Got the snow blower running...

Won't be too long now and I'll probably have to get it out for some work. I decided last weekend before I put the lawn tractor away I should get the blower out and give it a try, just to see if it would run or need work.

It needed work. Gas poured out the carb and the choke was stuck. (the roof had a leak above where it was stored) I took the carb off today, and it was full of gunk in the bowl, and there was a bunch of corrosion too. I picked up a kit to rebuild it from the local Ace. I get that all done and when I'm cleaning the bowl to put it back on, I noticed I could see day light through the bottom- Water had made it corrode and pit so bad it had 3 or 4 holes, one of them the size of a pencil lead.

I called the Ace back up and gave them the engine number again, and sure enough, they had a new one in their parts for my 30 year old snow blower. Probably could have gotten it cheaper online, but I got it TODAY and got it running again. Surged a little when I started it, but after adjusting the screws it smoothed right out.

My snow blower is an Areins ST1032. The D.O.M. on the engine is 5282, which I figure to mean the 52nd week of 82. Means my snowblower would have seen it's first winter in either early or late 83. I didn't see my first winter until late '84 myself....

You guys ready for the snow to fly? We still gotta haul poo and fall plow, but the next week is gonna be pretty nice. With any luck Dad can start hauling once the new chickens come home and that project is done. I'm gonna have a new baby in a day or 2 myself so the farm is on hold until further notice.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Good luck to you and the misses on the new arrival. Ron MN.

Thanks. That's part of the reason I made sure the snow blower will run now- Never know how much time I'd have later on... Or when the snow will be here...

Donovan from Wisconsin

I think you have things in order. First priority mama and the Baby next keep yourself occupied to keep you in order. Been there.

I had an Ariens 5 HP 2-stage snowblower that was a going machine; it could outwork any 8 HP blower that I ever compared it to. It was made in 1978; it had just arrived at the local hardware when I bought it on the way to work.

The store delivered it ready to use; when I got home from work son was still out blowing snow with it - and making money. It had a small gas tank, so every hour and a half my wife would drive around town and find him to refuel the tank. She also pick up the money that he had made; he usually had his pockets stuffed with cash - all of which went into his college fund.

I started mine a few weeks ago. With that primer it fired right up. Its an MTD with a 10hp Tecumseh. My wife gave it to me in 1996 for my birthday. It has always been sheltered. My first snow blower was called the Snowmule and had metal wheels and was selfproppelled. We bought it in 1963 for $65.00. My neighbor sold Case tractors and Wheel Horse garden tractors. He said that blower will quit running when you try to blow snow with just that metal hood covering the engine. His son lived just behind me and had one of those WH tractors with a blower. It didn't have a low enough gear and kept choking the blower with snow. I took my snowblower over and blew off his dad's driveway. He never said anymore about that SnowMule. Hal