Starting Neglected 2-Cycle Equipment

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I am being gifted a 2-cycle snow blower of vintage 1996. It wasn't ever used a lot, but I think it hasn't been started in at least six years, possibly ten. Odds are pretty good that it was left with gas in the tank at that time. One can only imagine what might be left in the carburetor or fuel tank. My thoughts were

  • check to see if there is anything liquid in the fuel tank, then remove it.
  • Add a little premixed Ethanol free gas.
  • Hit it with a good dose of starting fluid.
  • Cross my fingers and attempt to start.

Does this sound like a reasonable plan, or should I try other things like soaking the tank with some serious fuel system cleaner first? Pull the plug and clean it up first? Other???

This won't be my primary snow blower, but I was always impressed with the way it would clean right down to the surface. The auger is equipped with rubber tipped blades that actually contact the surface. If I can get it running I will use it for the final passes afer the heavy snow is gone.
 
Definitely dump old fuel. Premixed ethanol free is not a bad idea but it's not something that this event in particular needs. You may need a carb rebuild kit. Seals and diaphragms can harden with age, particularly if the equipment is not being used, but first thing's first, to just change the fuel and see how it runs.

Some people would first put a squirt of 2 cycle oil in the cylinder and turn it by hand a few times in case the cylinder has corroded while sitting.

Otherwise, it's still an old 2 cycle. Odds are good that sooner rather than later you'll need a primer bulb and fuel lines. If it has a fuel filter, fuel probably sat in that and gummed up too. "IF" you can take the muffler off without stripping the bolt holes (leave it on for now if it resists your efforts), check for carbon buildup on the exhaust port and clean that if needed - need not be spotless, just not obstructed much.

You may need to pull it all apart as old parts succumb to the stresses of use again, but first I would inspect the tank to see how it looks, maybe put some Techron fuel system cleaner in the first tank of fuel at double the normal rate prescribed for cars, which is one ounce per gallon, so two ounces per gallon, and run the entire tank through it in one session. If it runs rough, let it keep running to clean it out a bit before jumping into taking it apart.

Sometimes they just need the carb/air cleaner bolt tightened down because the seals compressed and caused an intake leak. Don't overlook the simple things.
 
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You could put fresh gas in it and see if it will run, that's a decent place to start but there is a good chance it won't and you will have to get that gas back out.

Check for spark and if there is spark spray some gas in the carb and see if it will run. That way you know that any problems it has are fuel related.

You are most likely going to have to clean the carb at minimum. Even if it does start with fresh gas, it probably won't run right after sitting for so long. A lot of the time it is a carb issue that causes old machines to be mothballed.
 
Originally Posted by Astro_Guy
I am being gifted a 2-cycle snow blower of vintage 1996.


What brand is it?
 
Ethanol gas is a better cleaner than non-ethanol. try that first with some 2 stroke oil.

Pinch and wiggle all of the hoses and replace the ones with cracks. Make sure the tank is clean. Give her a go.

When your arm gets tired, remove the carb and see if it matches a cheap one from Ebay. Many people have good luck with the cheap ebay ones. usually cheaper and less time consuming than rebuilding the old one that might have corroded metal parts inside.
 
Remove Spark Plug and pour a bit of oil in hole and pull cord after 10 minutes. Then try starting it.
 
Definitely get something down the plug hole to free things up. Ive had luck with running a solid dose of a cleaner with my initial fill and freeing things up
 
Originally Posted by SatinSilver
What brand is it?
Yard Machines maybe? Something MTD for sure.
Originally Posted by danez_yoda
Ethanol gas is a better cleaner than non-ethanol.
Ethanol free Tru-Fuel is all I have on hand or use in my 2-cycle toys. I also have some Redline SL-1 on hand and could run a pure dose of that thru and let it soak for a week or two.
Originally Posted by danez_yoda
When your arm gets tired...
Electric start - not to worry. Thus my comment about running a pure does of SL-1 in it. It would be very easy to do.
 
Originally Posted by Audios
Definitely get something down the plug hole to free things up. Ive had luck with running a solid dose of a cleaner with my initial fill and freeing things up
Okay - easy enough considering I want a look at the plug anyway.
 
Avoid starting fluid in a 2 stroke engine, remember the fuel is also the oil, and starting fluid has no lubricant in it.
Remove the spark plug and give it a few squirts of oil down the cylinder, 2 stroke oil if you have it, but any oil is better than nothing. Crank it over slowely to give the cylinder a coating of oil.
I'd get any old gas thats in it out, put a small amount of fresh gas in the tank, slosh it around and dump that out to rinse the tank.
Check fuel lines and primer bulb for cracks.
With fresh fuel/oil mix and a new sparkplug, try to start it.

May need a carb if its sat that long
 
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Originally Posted by cronk
Avoid starting fluid in a 2 stroke engine, remember the fuel is also the oil, and starting fluid has no lubricant in it.


The starting fluid's for sale where I live say upper cylinder lube and list for use in outboard motors and chainsaws.
 
my aunts 1986 toro S620 snow thrower responded to starting fluid + a new spark plug , check manufactures sites + you tubes. 2 strokes are simple but their intense vibration is hard on them, + carbs with diaphragms can have issues but some repair kits are available as things change little over the years.
 
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In my lawnboy blower I just unkooked the fuel line and drained out the oil and sludge, flushed the tank with gas oil mix and let some drain out the fuel line. I refilled it with fresh mix and got it started.

This was after I inspected it for cracked lines.
 
I got ahold of the machine and its records today. It is MTD made Yard Machines brand with a 2-cycle Tecumseh Snow king engine, originally purchased in 1998. It had some service work in 2006. The fuel tank was dry and clean. The plug was clean too, indicating that the machine had been run dry at the last use.

I put a few drops of straight up Stihl 2-cycle oil in the cylinder, replaced the plug, and gave the rope two pulls. Compression was obviously good based upon the feel and sound. The fuel cap called for 50:1 fuel to oil mix, but the manual said to run it on 32:1 for break in. With that bit of encouragement, I added a quart of 40:1 Ethanol free Tru-Fuel premix. After waiting about five minutes, I pushed the primer bulb twice, set the choke and gave the rope a pull. Wouldn't you know it started on the first pull. After a little warm up I engaged the auger, which caused it to bog down and smoke a little. That stopped after a few more exercise cycles. It did give a pretty big backfire upon shutdown, and something white shot out of the exhaust. That turned out to be a piece of popcorn. This machine has spent its entire life stored in a shed next to a cornfield, so I am guessing the corn wasn't popped when it got into the muffler.

Next I added about one ounce of Redline SL-1 fuel system cleaner to that quart of fuel, which is a pretty heavy mix. I ran it again for five minutes, and all seems well. I plan to run it again today just to move more of the fuel system cleaner thru the system. All in all, this appears to be a highly successful rescue.
 
The fuel tank being dry was a huge advantage. I'm already fixing snowblowers for customers that bought them brand new last year and left fuel in the tank. The ethanol just destroys the carburetors.
 
Later in the day I gave this machine a few soak and run cycles, hoping to let the Redline SI-1 do it's thing. That one ounce per quart of fuel is about 4x the dose you would put in your car. The machine is smoking a lot more now, and I am hoping that this is just the fuel treatment burning off. It would be easy enough to remove that fuel, and easier still to just dilute it with the addition of some 50:1 fuel. What would the rest of you do if it were your machine?
 
Originally Posted by jeepman3071
I would just run the rest of the tank through it then use normal 50:1 fuel.
Sounds like a plan. I'll give her a run and soak cycle every weekend until needed, just to use up some of that treated gas.
 
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