Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Howdy Fine Folks!

Hope you're all well, and had a Happy Thanksgiving! Mine was good...till I drowned my nearly-new snow blower.

It's a two-stage Troy-Bilt, and I only used it for about three hours last year (bought it after the biggest storms, LOL!). I've never had it so good...  I'm gettin' on in years, and I had never operated a snow blower before, and I just couldn't believe how much easier it was to clear snow with them. *YOWZA!*

But...I noticed some leakage of some sort on the floor over the summer in the shed. I figured it was oil.   And...

...as the weather forecast called for snow Saturday night, I went out to put some oil in it...in the dark.  Now...

...I know what word you're thinkin' of...  First half means "not so smart".   Last half is what some Folks call a donkey.

And Lord, don't I know I deserve to be wearin' this Dunce Cap. I have been about as down on myself as I've ever been about something. I can't believe I was so stoopid.

But I over filled it with oil about as bad as you can without it bubbling out of the top like the time Ol' Jed Clampett just missed his dinner. I started and ran it the next day for about 30 seconds to a minute, hoping that I was just getting an inaccurate read, and with running, the level would reduce...

...and it ran like poo-poo, smoking and running bad, and even sounded like it was drowning (gurgle gurgle) after I turned it off... *sigh*

So...did I "kill" my pride and joy (and lumbar disc savior) or is there hope? Can I drain out the oil out of the drain plug at the bottom and hope for forgiveness? Or do I need to clean out other things that might have been drenched by the MASSIVE amount of oil I put in the Exxon Valdez?

AND...the manual says I have to empty the gas tank BEFORE draining out the oil. Why is that? I'm not going to tip it or anything...  Is that part necessary?

Well, as you might be able to tell, I don't get to talk to Folks much anymore, time has left me with a nice old lady, who isn't much into snowblower talk, and little else. I do have the time to work on my nice machine, just not all the know how, and I would sure be grateful for any advice or help you Fine Folks here on this wonderful website could give me...

...I'd sure miss having my shiney new firetruck red partner when I clear the driveway this winter, and the nice old lady says she'd miss me if I keeled over pushing snow around with my nickel shovel! I think she means that part...part of the time. LOL!

Well, thanks again!


  
                                  Your Friend in the Snowy Mid-west,



                                                   Fred D.



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The thing about draining the gas tank is to prevent spillage if it needs to be tipped,   just drain the oil down to the proper level, check your oil filter for oil saturation and you should be good..

run it again, make sure all is good.

Friiy

Oil filter???  Chances are it doesn't have one.

I'm sure he meant air filter.  Which it probably doesn't have either.  Chances are that there could be oil residue in and around the carb.  No big deal.  Look at it as a convenient lub job for the carb linkage. 

If your machine is new Fred,  you might want to pull the wheels and grease the axles before they rust an seize on you.   Pretty simple job.

Thank you ALL for your kind replies! I really appreciate you all taking the time to help me out (and feel a lot better about my terrible mistake!).

It was kind of *BLIZZARDING* today, so I didn't do the draining yet...but I think someTHING else did...

...GRAVITY maybe.  I mentioned in my first post how there had been some leakage during the summer under my blower, I noticed it when I removed the cover I had put over it to protect from dust. There was some staining right under the machine.

Well...when I go out to get my snow shovel last night (learned my lesson the first time; NOT workin' on my Troy-bilt in the dark nooo more) I noticed there had been some MAJOR leakage from the beast. Now, I know that overfilling the oil would maybe mean there was more in there to leak, and I don't know if "over flow" is the right term, but what do you all think might be causing the originally noticed problem of the possible oil leak?

I mentionedit in passing to someone, and they suggested the easy quick-check of a loose nut on the oil-drain, and I'll definitely be checking that before draining the excess oil, if there is still excess in there...it was a good bit leaked out on my wood shed floor. *Darn it.*

To the nice person who suggested greasing the wheels, when I go to the hardware store, what kind of stuff do I ask for? *THANKS!*

Lastly, I'd like to thank you all again, as I really do appreciate your taking the time to help me out. Seems so many of these internet website are home to some folks just lookin' for a chance to say something mean. You all are truly earning some Go-to-Heaven points for helping people out! I told the Nice Old Lady that I had been blessed by finding such a helpful place!

I'll check back and let you all know how the draining and engine starting goes tomorrow (nicer weather forecast).


                   
                                    Thank You ALL so much!



