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Ariens snowblower siezed pull start/crank

11K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  timb03835 
#1 · (Edited)
So about a week ago started up the snowblower ran great cleared some snow. Nothing to large or we hard on it. Next day started it was letting it warm up and then all of sudden it just stopped. Did not self destruct no kaboom or anything. And the pull start and electric start both would not crank the engine over. Pull start would not budge. Took it apart yesterday and noticed the crank or not too sure what's it's called had some surface rust on it. Cleaned it up oiled and greased the gears/crank and was able to free it up by turning it reverse and forward with a socket on it. Put it all back together went to start it up and after like 2 pulls it locked up again. Same thing never got it to start. The piston is moving freely not stuck and oil level is good just changed it. And level was good when it first happen. Any ideas? It's an Ariens path pro.
Thanks!!!


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#5 ·
My Ariens 8/24 did the same thing today, I changed oil early this fall ran it a couple different times for 15 - 20 minutes all seemed ready for another winter.
- Friday I started it up and moved it to the garage no issues,
- this morning it started second pull as always, I did notice it rev'ing high
- so I moved the throttle down and back up and it seemed normal,
- it stalled out, started back up
- I started to blow snow and it sound normal so reduced the throttle and it stalled
- now the engine is froze, removed the recoil and can't budge it with a 1/2" socket

Any ideas to try? Any recommendations where to buy a new replacement engine?
 
#6 ·
My Ariens 8/24 did the same thing today, I changed oil early this fall ran it a couple different times for 15 - 20 minutes all seemed ready for another winter.

- Friday I started it up and moved it to the garage no issues,

- this morning it started second pull as always, I did notice it rev'ing high

- so I moved the throttle down and back up and it seemed normal,

- it stalled out, started back up

- I started to blow snow and it sound normal so reduced the throttle and it stalled

- now the engine is froze, removed the recoil and can't budge it with a 1/2" socket



Any ideas to try? Any recommendations where to buy a new replacement engine?


Was yours also an Ariens AX engine?


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#11 ·
Almost sounds like the connecting rod cap came loose on the crank pin and jammed up against the block when turning over the engine causing it to lock up. I've seen that happen many times. Sometimes you can get it to loosen up by turning it backwards, but if that happened, you are looking at a major repair, or an engine replacement.
The first post picture looks like a LCT engine.
Another post talked about a dual shaft output, if he means the crank and camshaft counter rotating shafts, that is an old engine that used 2 separate output shafts. Both Tecumseh and Briggs made them and you can't get parts for them anymore. Or maybe he is talking about a dual grooved pulley for the 2 belts or 2 separate pulleys on the same shaft.
 
#12 ·
It is not terribly uncommon to have a small engine seize, cool down and re-start. Certainly doesn't mean it is OK though. If you can't pull it over, the motor is likely junk. If you found rust, any rust in the engine when you took it apart, you found your issue. You likely spun a bearing and it just has not fully seized....yet. Re-power time, 212cc Predator is like $99 isn't it?
 
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