is compatible.

Tkx for showing this.

Great video, however when I was snugging the bolt up after clearing the clogged hole, the bolt broke off right in the middle of the threads. I was able to get the broken part out, but any idea where I could get a new one? Do they even make them anymore?

my snow blower runs but once it gets a load of snow it wants to die. Seems like even afew inches is too much. Its rated for 25"

Hey, where did you get the spray head that you are using? That looks really handy! I recently shot a loose spray wand into the intake of my car. :-( A nice robust spray head like you use would have eliminated that issue. Love your vids!

Hello Bruce P., How much does a jack stand like yours cost now, in the ballpark, and where can I find something that wide to support a 23” snow blower? If I could get it, it will save me a lot of backache later. My blower won’t start. It’s exactly a 5-horsepower Craftsman, but with an electric starter. Your clips are very helpful! Thank you!

I have the same motor, but the Governor is stuck and wont move. Any suggestions?

How many turns back out on the main jet? Thx