What’s Causing Your Ariens Snowblower to Crash
When your snowblower breaks down, clearing the driveway becomes a much more time-consuming task. Even if you manage to get it operating, it won’t keep going for long before shutting down again. Worst possible location to be when it’s below freezing and your snowblower won’t start.
If the gas is old, the fuel filter is clogged, the fuel line is clogged, the fuel cap won’t vent, or the carburetor is unclean, the Ariens snowblower will continually stalling. The engine oil level is too low, the choke is set too high, or the spark plug is faulty, all of which can cause an Ariens snowblower to stall.
Safety first! Always refer to your Ariens operator’s manual before performing any maintenance on your snowblower.
Even with the engine turned off and the spark plug removed, the auger, chute, and impeller could still be under strain and provide a hazard.
Ariens snowblower breakdown causes:
- Outdated fuel
- Badly adjusted choke settings
- A clogged fuel filter
- Fuel line clog
- Over-oiling the engine
- Fragile gas cap
Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s manual. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to conduct the repair safely due to a lack of experience, training, or health, it’s best to call in an expert.
Table of Contents
There Are 8 Potential Causes of a Failing Ariens Snowblower
An Ariens snowblower dies due to old gas
In order to avoid problems caused by fuel limits, it is crucial to use only recently purchased gas in an Ariens snowblower.
To preserve the fuel’s ignitability and efficiency, it’s best to use it up within 30 days after purchase.
Ethanol is now a common additive in gasoline. The addition of this alternative fuel to regular gas improves its environmental profile. Ethanol can be produced from corn or another high-starch plant.
Even though ethanol may be used in most vehicles without issue, the tiny engine on your Ariens snow thrower is not a good candidate for this fuel. Moisture in the air can cause ethanol to separate from gas in a fuel system.
Varnish and sticky particles will be left behind after water and ethanol are combined, which might clog the fuel system and limit its ability to function. Your Ariens snowblower won’t start if there’s no gas in the tank.
Considering the following points will help you choose and maintain the fuel for your Ariens snowblower:
- Fuel of at least 87 octane is recommended.
- Only use fuel that contains no more than 10% ethanol. To get the maximum performance out of your vehicle, use fuel with a low ethanol concentration or none at all.
- Keep fuel away from damp and flammable materials.
- Utilize gas within 30 days. If you think you won’t be able to use the product within that time limit, you can extend its shelf life by adding a gasoline stabilizer like Sea Foam Motor Treatment or STA-BIL.
Engine fuel for Ariens two-cycle and four-cycle snow blowers:
- 2-cycle engines have only a single filling hole that can be used for both gas and oil. In some cases, the original fuel cap or the owner’s handbook will specify what proportions of gas and oil should be used in the engine.Most 2-cycle Ariens snow throwers require a 50:1 gas-to-oil mixture. Some of the Ariens snowblower engines may also need for a 40:1 blend. If you are unsure about the proper gas-to-oil ratio for your vehicle, consult the owner’s manual.
- 4-cycle engines have a separate oil and gas fill port, and a single gas fill port. Regular unleaded gas can be poured into the fuel port.
Use a gasoline siphon pump to get rid of the old gas in your snow thrower. To prevent corrosion in the fuel system, clean the fuel injectors, and stabilize the fuel, fill the tank with new gas and apply an additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment.
You definitely don’t want to mess up your snowblower by using the wrong gas.
Read more about fuel for your snowblower: “This is the Type of Gas Ariens Snowblowers Use“.
A stalled Ariens snowblower is traced to an incorrectly set choke.
When trying to start a cold engine, the choke is engaged. When the engine is cold, the choke is used to reduce the airflow into the cylinder, increasing the fuel-to-air ratio beyond what is normally necessary.
If the throttle is not turned off to allow enough air into the engine, it will stall shortly after starting.
Ariens Snowblower Dies Due to Clogged Fuel Filter
To prevent dirt and debris from entering the fuel system, fuel is filtered before it leaves the tank. Damage to the engine and diminished fuel efficiency are two consequences of dirt and debris in the fuel system.
If you don’t replace your gasoline filter on a regular basis, it can get clogged up and restrict the flow of fuel to your engine. Your Ariens snowblower can not start up if you don’t have enough gas. Fuel filter replacement is required due to clogging.
An Ariens snowblower stalls due to a clogged fuel line.
Gummy deposits left behind by old fuel might jam the fuel line of the snowblower. Because of this, the engine will sputter and eventually stop working.
To collect fuel, turn off the fuel supply at the shutoff valve and then disconnect one end of the fuel line. Activate the fuel supply again, then double-check the storage tank to ensure a steady fuel flow.
However, if your model doesn’t feature a fuel shut-off valve, you can alternatively utilize hose pinch-off pliers.
When the fuel is flowing smoothly again, you can reconnect the fuel line. Disconnect the gasoline line from your Ariens snowblower if you aren’t.
