It is a blessing when the pull cord mechanism becomes disabled and you still have hours of blowing to do. I keep an extension cord & 750 watt power inverter in the truck just for that purpose.

 

On my old ariens 926LE it was a bitch to pull. the machine would move, with each pull. (so I used the electric start)

On my new Ariens Hydro Pro, the pull is easy and shorter! (so I use the pull start)

 

On my old ariens 926LE it was a bitch to pull. the machine would move, with each pull. (so I used the electric start)

If you still have it, it's an OHV engine, so the valve clearances may need to be adjusted. If the clearance is too large, the compression release won't work properly, and it will be hard to pull.

 

My Briggs 305 engine is a beast to pull manually. I believe the compression release mechanism on the camshaft is broken. I checked the valves and they clearance is spot on.

When rotating the engine by hand with the plug out, there is no blip on either of the valves when the piston approaches TDC, which more or less confirms my suspicion. I'm not going to tear down the engine to fix it unless I have to. The electric start works and I have a nice long extension cord with 14GU wire in case it runs out of gas at the end of the driveway.

Running out of gas would be strictly my fault as it's easy enough to fill before starting the job, and the job only takes 25 minutes worst case which is way less than a tank of gas.

 

My Briggs 305 engine is a beast to pull manually. I believe the compression release mechanism on the camshaft is broken. I checked the valves and they clearance is spot on.

When rotating the engine by hand with the plug out, there is no blip on either of the valves when the piston approaches TDC, which more or less confirms my suspicion. I'm not going to tear down the engine to fix it unless I have to. The electric start works and I have a nice long extension cord with 14GU wire in case it runs out of gas at the end of the driveway.

Running out of gas would be strictly my fault as it's easy enough to fill before starting the job, and the job only takes 25 minutes worst case which is way less than a tank of gas.

Kind of like an old Harley with kick start. Don't get it just right, and it will just about throw you over the handle bars when it kicks back.:sad2:

 

It does not take 5 minutes to get an extension cord out, mine is always plugged in right by the garage door, where the blower rolls out.

I believe it takes me the same time to plug in the electric start, prime, choke etc, as it would to try and pull the engine over. To really justify using the electric, my compression release is toast. Trying to pull my engine manually often results in the machine moving across the floor rather than the engine spinning.

 

That's a bummer, sorry. I was just helping a coworker diagnose hard-pulling on his mom's OHV Briggs-powered machine. It was a bear to pull-start, and the electric start was unable to spin the engine properly unless the flywheel was rotated manually to just past the compression stroke. That gave it a chance to build some momentum, and push though the next compression stroke.

But he was lucky, adjusting the valve clearances made it easier to start again. Sorry to hear that's not the case for yours.

 

1.Todays carbs are now EPA required non adjustable and over time, can be harder and harder to start. Electric Start


2. If for some reason engine becomes flooded to some degree. Electric Start


3. My two stroke one recently became impossible to pull start when I needed to use it. Electric got is started. Later took off covers and found primer line came off the carb, replaced and now a one maybe two pull start.


4. Elderly or injury prone folks. LOVE electric start.


5. Guess what? someday you'll age and discover electric start is you friend.

 

I find it hard to pull start my Tecumseh 10HP when it's really cold. After a few tried, that's when I plug in the electric start. Anyone else find these engines hard to get going in the cold?

 

mine 10hp is real easy, kept outside, something could be up w/yours

 

Oh man. I’m in number 4. Darn.

 

I have to use the pull start as my shed has no power to it. I could run a 50 foot extension cord but would rather not. However, I have been threatening to run power out to the shed the past few years and have a couple plugs put in. When/if that ever gets done, I will more than likely use the electric start just because.

 

When you put it away for the summer(remember you're supposed to shut the gas off and burn it all out of the carburetor) and then again when you start it for the first time in the winter. Also when you work on an engine, it's a lot easier to diagnose things with an electric start. i.e. when you're trying to see if you're getting a spark and you're holding the sparkplug in one hand and trying to pull with the other. At times like these I like to electric start. I just wonder why they don't have 12V electric start. Seem's like a pair of little 12V's wired parallel on each side of the auger housing would make a nice weight and cut the steel bar weight out.

