8 hp B&S engine won't start - Toro s.b.

[nhgreg]

Got an 8 hp Toro snowblower, that all of a sudden quit running today. Went to turn around, and the rear of the snowblower tilted backwards. The engine sputtered, and stalled. After 20 minutes of trying to start it, the snowblower just decided to run. I did another 10 minutes or so, of the driveway, and it stalled out. Won't start at all now.

I pulled the plug, and it is dark and dirty. I'm going to pick one up today, but it didn't seem to be getting any spark, or I don't think it is. Put it on top of the engine, hooked up, and tried to start it. Couldn't see any spark. It is getting gas though.

Any ideas??? The unit is about 14 years old, and overall has run quite well.

Thanks.

[Wgoodrich]

Sounds like your spark is shorted out. May be points and condenser but may also be as simple as a kill wire disconnected. There is usually on that age motor a black wire that connects to the throttle linkage plate so that when you throttle down to stop the engine it also shorts that black wire to frame. If this becomes unplugged from its spade under that throttle control plate that wire can float around. When you tilt your machine the wire can then float against any metal on that machine and kill the engine.

Start by looking for a loose black kill wire. If that is not it then you may have to pop off the flywheel and replace your points and condenser. Be sure to do both.

To pop off the flywheel take off the cowling exposing the flywheel. There is a spin machinism on top of the flywheel that acts as a ratchet for you rope as well as a nut holding the flywheel on. Use a hammer or tool if you have one to spin that ratchet machanism off the top of the flywheel.

Then use a big screw driver prying up on the bottom side of the flywheel while you crack the top of the crankshaft with a hammer. Hit straight and true with the hammer. The flywheel should pop up and become loose.

Then under the flywheel you should find a metal cap with two small screws. Remove the cover. You will find the condenser and points combination. YOu should be able to buy these points and condenser at any outdoor store for a briggs. Remove the old points and condenser. Reinstall new points and condenser. Drop a drop of oil on the little fiber that rubs against the crankshaft where the poinst rides the crankshaft.

Then turn the crank so the points ride on the high point of one of the lobs it rides on. Then use a feeler guage 20 thouasands gap is needed on the points. If you have no feeler guage a business card carefull slid straight between the two points should hit you pretty close.

Put it all back together making sure the key is in the key way as you slide the flywheel back in place.

Good Luck

Wg

[Unregistered]

Wg,

Thanks for the reply! First thing I did was buy a new sparkplug this afternoon, and replaced it. Believe it or not, it fired right up. I let it run for 10 minutes or so, and all "seems" fine. I will however, look for the black wire that may be loose. I did check for anything loose today, and didn't seem to see anything, but I'll look later this week. Too cold tonight!

As far as changing points and condensor, it doesn't sound too difficult, but I do have a question. The flywheel... is that under where the recoil is for the pull rope? By your description, I'm assuming that it is.

Really appreciate your reply! I wish I had found this site years ago. Might have saved myself a few bucks!

Greg

P.S. NICE FISH!!

[Wgoodrich]

Yes the flywheel is under the cowling and under the rope recoil device.

By the way you are lucky it is still cold and need you snow blower. You could now be having a heat wave now you have your blower running again.

Here, we had 29" of snow in a storm. Biggest in our area since 1978. Right behind that was several days of 2 degree cold nights high days about 10 degrees. As usual a furnace broke at this time in one of my rentals. Blower motor went out. Had to order a blower motor and renter was out of heat in those cold days and night just after being buried in deep snow. Motor came in two days later being ordered. I rushed right over and replaced the motor on the furnace and tested all operating fine and they finally had heat in this nasty cold blast. Went to a resteraunt for a coke to waste some time for a quick check back with my renters to ensure they are heated up and confy again. Walked into reseraunt and saw the TV saying low tonight 40 degrees with highs tommorrow 50 for next few days and rain. Temp to top out at 60 this weekend. Now how was that for Murphy's law? Never fails ya know.

Wg