To remove the obstruction, spray carburetor cleaning into the line. The next step is to clear the line of the obstruction by blowing compressed air through it. Iterate until the barrier is no longer in the way.
If the fuel line is too dry and cracked to remove the blockage, you should get a replacement fuel line of the same length and diameter. Connect the gas line properly. Restart the fuel delivery system.
An Ariens snowblower stalls due to a dirty carburetor.
It’s possible that your snowblower’s inability to start is due to a clogged or dirty carburetor. The carburetor’s purpose is to control the ratio of gas to air in the combustion process.
Your carburetor needs to be inspected and serviced as needed. It’s not as tough as it sounds.
Take your snow thrower to a repair shop if you aren’t handy with tools. If you have an interest in mechanics, keep reading!
If your carburetor is beyond repair, even with cleaning, you may need to replace it.
The Dirty Carburetor on Your Ariens Snowblower: 12 Easy Steps to Clean It
- Reduce carbon buildup by spraying carburetor cleaner. Air intakes should be sprayed with carburetor cleaning. Try starting the car to make sure it works. If the snow thrower starts, but then dies again, we’ll have to inspect the carburetor.
- In order to disassemble the carburetor without damaging any of its components, you need stock up on pliers, screwdrivers, sockets, and ratchets.
- To aid in reassembly, take a picture. Most people’s smartphones these days come equipped with a useful camera. If you’re about to disassemble the carburetor and can’t remember how to put it back together, it’s a good idea to take a photo of it first. You will want to make sure you capture a photo illustrating how the linkage and springs put back on the carburetor.
- If your snow thrower has a throttle cable and a choke cable, take them both out.
- Remove the carburetor bolts or screws and the filter housing.
- Remove the springs carefully so as not to overstretch them. To remove the springs, you may need to rotate the carb slightly. Keep an eye on the gasket to ensure it doesn’t become ripped now. The engine block and the carburetor are separated by this gasket.
- The float bowl’s bottom screw must be removed. The carburetor’s float bowl is where fuel is kept. There’s probably gas within, so be prepared to capture it with a towel.
- Carefully disconnect the bowl from its o-ring. Take care not to get any chemicals, including carb cleaning, on the o-ring. It will lose its shape and elasticity, rendering it useless.
- Make sure there are no blocked holes in the stem. This hollow stem protrudes from the carburetor’s center. Old gasoline plugging these perforations prevents fuel from being drawn up to the jet. To unclog the holds, use a thick wire. Utilizing a flashlight will help you see better when working in low light conditions. You may then rinse the holes with carb cleaning.
- Make sure there is no crusty white buildup in the carburetor. Additives to the gasoline, such as ethanol, cause this white residue. As much of the white power information as you can extract is essential. It’s quite challenging to express everything that’s on your mind.
- After cleaning the carburetor, reinstall it. Reassemble it in the same sequence from which you dismantled it. If you took a picture of the carburetor, use it as a guide to ensure that all of the pieces go back into their proper slots.
- In order to get your snowblower going again, you’ll need to fill it up with fresh gasoline that has a fuel stabilizer in it. Allow the fuel to enter the tank and fill the carburetor bowl. Get the motor running. Give the rope a yank if you’re starting with a pulley. Even if it doesn’t turn over on the first pull, give it a few and you should have a running machine.
An Ariens snowblower stalls due to a faulty spark plug.
Due to spark troubles brought on by a fouled spark plug, the Ariens snowblower may suddenly shut off. When you take out the spark plug, you can see if it’s filthy with oil, carbon, and other debris.
A spark plug that has become filthy should be cleaned using a wire brush. The spark plug should be replaced if it has become excessively black in color or is damaged.
Make sure the space on the new spark plug or the cleaned one is as per the manufacturer’s recommendations before fitting it. Put in the spark plug and make any required adjustments. Connect the wire to the spark plug firmly.
An Ariens snowblower won’t start if too much oil is added to the engine
Oil may build up to the spark plug in a 4-stage (4-cycle) snowblower and foul it out if you run it with too much oil in the crankcase. A spark is required to operate the snowblower, and this will prevent it from working.
The article “Too Much Oil in Your Snowblower Can Cause Engine Damage” goes into further detail regarding the negative effects of using too much oil in your snowblower.
You may adjust the oil level in your 4-stage engine by draining some of the oil out. If the spark plug is unclean or oily, you should replace it.
An Ariens snowblower stalls because of a faulty gas cap.
Ariens snow throwers have a vent built into the gas cap. A vacuum is created inside the gasoline tank when the vent is closed. The snowblower will be rendered inoperable since gasoline cannot escape the tank.
If the gas cap is faulty, you may tell by not being able to start the snow thrower after you’ve taken it off. If the snow thrower fires right up after being restarted, leave the gas lid off and let it run for a little longer.
In the event of a gasoline shortage, the engine will first slow down and eventually shut off.
If you have to remove the gas cap to let air into the gasoline tank before it will start, you probably have a faulty cap. A new cap should be used instead of the old one.
