On Dec 9, 6:59*pm, gecko wrote:
I have a problematic 1986 TORO CCR 2000 model 38180 snow blower
(thrower). *It has always started on the first pull every year. *Now
this year it is giving me fits.

It had a gas leak around the gas intake hose and the fuel bowl gasket.
I fixed both. *The TORO has to be the most frustrating machine I have
ever worked on - you have to fairly well dismantle the housing to get
at any of the innards. *

Anyway, now the thing will not start at all. *I have tried squirting a
little starting fluid into the intake, but the engine will not 'fire'.
I changed to a new spark plug - it still will not 'fire'. *I removed
the new spark plug and connected it back so I could observe whether it
'sparked' when I pulled on the starter rope. *It did. *I squirted a
little starter fluid into the combustion chamber itself, and
re-installed the spark plug. *It still not 'fire'.

BTW - the key is on.

Anyway, I am wondering. *Since the spark plug seems to be 'sparking'
okay, why on earth doesn't the starter fluid I squirted into the
combustion chamber at least 'fire' the engine, even if only once?
Also, would all this happen even if the key is off? *IOW, could my
problem be that the key-switch is no working? *It looks to act to
complete a ground circuit. *I'm confused.

Thanks

-GECKO

86 so its had alot of use, maybe you flooded it with either, pull the
plug and see if its wet also recheck the spark condition a weak yellow
or red spark probably does not have the power to light fuel. I had a 4
cil car that started and idled but miss fired on acceleration, it was
one bad plug wire that didnt give voltage under load enough to light
gas. The Toro is starting rich with medium high load and needs a good
spark. 23 yrs old alot of ignition components are weaker. If
Compression is to low it will have a hard time lighting gas. Check
spark strength and color and dont spray as much either, if still
nothing its time to check it out completely. Even removing the 23yr
old plug wire could have broken it, even a new plug can be bad as
people drop them in the store, ive had a few bad new and I dropped one
in the store searching for the right plug.