 

I like having it on the Toro, because while it usually starts easily, there were a few years where it was a beast to get going and the electric starter made all the difference. Especially with 2 stroke engine no heavy oil in the crankcase it cranks over very fast. Would definitely get it on a new one.....

 

I know this is an older thread, I'll add my reasons for using an electric starter. Get T-boned by a truck, it can really mess your back up. I have troubles rope pulling my 10HP, the back won't do it where the electric starter will.

 

damaged rotator cuffs in both shoulders.......you'll see someday.

 

The 120V electric starter on my Honda HS80K1TAS helped out several times when the recoil starter froze up at -15F; and the few times when I flooded it. The 12V starter on the HSS1332ATD is MUCH more useful, although it starts on a single pull of the recoil starter, too.

 

I have a herniated disc in my neck and I try to avoid activities that can upset it, such as yanking on pull starts in the cold.

 

Ironic after this thread, we got dumped on last night. Forecast was for 7", thing was with drifting it ran 12"-24" in spots. Blew snow last night at around 3"-4", worked just fine. Today went out to see what it was like, that's where I found all the drifting. Plugged the blower in and at -3 degrees F, the bendix gear on the starter was stuck from what I could tell on the Searsasaurus. Thought about getting the Ariens out, but decided to try rope pulling the 10 HP. 3d pull and it fired off, which was good as I don't know how many times I could have pulled the rope on it. After an hour or so of blowing, the engine heat was hot enough to loosen the bendix gear up, working again!
The Searsasaurus did so much better than any of the neighborhood blowers did.

 

People with medical issues.

 

I too use the electric start for the same reasons (8hp HM80 & MTD 370-su). I have arthritis in my hands and cannot grip / lift / pull good. It is also handy when it dry starts and you need to prime feed it to get it running. Once running and warmed up, I some times can rope started it if I stall it.

 

My mother and father in law have a nice older JD blower. They were going away on holidays one winter and we were taking care of the house. He showed me how so start the blower by turning on the fuel shutoff, using the primer and the choke, setting the throttle, and the electric start that he said he always used. Of course, we got a dump of snow and I was looking forward to firing up the beast to get it all taken care of. After wheeling it out of the garage I got all of the pre-flight requirements done and rather than plug it in to start gave the recoil a pull. It broke! When they got home and I fessed up to breaking his recoil on the blower he asked me "why the hell did you use the recoil when I showed you how to use the electric start"? Good point I guess! Luckily he still worked at the local JD dealership and was able to find parts to repair the recoil. It probably hasn't been used since it was repaired.

 

No doubt the rope just rotted away, just sitting there never used for years ... certainly not your fault.

 

You probably did him a favour by trying to pull start it and exposing the cord issue.
If he had an electric starter issue and then tried the pull start he would have been shoveling.

It's a good idea to use the pull start once in a while to keep it exercised and expose any issues

 

I don't remember what it was but unfortunately it wasn't the rope. Something in the recoil broke. He did find the parts though! I pulled the recoil off and had it waiting on the bench for him when he got home. Maybe if I do the same with the one on my little generator that needs fixing he would do the same?

 

Your 100% correct that it's about worthless to have to run an extension cord to use the electric start when it's way faster and easier to just pull start. Dumbest thing I've ever seen.

 

Dumbest thing I've ever seen is someone who doesn't understand that some people (of any age) may have disabilities...

Of course, I don't have to run an extension cord, at least on the Honda...

 

When I had a cabin in northern WI, going up there in the middle of winter to clear off the roof sometimes it was below 0. It sure was nice having the electric start to get it going after sitting for weeks. I rarely use the electric start here at home, but it's still nice to have incase you flood it or it's just being stubborn. Much like hand-warmers, it's nice to have and not need than to need and not have.

 

whatever happened to Rick Dangerous???

he is sorely missed......maybe got electrocuted?

 

whatever happened to Rick Dangerous???