We have had non-stop lake-effect snow for the last couple days and it is not suppose to leave until late Tuesday night. Well, sure enough, needed to make a run to the store - which meant I had to snowblow the drive first.
No big deal - nothing like snowblowing to get your day started! Wheeled the snowblower out of the garage, checked gas, put on full choke, primed and gave it a pull on the starter. Usually it starts 2nd pull - but today it didn't. Great!
Primed it again and pulled some more. Nothing… I wonder what the problem is? Checked everything over, primed it again and pulled - a bunch of times. Nothing.
Well, if it's flooded, I should smell gas - and I don't. So, pushed it back in the garage and grabbed the shovel and got to work. Shoveled off the front walk and decided that was way too much work and pulled the snowblower back out of the garage.
Same routine - same result - only by this time I had pulled the starter at least 50 times and I was starting to lose a little of my zip! So, much to my disappointment, I pushed the snowblower back into the garage and grabbed the shovel.
About that time my wife, Colleen, opened the back door and asked if I had checked the gas cause it sounded like it wasn't getting any gas! Yeah, Thanks Hon! I know it isn't getting any gas - but why? Must be a blockage in the fuel line!
So I grabbed a bunch of tools and decided to pull the line and find out what in the heck was causing the problem. Now, understand, I am getting covered in snow from the storm and have to remove my gloves to work on the fuel system. I was not a happy camper with the situation at the moment - so cooling off was probably a good thing!
Decided to be smart about it and see if there was ice inside the tank first. I know - how would you have ice inside the tank? But, what the heck - it was worth checking before pulling everything apart! Popped the cap……
The worse part about finding the problem was knowing sooner or later I was going to have to go back inside and let Colleen know that she was right. No matter how many times you pull the starter - it won't start without gas.
Just thought I would share my lesson before I head to the store!
Oh, I had checked the gas level before attempting to start but it was snowing hard and not the best of lighting. I saw the reflection of the fuel and figured I was good to go. Yup… good to go!
Have a great day!