Topic: Snow blower.....mixed gas?

[cleveland]

I picked up a really old (late 70's-early 80's) Craftsman snowblower from a guy on craigslist.  It's been painted, so there are no labels telling me if I use mixed gas or not.  Any suggestions on how to find out?  I lost his number, so calling him is out.

It's a 2 cycle, 5hp engine.  That sounds like mixed gas to me, but I don't want to screw it up.

Thanks, Bobby 

[Johnie]

Bobby...I would take it or at least a pic to your local snowblower mechanic / dealer and he would probably give you an idea of the mixture.  My father-in-laws Toro is a 50/1 ratio but not as old as yours.  Found this on a search: The two-cycle is suited for high-speed operation because it needs only 3 major moving parts, the piston, connecting rod, and crankshaft. The piston, as it moves up and down, serves to control the flow of air-fuel mix into the cylinder and the release of exhaust. A tiny bit of oil is mixed into the fuel, so all the internal pieces are bathed in a lubricating mist. The oil is burned along with the fuel and helps produce the characteristic gray exhaust plume that marks a two-cycle.

[aptech77]

I run my 2 cycle equipment at 40/1. More oil will not hurt.

[mattcb350f]

If it is a 2 cycle engine, then most definately it needs a fuel/oil mix.

Early 2 strokes often ran on a very rich mixture or 25:1 or 32:1, but with today's high performance oils, you should get away with 40:1.

Have a look at where the intake runner meets the engine. If it meets the cylinder part way down, or is attached to the crankcase then it's a two stroke.

My .02, run a mix anyway to get it going. Once it's running then you'll be able to tell by the sound if it's a 2 stroker. It it turns out to be 4 stroke, then a little mixed fuel won't hurt anyway.

 Matt.

EDIT: I agree with aptech too 

[cleveland]

Thanks guys!   

[Steve F]

Also, a 2-stroke will have compression on every revolution of the crankshaft, unlike a 4-stroke, which will have compression on every-other revolution of the crank.  Just pulling the starter rope and watching the turns of the crank should tell you this.

[333]

Most snow blowers I've seen have been 4 stroke.  Look for a dipstick or a place to put oil in what might be a crankcase.  Or like Matt says, look at where the carb is located.  A 2 stroke will have the carb so the fuel/oil mix will pass the point where the crankshaft and piston rod connect,typically the exact opposite end from the spark plug, whereas a 4 stroke will have it pass up along side the head through a valve.

[Jakoba]

Hey cleveland, I know those machines inside and out. I have worked on them as far back as the 1975 models and none of them were 2 stroke!!!!!!!!
I have worked on MTD, Yardworks(Canadian Tire), Yardman Cub Cadet, Ariens, Toro, Honda you name it and I probably have had it in the garage.
I have 3 in my garage now to work on for friends and family. One is a 1978 (Craftsman), one is a 1999(MTD) and the other is a 2005(Yardworks)...none of those are 2 cycle.

What is the make and model of this one you are talking about?
Cheers

John

[mattcb350f]

Hey cleveland, I know those machines inside and out. I have worked on them as far back as the 1975 models and none of them were 2 stroke!!!!!!!!

It would be a bad thing if he put straight fuel in and it was a 2 stroker 

After some googling I found a few examples of 2 stroke blowers from various makes.

Here's a youtube vid of a 'claimed' 2 stoke snowblower engine.....a bit painful to watch though but some good shots of the engine.

 Matt.

[cleveland]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! 



2 stage, not 2 stroke.  Guess it would pay to learn to read. 

We got snow today!  After trying for 20 minutes to get it started, I went and got the shovel.        4 parking spaces that have to be shoveled up hill, oh to joy.  It's 10am, and I am ready for a nap.

It started with 2 pulls at the guys house and the engine felt cold before he started it.  So I am hoping I just flooded it......but I doubt I am that lucky.     I'm off this Wed, so I am going to take it over to my father-in-laws garage so I can tinker with it out of the wind.   

After cussing at it, I forgot to get the info off the side.  I'll check it out on Wed, I don't even want to look at it until then.    Mother effen, effen mother, son of a father..........*kicks desk*...........*continues tantrum*...........