How can I trouble shoot my snow blower? Do snowblower have spark plugs?

Yes.

I would clean or replace the spark plug. Clean or replace the air filter too.

Did you leave it sit, over the off season, with gas in it? If yes, was the gas treated with any type of stabilizer? If no, you may have to clean the fuel lines, and perhaps the carb as gummy deposits will develop when it sits for a long time.

I use a product called stabil. It's light red, and just a few drops in the gas tank does the trick. I put a little in it before I put it away for the summer, let it run for a few minutes so the treated gas gets all the way through the system, then shut it off and park it.

It is 5 years old now, and has never failed to start on the first pull every winter.

Some very small snow blowers are electric but you would know that if you had to plug it into and outlet so I'm thinking you have a gas blower. The most common cause of problems with blowers is a gummed up carborator. Do you want to learn how to take it apart? For the spark plug look for a black cord about the size of a pencil and it will be in fairly easy sight. Pull the cord off the plug, remove the plug, clean it and gap it before reinstalling.

Yes, a snow blower will have a spark plug.

Lynn:

You scare me. If you can't even see if you snowblower has a spark plug. Messing with this powerful machine could be VERY dangerous for you. Please do us all a favor, no offense meant, and take it to a shop for the pros. BTW, just realize, what are your fingers or your eyes worth to you. A lot more than a service charge. If you machine is in fairly good condition, it will be worthwhile to get fixed and not junked.

Trust me, I live in south central Wisconsin and I know what a good working machine is worth, but I have been repairing machinery and doing carpentry and fix it my entire life (well almost all 60 years of it) Please, for you self and your loved ones.

Let me know what you decide.

Couple more thoughts after re-reading the other answers.

1. Most snowblowers don't have an air filter - not much loose dirt and dust in the winter;
2. takes more than a couple of drops of Stabil to protect a gallon of gas, but follow the directions on the bottle. Any of us who work with gas engines (mostly smaller engines) swear by it.

Mowerman and I tried to answer her questions 3 weeks ago and she never responded so its unlikely she'll see your advice. We try to help folks with DIY projects but ask if they know how to do certain things but Lynn never answered.

All - if the gas in the lines wasn't treated before the off season, will Sta-bil still work in terms of getting a snowblower to start? I changed my sparkplug - but I think there was a liuttle bit of gas left in the tank after last season. I added new gas to the blower, but she just doesn't want to start up. HELP! We're getting buried today and I really don't want to pay for a tow. Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Tim

Stabil will not clear up an existing problem. It will only help prevent problems from arising.

You are all dumb dumbs...
I don't know if any of yous have ever fixed a snowblower.

Snow Blowers do not have air filters.
And for the most part stabil will not help in 2 cycle.
Because the gas evaporates but the oil mix does not.
I have about 20 snow blowers sitting in my shop now.
Most of them need the carbs cleaned out,and I always replace the spark plug,