Craftsman Snow Thrower 536.881851 Issues

Just took my snow thrower from shed to garage. Put fresh gas and oil and unit started with no isues. As I was walking the unit to gargae the blower shut off. When I tried to restart the pull string is locked and electric start won't engage unit. I literally used this unit two times in 4 years. The unit is also leaking oil. One final question, this unit also had a recall can someon confirm the recall issue.

I am so iritatied with this unit since we are expecting our one snow fall of the year in South Jersey and I will have to shovel. What a waste of $800.00.

 

Take the belt cover off & check to see if a belt may have broke & jammed the pulleys. The electric starter only spins?? If so, the teeth may have broken from the drive gear & are now jammed between the flywheel magnet & the ign module. Pull the flywheel shroud off to check this. Hope it's either of these & not the rod siezed to the crank.. Roger

 

Recalls:

Why is Briggs & Stratton Recalling Snow Thrower Engines?


Was it leaking oil before it died? If oil leak started after it died, sounds like you may have broken a rod and it came thru the block.

 

This blower was leaking oil prior to dying. Refueled and oiled today. This machine was literally used two times. Do I have any recourse with Sears since the warranty is expired.

 

Where does it seem to be leaking oil from?? (left, right, front, etc) What is the temperature in your area & what weight of oil are you using. Also, is the oil full now & have you ever changed it?? This engine is a Briggs & not a Tecumseh?? Sorry for all the questions... Roger

 

Sears will not help you out since it is no longer under warranty.
Neither will Briggs as Sears buys engine with no warranty as they do self warranty. I looked on the Sears site and you do have a B&S engine. I would take it to you local small engine shop. Probably have to wait a while since you have so much snow coming and the shop is probably booked up for 2 weeks.

 

It's leaking oil along the back and right side.

 

i have never had any luck with sears and their crappy stuff.

 

Was the fuel tank empty & the oil overfull & thin? Could be the fuel leaked thru the carb & thinned the oil too much & the rod siezed to the crank. The thin oil will cause oil leaks & with lack of use, the carb may be gummed up & the float stuck. Have you checked anything with the unit yet?? (belts, etc??) Roger

 

I had the same problem. After disassembly the engine after the warrantee period expired and Sears was of no help I found that the second piston ring was seized in the ring land of the piston and was scouting the engine bore generating enough heat that the piston would seize to the wall after the engine had stopped as the high heat generated was not dissipated. After initially breaking the bond free, the engine would start again until the next use. The cycle kept repeating until there was a grove in the bore that would not allow full piston travel, even after the piston was freed. This scouring of the piston wall caused excessive blow by which created oil leakage.

Good luck,
Big Ed

 

i just purchased this exact snowblower and have the same exact same problem as
dnewc1965. My question, did you ever get a fix?

thanks
don