Help the Dunce -- Small Engine Problem (Snow Thrower) - Page 2

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 08:28 PM

So my little 5.5 HP snow thrower of last year proved itself pathetically inadequate to a serious New England snowstorm (or 3, or 4, or 5, like we had last winter) and so I sold that off and bought a big sturdy 10.5 HP that ought to be able to handle about the worst that New England has to offer.

We're supposed to get a bit of a storm tonight -- nothing too serious, but I might need it tomorrow morning for the first time this year. It's a 10.5 HP Craftsman with a Briggs and Stratton Engine. The thing has an electric starter, but I was unable to get it to work.

I plugged it in, pushed the button and nothing happened. So my first question is this, does the electric starter thing need to be plugged in for a while to juice up? I would figure that like most appliances, etc., that it will work if it's actually plugged in when you go to use it, and that you only need to keep it plugged in if you want it to stay charged for a while.

That is a minor question -- the next one is far more important to me.

I ditch the electric start up and go for the manual one. Prime twice, pull once, and she fires up fine. Wait a bit, then turn the choke down to off. Splutter a bit, turn the choke back up a bit, wait a bit, turn it down, and then off.

10 seconds later the fracking thing starts to smoke. It's pretty cold here -- maybe 20 degrees, so maybe it's just steam, but it sure looks like smoke. Worse, the aluminum top of the muffler or whatever it is is hot to the touch. Like really hot. Hotter than I would think it should be, especially since it's only been running for like 30 seconds total at this point.

So I turn it off and go into hte house muttering to myself.

Random facts:

1. yes, I checked the engine oil, and it seemed fine.

2. damn thing doesn't have a throttle, at least so far as I could find.

Any thoughts/help???

**2112** · 02-01-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Consider me as very "unhandy". I won't be removing any air filters or following cable linkages.

I can do research however, and if you Google "Briggs and Stratton" and "no throttle" you'll get plenty of hits, so apparently this isn't that weird.

Well..I use commercial Toro snow blowers with Briggs engines..and every one of them have throttle cables..sorry..the only ones without throttle cables I've seen are the little 2 cycle ones..but..since you checked the oil,I know it's not 2 cycle..sorry dude

only trying to help.

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

It's got a throttle, Amno. It has to have one. Be a man and take off the air filter!

Let's assume for the sake of argument that I take off the air filter and follow the cable (like I'd know which one to follow) and find the throttle. The thing has no external throttle control, so what's the point of htis exercise in the first place?

Seriously -- there are only about 4 things on the engine total, so I'm pretty sure I'm not just missing it.

There's an on-off switch

There's the little electric start set up

There's a choke

And other than the gas and oil access points and a separate dipstick for the oil, that's about all there is to it.

stumppy · 02-01-2007, 08:54 PM

It probably has an inline switch/valve for the fuel. Like motorcycles do. Make sure it is in the on position.

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vos

Well..I use commercial Toro snow blowers with Briggs engines..and every one of them have throttle cables..sorry..the only ones without throttle cables I've seen are the little 2 cycle ones..but..since you checked the oil,I know it's not 2 cycle..sorry dude

only trying to help.

I appreciate the help. I gladly admit I'm not pro at small engines. My parents never had anything with a small engine. Manual lawn mowers (i.e. people power to push), no chainsaw, no gas equipment of any kind other than the car.

I can even tell you exactly which engine it is. I'll try to post hte picture, as I found it on the B&S website.

Halfcan · 02-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Have Tom Brady fix it for ya-he is not going to be busy this Sunday.

**2112** · 02-01-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I appreciate the help. I gladly admit I'm not pro at small engines. My parents never had anything with a small engine. Manual lawn mowers (i.e. people power to push), no chainsaw, no gas equipment of any kind other than the car.

I can even tell you exactly which engine it is. I'll try to post hte picture, as I found it on the B&S website.

Try and post the pic dude

El Jefe · 02-01-2007, 08:56 PM

I work on cars at my dads transmission shop and I work on everything of the sort. Vos definetely knows what he is talking about I would find the throttle and let it run for a while at half throttle there is a lot of crap that could take a bit to burn off like paint and stickers you dont see. If its bran new it shouldnt have any real problems unless manufacturer defects.

**Donger** · 02-01-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Let's assume for the sake of argument that I take off the air filter and follow the cable (like I'd know which one to follow) and find the throttle. The thing has no external throttle control, so what's the point of htis exercise in the first place?

Seriously -- there are only about 4 things on the engine total, so I'm pretty sure I'm not just missing it.

There's an on-off switch

There's the little electric start set up

There's a choke

And other than the gas and oil access points and a separate dipstick for the oil, that's about all there is to it.