                                          Fred the Snowman




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Clunker(Fred)-

You should have gotten two manuals with your machine. One was from TroyBilt and the other was from the engine manufacturer. Check the one from the engine manufacturer which is probably either Tecumseh or Briggs. Somewhere in that manual it will give you the volume of oil required in the machine. It will also tell you to use 5w30 wt. oil in the machine. Buy yourself a plastic measuring cup,drain the oil from the machine and put in exactly the ammount of oil called for.After letting it settle check the dip stick to see where the level is for future reference.

The marks on the floor under your machine could be engine

oil but it also could be chain lube or bearing grease from the drive system that became less viscous in the summer heat and dripped off. It could also have been some gas that entered the carb due to not closing the gas valve below the tank. I make it a habit to close the valve after each use of my blower and then run the engine until it stops indicating that the carb is empty of fuel. If your machine is Tecumseh powered you will find a drain pin in the carburetor bowl.A picture of this will be in the Tecumseh manual. It is a good idea to place a rag on your finger and push up on the pin to finish draining the carb AFTER shutting off the gas valve and running the engine dry.

With respect to the oil on the floor it just occured to me that if there was slightly too much oil in the machine to begin with that the excess would be dripping out of the oil breather tube which is located on the back of the engine and is sometimes not clearly visible.This may account for the oil you saw on the floor initially.Since you overfilled the engine and ran it I am sure that there is now excess oil comming out of that tube.Even after you drain and refill with the correct ammount of oil you are still going to get some oil venting out of the breather tube until it completely purges itself.Not to worry about this as long as you check the oil level on the dip stick before each use.

In closing let me say it is rare for a new engine to leak oil. More than likely too much oil was added to begin with and it is being blown out of the breather.

Marc 

Clunker,  It is also possible that the excess amount of oil has caused too much pressure in the crankcase and a seal was blown.  Dont run it until you get the oil level down.
Packo

Yes, Sorry I ment Air filter....

I have seen one (1) instance where the ptu shaft seal was blown loose form the case by overfilling of oil... and once the seal under the flywheel was knock  out the same way...   This is from over filling of oil....  but is very rare..

Friiy

Considering the wheel/axle relationship is static on one side and occasionally at slow speed on the other, friction will not be an issue.  I therefore recommend a grease that will resist being washed off from melting snow.  Go with any decent quality marine grease.   It sticks like gorilla snot and will need fewer re-applications. 

Howdy Fine Folks!

I'm sorry to have taken so long to have gotten back with you all, but somebody a lot smarter than me went and erased the list of addresses at the top of the what'cha'ma'call'it of the computer screen, and I had to ask the question the same way I did in the beginning on the google to to find abbysguide again!

Well, as you all know, I went and overfilled the oil, and you guys gave me hope for a brighter tomorrow, and... I did like you all said and drained it! And you know what...I got out about the amount it was supposed to have in it in the first place, and this was with all that leaked out. More questions about that in a second...

I started it up, and it was smokey for a while, but did okay! YAHOO! I think you all were right, my Troy-bilt is so tough it's Old Blind Man Idiot Proof!

But...that initial oil leak. I mentioned... It was there before the over-filling snafu, and it seems to be from the bottom of the machine. Why it do dat? I was hoping it was just a loose oil-drain nut, but no dice.

Also...  I poured over the manuals (pun kinda intended) and I can't for the life of me find out what the little plastic screw-cap (it's yellow-orangey) that's under the top part of the motor is for... When I opened it (before draining), some of the beaucoup oil saw it's chance to pour out, making the emergency putting-back-on-of-the-cap an absolute experience in vaudeville...the only thing missing was the theme to Benny Hill to yakety-sax things up!

What the heck is that little screw plug for? My machine is a Model 5024, Two-stage. Like I said, I looked and looked at the manual, and was left clueless...er.

Well, everything you all tell is gold, so if you've any more thoughts for me, please share them, as I'm better off for your advice, and very much grateful for your help!



                                                           Thanks again,  VERY MUCH!


                                                                  The Old Clunker, Fred





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The only place oil can leak at the bottom is from one of the drain holes (if it has more than one).   Chances are you have residual oil dripping down.  When the engine is warm, the oil seeps down.  It should clear up after a while.  If not, check the tightness of your drain plugs. 

Regarding the plastic plug,  you'll have to be a bit more specific.  What type of engine is it?  Are you referring to the filler/inspection caps at the engine base?  Sometimes there are two of them.  My B&S has two filler/inspection caps at the bottom as well as filler cap at the top.  All caps are yellow.   How about posting a picture?