I have a Power Smart 22-inch 208cc Gas Powered 2-Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start option which I bought last year. It worked well all year. I always used the manual pull start because that was easiest for me. In the spring I performed general maintenance including including replacing the oil and adding fuel stabilizer. I recently tried to start her up just so that I knew I was ready for this winter and it didn't start despite several efforts at a manual start. So I tried the electric start and it started fine. So any ideas why the electric start is working but the manual start is not? Is it possible the spark plug needs to be replaced or something else? I am admittedly pretty clueless with engines, big or small.

A neighbor brought over a Toro Snowthrower Model 38182 Ser # 25003905 It would not run without spraying staring fluid (to start AND keep running). the usual fix for this is to take off the float bowl and clean out the varnish, re seal etc and fire away, but not this time. When I put it back to together, new gaskets, and bowl O ring. I had to tip it up to re attach the cover, and I had fuel leaking from somewhere behind the carburetor. I think it is coming from a small tube that looks like a small hose barb, but the only hose near there is the one attached to the primer bulb, and that is attached to another hose barb that is larger and above where this one comes out. I cannot see this hose barb on the parts diagram on Toro's web site and just wonder if this is some type of overflow that is part of the design? Any clues here would be helpful!!