Wit the cold weather my splitter isn't wanting to start. The last few times I used it it took a long time to star, really had to pump the primer a lot. Today I couldn't get it running at all, fire a few times but won't stay running. Primer bulb is weak so I'm thinking it's sucking air or something. Engine definitely isn't getting fuel, anyone have this issue? Thinking a clogged fuel line or something. Havent opened I up yet.
Just refilled the gas, was running it a few days ago and it stopped like it was out of fuel. Didn't think anything of it and needed to stop anyways so I quit for the night. Then today I went to refill it and it had 3/4 of a tank. And won't start.
Just replaced the primer bulb on my snowblower and that could create this problem.. Should replace if cracked or it will not get fuel to the carb to get it started..
Sounds like the primer bulb that's exactly what my mower and splitter did when they went bad on the old motors. It was an easy fix.
I'm thinking primer first, fid get it to run a little when the primer was pumped a lot. I'll check the plug too though, that's an easy check.
If its a float style carb Id drain the bowl and see whats in it. Most small engine issues I see have to do with bad gas, water in the gas or dirt/varnish in the float bowl. I doubt its the primer it has nothing to do with the engine when its running. Check the carb.
I tried to start my MTD splitter today (No primer bulb at all, just choke) and it wouldn't start. I was gonna get starting fluid. But decided against it. Was turning over rather hard and slow. Likely do to thick oil and the cold weather. I wouldn't worry much. Tomorrow I am gonna give it a prime of 2 - cycle (so it has a little oil at first) and see if that works. Normally I only run my splitter in warm weather and it starts on 1st or 2nd pull. To pull 15 times today was highly unusual. Looking forward to what helps yours.
The best safe starting fluid for 4 cycles is aerosol carb & choke cleaner. Swags, I would follow rookie's advice and see what's in it for fuel. Most problems that appear only during cold weather are due to moisture in the fuel.
Problems with cold weather starting has been discussed elsewhere. IIRC, there are a few remedies: 1) Change spark plug from Champion to Bosch or NGK, 2) Change oil to synthetic, 3) Use Stabil or Sea Foam in fuel As for why yours won't stay running is a mystery to me. The discussion I mentioned above indicated no problems after getting the motor started and warmed up....
Could also manually inject fuel, either by spray bottle or aerosol carb cleaner to see if the engine will stay running after about 30 seconds or so.
Dex, I would say yours is cold temp making thick oil. My neighbor couldnt start his generator the other day and thought it was broke. I went over there and gave it a shot of starting fluid and away she went. Ran fine after that. As already stated if anyone is going to run small engines in the cold they should use synthetic or a really low viscosity oil.
Splitter stared and ran fine today, it's a little warmer today. So I will probably run some stabil through it and check progress from as I go.
