Toro Snowblower only starts when primed

daveyk182

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I have a 2009 Toro PowerMax 1028 Snow blower that has been barely used. I bought it in September and now I'm having trouble with starting it. There was gas left in the tank over the past few months. Earlier today I had it started up, but the engine was revving (surging) up and down, and would only run on full throttle. I took the carburetor apart and clean out the parts. The parts looked pretty clean (a little green film was around the bowl). I clean that out and the rest of the parts with carb cleaner. But did not find much debris or gunk. So I put it back together and put it back in the blower. And now it only starts when I prime it, and as soon as I take the choke off it dies. Do I just need to go buy a new carberator? Or do I have other options that I'm missing?
 

mechanic mark

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Drain that stale gas from fuel tank & replace with fresh high test gas with fuel stabilizer per instructions on bottle, check air filter & spark plug for replacement.

https://www.toro.com/en/parts enter your model number for manuals

https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=33415 make sure this is your engine by data plate on engine

read section 3 fuel system in manual, check for fuel line kinks & fuel filter for replacement

see troubleshooting page 26 in operators manual your carburetor is part number 640349, google Toro part 640349 Amazon has new one for $16
 
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daveyk182

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I drained the gas and put in fresh gas. It still only starts up when I prime it. The engine runs strong on half choke, but once I turn the choke off it starts revving up and down.
 

bertsmobile1

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Your carburettor is blocked or the float is closing too early.
You are going to need to remove the carb and clean it properly which will involve removing the main jet and emulsion tube.
There is more to cleaning the carb than blowing some cleaner down the holes.

If you want more specific details post the engine numbers
 

daveyk182

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It's a tecumseh engine
Model: LH358SA
SPEC:159625A
 

Rivets

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As stated previously, you need to clean and rebuild the carb again. When you do so you need to replace the float needle and seat, Tecumseh part number 631021B. Here is the procedure I recommend you use.

Needle and seat replacement

Remove the carb, and then remove the float bowl. Check the float bowl jet (which is the bowl screw) and make sure the jets both horizontal and vertical are clean and open. Tip the carb upside down and remove the float pin and float with needle attached. Look in the float needle passage and you should see the red float seat at the bottom of the passage. This is where a #5 crotchet hook would come in handy as you need to remove this seat. If you have no hook, but compressed air, you can blow through the fuel inlet and try to pop the seat out. Put your thumb over the passage to prevent the seat from flying who knows where. No air or hook try bending a stiff paper clip to dig the seat out.

I would either give the carb a good 24 hour soaking or have it ultrasonically cleaned at this time.

With the seat out clean the passage way with carb cleaner. Now you must find a drill bit slightly smaller than the passage way, to be used to press in the new seat. Apply a very, very small amount of a very light lube to the new seat. 3-1 oil or lighter, to help seat it better. Carefully insert the new seat in the passage way with the rings on the seat down toward the carb body. Slowly and carefully force the seat down with the back end of the drill bit. Once it is seated, check to see that it did not flip and the rings are up. *Next check to make sure that the float does not have any liquid in it. *If it does, replace. *If everything looks correct, attach the new needle to the float and install with the float pin centered. It everything is correct, the float should seat level to the carb body, when looking at it upside down. If everything looks good reattach the float bowl, making sure that both the bowl gasket and the nut gasket seal properly. Reinstall on the engine and test unit. Remember to have patience and take your time. Good luck, but I don't think you'll need it.

PS: *On the side of some Tecumseh carbs you will find a plastic cover. *Under this cover will be an idle jet. *Remove it and check to see that the jet is open both horizontally and vertically. *You should be able to push the old float needle wire through the vertical opening.
 
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