[SirJaymz]

I picked up this snowblower last season, but barely used it yet as the snow stopped falling by the time I brought it home. With the blizzard coming here in CT I started it the other day to make sure it ran and fixed a few minor thing that annoyed me like the muffler rattling around.

I pulled it out this morning and almost literally everything broke. The recoil cord on the first pull, the cable that actuated the drive to the wheels, the muffler snapped right off when I finally patched the other things back together... and then just a few min later it just stopped. After unsuccessfully trying to start it again, I threw the behemoth in the truck and brought it to a friend who's better with mechanics.

When we eventually pulled the plug to check it, he noticed the valve was stuck 'up'. It freely moved when pushed on lightly, but always returned to that same position when it wasn't being manipulated. From What he surmised, a spring or something may have broken for that intake valve.

So the question becomes, is it worth fixing? Is this something I can do myself (I successfully changed the engine on a sears tractor with help from here ). Will I even be able to find parts? Or would replacing the engine entirely be the only fix, or is that even reasonable on a machine this old?

There is very little info on the machine. It says "sears II" and the tag has model #536.882702 code 5289. It's a 32" model and looks like it's from the 80's.

Appreciate any input.

James

[crigby]

Hi,
Yes, try praying through the open valve with some lubricant. The valve is sticking on he varnish built up on the stem of the valve. May take more than more than one try. If you can find one of the non-flammable thread cleaners(they can be expensive) it will probably work within a few minutes.
Peace,
Clarke