I have a snowblower and it only has been used maybe 4 times. It had oil but not full. I think my roommate broke it by pushing it into concrete or something. He told me he took it to the hardware store and they said that the engine was blown. It being so new? I would like to know because this person has been lying so much and because he made it sound as if it were MY fault for not having enough oil. I am without a snowblower! Let me just say that everything this person touches breaks!! He is so hard on everything. Please help??

Usually, the snowblower has a sheer pin on the impeller if it hits something. Other major problems that can occur is the rings overheat because of lack of oil. This can cause valves to bend or the rod to break in half.

Hitting something pretty hard, will usually cause the flywheel sheer pin to break. The rope starter will freely spin. Running without oil and hitting something can cause a broken rod. I know, I did it with a lawnmower at 10 YO and had to rebuild it.

I have to know a couple of things:
1. When you pull on the rope, how does it feel. Loose. Hits something
2. does the engine have spark? Do you know how to check?

Later I'll ask a few more questions.

Initially, I'd suspect the flywheel sheer pin.

Model of snowthrower? Engine model? Type?

Hi there,
Well, here's the thing... he took it to the trash! I guess so that I would not find out the truth. But, I do remember that it was a Yardman snowblower from Home Depot. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much more. It was not a great huge one, WHen you speak of the rod... is that referring to blowing the engine? Could it break by hitting the ground or ice over and over really hard, pushing it?

Snow blowers are EXPENSIVE. We could have walked you through a repair, if you were willing. I rebuilt my first engine when I was 10 YO. If I can do it at 10, you should be able to do it.

Take a look at this animated picture: Animated Engines, Four Stroke (http://www.animatedengines.com/otto.shtml)

The red bone looking thing is a called the "connecting rod". When I ran the engine without oil at a high speed, it broke in half.

So, yep that's probably the worst damage.

I think the flywheel key was sheered. Here is how to fix.

How to Replace Lawn Mower Flywheel Keys | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_5052524_replace-lawn-mower-flywheel-keys.html)

YouTube - Lawn mower repair Flywheel key replacement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWcIiZtvbug)

Yep, the rod and/or the flywheel sheer key can both break when you hit something hard.

The sheer key is supposed to break and it costs pennies compared to the snowblower.

Something here isn't fair. He should have never thrown out your snowblower without asking you. At the very least I don't even trust the hardware store diagnosis. Usually you have to pay for an estimate and then you are asked whether you want to go ahead with the repair.

I think he owes you a snowblower and an apology for not asking you what you wanted to do. I think you found yourself a human snowblower until you get a replacement.