Death Storm, Jan 2026

[Kolumbo]

Ariens with a Tecumseh engine
I couldn't see where to drain the fuel line, I don't think there was a bolt to remove, but one guy in a video unscrewed a couple of bolts and removed the tank altogether, so I did that. Emptied the old gas and and put some fresh gas in. Still won't start. I'll try gumout and maybe WD-40 tomorrow. Meanwhile I had a heck of a workout the past two days. Shoveled a path clear around the house so the propane guy can get through and the dog can roam.

Everyone can rest easy. My snow blower started today no problem.

Do not undervalue a good hardware store with a knowledgeable crew. I went to City Hardware True Value and Just Ask Rental, which also rents and repairs power equipment. I showed the young lad my spark plug and he said it actually looks OK. He tells me to prime the shit out of the engine and try starting it. I told him that I noticed that the red primer button has cracks in it, and maybe it wasn't priming correctly. He said push very hard on the center of the red button and it will prime as long as you hold it. Didn't know about that. Put the spark plug back and it fired up on the 2nd pull. But I got a lot of shoveling workout in this winter.

They also ordered a replacement pulley spindle for my riding mower which broke last summer and after getting a new battery, the tractor fired up no problem too.

The joys of spring!

 

[alexd]

We got a city hardware/true value here in Bristol. Great service and knowledgeable guys.

 

[Fishy]

Everyone can rest easy. My snow blower started today no problem.

Do not undervalue a good hardware store with a knowledgeable crew. I went to City Hardware True Value and Just Ask Rental, which also rents and repairs power equipment. I showed the young lad my spark plug and he said it actually looks OK. He tells me to prime the shit out of the engine and try starting it. I told him that I noticed that the red primer button has cracks in it, and maybe it wasn't priming correctly. He said push very hard on the center of the red button and it will prime as long as you hold it. Didn't know about that. Put the spark plug back and it fired up on the 2nd pull. But I got a lot of shoveling workout in this winter.

They also ordered a replacement pulley spindle for my riding mower which broke last summer and after getting a new battery, the tractor fired up no problem too.

The joys of spring!

You say this, but I have to repair my snowblower before winter and I have ever intention of doing it, but I will forget about it until the very first mention of a snowstorm next winter.