Ran Snow Blower with too much choke on, next steps?

[joseywales]

Trying to juggle work meetings, plow 12" of snow, and pack for a trip.

The blower didn't sound right, I saw some black smoke and just attributed it to old gas. I turned the choke off right after starting, but with fat gloves, it turns out I didn't turn it enough. the graphic is horrible and I thought I was 100% off. My fault.

Anyway, I ran almost a full tank that way, then realized WTH I did. I ran another 30 minutes or so with more gas, choke off and it ran great.

Now my exhaust is black with carbon.

Once things settle down, I figure I'll swap out the spark plug. Maybe clean the carbon off, just because it reminds me that I'm a *****.

Briggs & Stratton engine

Anything else?

 

[engineer2]

You should have it covered with checking the spark plug and for a carboned-up muffler.

 

[JRC3]

Maybe clean the carbon off, just because it reminds me that I'm a *****.

That is supreme motivation.

 

[joseywales]

It's literally the only mechanical item I've owned that's never let me down. If I screw this thing up, I swear!!!

 

[purplezr2]

Running chokes is just running rich, not a huge issue. I would change the oil and the plug and move on.

 

[csp]

You didn't hurt it, it will just take a while to burn off the carbon.

 

[larry4406]

I don’t think I wound do anything other than give it a thorough run.

 

[kelpaso1]

Just run it. The muffler actually glows a dull red if you look at it in the dark. The carbon will be gone in the first few minutes.

 

[rlitman]

Just run it. The muffler actually glows a dull red if you look at it in the dark. The carbon will be gone in the first few minutes.

That's what I'm figuring. However, there's a chance that the spark arrestor screen in the muffler can get clogged. The easiest way to clean one is to heat it with a torch until it glows, burning the carbon off (notice the theme here).

As for the plug, similar logic applies. It SHOULD lose some carbon over normal use and be fine. If it gets carboned to the point that the gap becomes electrically bridged, then the engine just won't run. But otherwise, you're not hurting the machine.

A bigger issue is that carbon in the cylinder can get into the oil, and it can be abrasive. If the oil is really dark, go ahead and change it. If not, don't sweat it.

 

[abachman]

Pour some sea foam directly into the cylinder (Remove spark plug), let it sit for 15 minutes or so, then start up the motor. It will smoke quite a bit, but it will clean the carbon off of the piston head. We do this on our model A Ford's when necessary.

 

[nadogail]

Running chokes is just running rich, not a huge issue. I would change the oil and the plug and move on.

What he said. You do keep a few quarts of oil around, and a spare plug?

 

[Firebrick43]

Get the engine hot, run at full throttle, take the air cleaner off and use a spray bottle to spray water into the intake. Spray enough to make it run rough but not enough to kill it. It will steam clean the cylinder very nicely and clean the plug as well.

 

[Showkey]

Don’t do a thing........run it. It will be fine.

Sea Form or water in the carb is just a chance for more things to go slightly wrong. Not mention a waste of time and money.

 

[JRC3]

Get the engine hot, run at full throttle, take the air cleaner off and use a spray bottle to spray water into the intake. Spray enough to make it run rough but not enough to kill it. It will steam clean the cylinder very nicely and clean the plug as well.

In HS I did this to my 72 Dart with a warm beer from the trunk. LOL

 

[Firebrick43]

In HS I did this to my 72 Dart with a warm beer from the trunk. LOL

That alcohol abuse right there!

 

[TractorJeff]

Running chokes is just running rich, not a huge issue. I would change the oil and the plug and move on.

I agree with his logic!

 

[gnpenning]

That alcohol abuse right there!

Because he let get warm or pouring it in the carb?

 

[Jagmandave]

Don’t do a thing........run it. It will be fine.

Sea Form or water in the carb is just a chance for more things to go slightly wrong. Not mention a waste of time and money.

Yep, if I understand what you wrote, you already ran it for 30 min with the choke off, it should be fine by now.

 

[matt_i]

I'd do an oil change: with all of those extra soot-y particles being burned a portion is going into the oil side of the engine.

 

[larry4406]

Most small engines never get an oil change over their entire lives. Top off at best. Yet they run...