Actually, I'm just seeing if I can set you on fire.

Anyway, why not just let the fucker smoke for a while? If it's running, let it smoke. It'll clear up.

Delano · 02-01-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

It'd never been run before -- the gas I added was the first time it'd ever had gas.

It was assembled, for what it's worth, by the geniouses at my local Sears (it being a Craftsman, after all).

The only assembly done by Sears employees is to tighten a few wingnuts on the handle after they put it in an upright position. You can't blame them. LOL

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 08:58 PM

Couldn't paste it in for some reason. Here's a link. It's the first one (top of page, not bottom).

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?docid=98287

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Have Tom Brady fix it for ya-he is not going to be busy this Sunday.

Yeah, I called him, but he said he was planning to nail Giselle Bundschen while the Bears were nailing his buddy Manning. I offered him some Sam Adams Winter Lager, but I couldn't really top what Giselle had to offer could I?

Amnorix · 02-01-2007, 09:02 PM

Also note that on the webpage I posted, the one on the BOTTOM does have a throttle control. The little description says so (unlike for the one on top, which is the one I have).

**2112** · 02-01-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Couldn't paste it in for some reason. Here's a link. It's the first one (top of page, not bottom).

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?docid=98287

I need a pic of the entire blower,if you can find it..it would be more helpful

**Donger** · 02-01-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Also note that on the webpage I posted, the one on the BOTTOM does have a throttle control. The little description says so (unlike for the one on top, which is the one I have).

Seriously Amno, go fire that thing up again and let it smoke. It will stop. These aren't exactly precision motors.

**2112** · 02-01-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Seriously Amno, go fire that thing up again and let it smoke. It will stop. These aren't exactly precision motors.

I agree with Donger

02-01-2007, 08:28 PM
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Help the Dunce -- Small Engine Problem (Snow Thrower) So my little 5.5 HP snow thrower of last year proved itself pathetically inadequate to a serious New England snowstorm (or 3, or 4, or 5, like we had last winter) and so I sold that off and bought a big sturdy 10.5 HP that ought to be able to handle about the worst that New England has to offer. We're supposed to get a bit of a storm tonight -- nothing too serious, but I might need it tomorrow morning for the first time this year. It's a 10.5 HP Craftsman with a Briggs and Stratton Engine. The thing has an electric starter, but I was unable to get it to work. I plugged it in, pushed the button and nothing happened. So my first question is this, does the electric starter thing need to be plugged in for a while to juice up? I would figure that like most appliances, etc., that it will work if it's actually plugged in when you go to use it, and that you only need to keep it plugged in if you want it to stay charged for a while. That is a minor question -- the next one is far more important to me. I ditch the electric start up and go for the manual one. Prime twice, pull once, and she fires up fine. Wait a bit, then turn the choke down to off. Splutter a bit, turn the choke back up a bit, wait a bit, turn it down, and then off. 10 seconds later the fracking thing starts to smoke. It's pretty cold here -- maybe 20 degrees, so maybe it's just steam, but it sure looks like smoke. Worse, the aluminum top of the muffler or whatever it is is hot to the touch. Like really hot. Hotter than I would think it should be, especially since it's only been running for like 30 seconds total at this point. So I turn it off and go into hte house muttering to myself. Random facts: 1. yes, I checked the engine oil, and it seemed fine. 2. damn thing doesn't have a throttle, at least so far as I could find. Any thoughts/help???
Posts: 43,125

02-01-2007, 08:54 PM	#18
stumppy New and Improved Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, Mo. Casino cash: $-2191410	It probably has an inline switch/valve for the fuel. Like motorcycles do. Make sure it is in the on position. __________________ “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution”
Posts: 22,320

02-01-2007, 08:55 PM	#20
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	Have Tom Brady fix it for ya-he is not going to be busy this Sunday.
Posts: 43,200

02-01-2007, 08:56 PM	#22
El Jefe Don't tread on me. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Where the peaches grow Casino cash: $9030572	I work on cars at my dads transmission shop and I work on everything of the sort. Vos definetely knows what he is talking about I would find the throttle and let it run for a while at half throttle there is a lot of crap that could take a bit to burn off like paint and stickers you dont see. If its bran new it shouldnt have any real problems unless manufacturer defects.
Posts: 8,540

02-01-2007, 08:58 PM	#25
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Couldn't paste it in for some reason. Here's a link. It's the first one (top of page, not bottom). http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?docid=98287 __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
Posts: 43,125

02-01-2007, 09:02 PM	#27
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Also note that on the webpage I posted, the one on the BOTTOM does have a throttle control. The little description says so (unlike for the one on top, which is the one I have). __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
Posts: 43,125