Blowers

There isn't a category for Snow Throwers, which is annoying. Anyway. I purchased a 24" 6.5hp snow thrower (model PR624ES)from Menards on December 26th, 2011. I've only been able to get it started twice. It won't start with either the electric starter or the manual one. I've tried every variation of number of primes, how open I have the choke, etc. Nothing works. Checked and rechecked to make sure key was inserted correctly, switch was flipped to "run," etc. Very very frustrated with this as I just spent 2 hrs shoveling 8 inches of snow after spending the previous 3 hours trying to get the thing to start.

The two times I had it started (the day I got it) and once in late December, it was not easy to get going. Now the starter will fire, but the engine won't start.

I purchased this snow thrower based on good reviews of it online, and the price, but it seems like I wasted my money on it.

I purchased a Poulan Pro blower/vac model BVM200VS on Dec 12, 2015 from Tractor Supply. The following weekend I assembled and filled with fuel.Used the enclosed bottle of oil and added to 1 gallon of ethanol free gas.  Primed and it cranked on 2nd pull...ran fine...used for about 30 minutes and stopped. 2 hours later it cranked on 1st pull...used about 45 minutes and stopped. Next day went to finish yard and it wouldn't crank. Replaced plug and still wouldn't crank. Called warranty the next day and was given the name and number of 3 shops authorized for Poulan warranty in my area. First one number disconnected, second one, number no longer in service. 3rd said they no longer done warranty work for Poulan rambled on about they were nothing but junk. Called Poulan again and was given 3 more names and numbers by another rep. 2 of those no longer in business, third one was 60 miles away one way. Called them but their hours were same as my work hours and they weren't taking any work in until after the holidays. Waited until after the Christmas/New Years holidays over and called Poulan again and was given another toll free number to call to locate more warranty shops.(???) That number could not be accessed from my area code. Called Poulan again and luckily got ahold of a man named Charlie...He was sorry that I had been getting all this bad info and run a round and very helpful. He asked my zip and told me he would make a few calls and try to find a Husqvarna shop in my area that would honor the Poulan warranty as Husqvarna makes this unit and owns Poulan. Charlie calls back later and has located a shop nearby that will help me. I take to shop and tech checks it out...only has 50# compression & takes 100 to crank. Leave the blower with him and he will contact warranty and try to get an authorization for repairs. Now today he calls back and says he has disassembled unit and rings are gummed and stuck and it will have to have a new cylinder, rings and piston at a cost to me of $50 more than I paid for the blower new. He says warranty will not cover any problems caused by fuel. Now I am not a rocket scientist, but instead I am a 62 year old man who has been an auto mechanic for almost 45 years. I owned a few 2 cycle weed eaters, chainsaws, blowers over the years. I even own a Poulan Pro 2 cycle tree trimmer. I have RC airplanes that are 2 cycle. Long ago I discovered the evils of ethanol gas in 2 cycle equipment. I only use ethanol-free gas in every piece of equipment I own 2 or 4 cycle. I even went and bought a new 1 gallon gas can when I read the instructions, just for this blower as it is 40:1 mix where most my other stuff is 50:1. And the 2nd day, 3rd time I try to use this blower that was used a total of less than 2 hours the rings are gummed, cylinder and piston ruined and its not covered because improper fuel mixture must have caused this problem? After reading the comments here and the customer reviews on this item on Tractor Supply's website I don't think so.... If this is the case I will never buy another Poulan or Husqvarna product nor will anyone who will listen to me...