 

[Firebrick43]

My father rebuilt old cub cadets in the winter and would sell them in the spring. As a result I have seen(and worked in) hundreds of k series kohlers. Several onans and quite a few chain saws as well. No small engine will self clean itself of carbon and it commonly leads to detonation and valve issues. Was enough done in the op’s situation, who knows. Cleaning carbon by either the water method or by sea foam works and is a reasonable maintenance practice that I perform ever year or so before an oil change along with removing the cooling tin to blow out debris and mouse nest.

For two stroke equipment running stihls synthetic oil mixed 50:1 will not form carbon and will slowly desolve it. ATF also works well to desolve carbon but I only use it on small two stroke equipment that I can turn upside down and spray out with carb cleaner as it will foul the spark plug otherwise.

 

[kelpaso1]

I'd do an oil change: with all of those extra soot-y particles being burned a portion is going into the oil side of the engine.

Most small engines never get an oil change over their entire lives. Top off at best. Yet they run...

I've seen that so much here. Oil never changed and thick as tar. Amazingly tough engines IF they have oil in them. Only time I see them blow the rod out the side of the crankcase is if they were run with very little oil in them.

But customers aren't always truthful. I have had a few come in with a hole through the crankcase. I immediately check the oil. Some that I check are full of CLEAN oil. I prod the customer that this doesn't usually happen if they were full of oil. They usually admit they added oil AFTER it blew up

 

[mmb617]

People worry too much about these small engines, they can take a fair amount of abuse. If it ran fine for 30 minutes after you readjusted the choke what is your concern?

I bought my snowblower in 1998. It gets stored each year with gas in the tank, but does get run 10 minutes or so every couple months even during the summer. Other than an oil change every few years it gets very little maintenance. The carb has never been apart and the only sign I see that it's perhaps getting clogged a bit is that I now have to run it with some choke even once it's warm. It always starts and runs fine, so I don't mess with it.

However, I don't know about some of the newer equipment. It may be a different story since everything is now made to run as lean as possible to satisfy the EPA. I have noticed that my friend who has much newer small engine equipment has a lot more trouble with his stuff than I do with my old ****.

 

[lml999]

Most small engines never get an oil change over their entire lives. Top off at best. Yet they run...

British cars are the same way...you never need to change the oil on a Land Rover, just add some every now and then...

I figure, if the lawn mower or snow blower needs an oil change, a reminder light would go on.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Running chokes is just running rich, not a huge issue. I would change the oil and the plug and move on.

X2. I've seen LOTs of snow blowers run with the choke on.

Tommy

 

[dkmc]

With the carbon build up you've created, the only solution now is an Italian tune up. Start and warm up the engine, then deflux choke. Locate the engines governor arm, and firmly grasp it, throw it over to wide open position. Remain holding the throttle in the full open position for 1 full minute. After that, release the throttle, then continue to alternately throw it from idle to full open for 1 additional minute. Repair complete, carbon removed. The unit should operate smoothly and reliably now.

 

[kelpaso1]

With the carbon build up you've created, the only solution now is an Italian tune up. Start and warm up the engine, then deflux choke. Locate the engines governor arm, and firmly grasp it, throw it over to wide open position. Remain holding the throttle in the full open position for 1 full minute. After that, release the throttle, then continue to alternately throw it from idle to full open for 1 additional minute. Repair complete, carbon removed. The unit should operate smoothly and reliably now.

Worst advice I have ever heard

 

[JRC3]

Worst advice I have ever heard

Maybe it's why I hear all these guys in Honda Civics (and the like) and on crotch-rockets bouncing it off the rev limiter reputedly for long periods...Maybe they ran it with the choke on for too long. LOL

 

[johninct]

Was your snow blower pouring out black smoke when you were running it?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

With the carbon build up you've created, the only solution now is an Italian tune up. Start and warm up the engine, then deflux choke. Locate the engines governor arm, and firmly grasp it, throw it over to wide open position. Remain holding the throttle in the full open position for 1 full minute. After that, release the throttle, then continue to alternately throw it from idle to full open for 1 additional minute. Repair complete, carbon removed. The unit should operate smoothly and reliably now.

Please don't work on any of my power equipment...

Tommy

 

[JRC3]

You two need to realize that valve floating keeps the valves and piston extra clean...It knocks off all that pesky carbon. LOL

 

[dkmc]

Please don't work on any of my power equipment...

Tommy

It's-a-noda-problem

 

[xjfish]

I would do absolutely nothing. Just run it, its fine.

 

[AP514]

+1 for the SEAFOAM..then change oil.