I've had my snowblower for about 8 years now, and it's done the same annoying thing for the entire 8 years, and I'm finally annoyed enough to ask someone smarter than me about it! It's a Troy Bilt, with the 8.5 hp Tecumseh engine. It works fine, as long as it's 25 degrees or colder outside. Throws snow for hours without a problem. However, if it's warmer, like it is so far today, it runs like chit. It's currently about 31 degrees outside and all it does is sputter, stutter, stumble, backfire. Chit. Pure Chit. Almost unusuable. Spark plug is new, gas is fresh and stabilized. Starts on the first pull every time. Thoughts?
No expert, by far, but I seem to recall that carbs need to be set differently for different temperatures-- I bet if you turn the screw a quarter turn to the the leaner side it would run well.
Yeah it's probably a carb issue. It may need a carb rebuild. If it's literally only running worse when its warmer, and runs fine when its colder, I'd only verify the choke is all the way off when the lever says it is. Check for intake obstructions as well. Then have the carb rebuilt after the season. Tecumseh's have a funky governor that may need resetting too. That requires no carb adjustment, but any time the carb is opened/ removed, you have to re adjust the governor.
