I have a snowblower with an electric starter. I tried starting it today for the first time since winter. When I try the starter it just turns over and over and over and does nothing but spit out exhaust. When I start it by hand, it takes 1-2 tries and it starts right up and runs fine. Try the starter, and it just cranks. WTF?

I remembered to prime it as well...

So gearheads, why won't my damn snowblower start via the starter?!?

sounds like you just need to suck it up and pull start it

sounds like the starter is sucking up too much juice, not leaving enough for ignition.

Standard snow blower starters run off 110V and you plug them in like an extension cord.

The reason is when you pull..the motor turns over much faster than the starter motor.

Gotta spin it quick enough to get power out of the magneto.

Hmmm...so the flywheel magnet isn't passing the magneto quick enough to create enough juice for spark? Makes sense.

So I guess the starter is just trash? Because starting it by hand is considerably easier when its only -5 C out compared to the -30 C I'll soon have to face.

here'* the situation. My Grandma had this old blower. Lived on the edge of a lake and man did the wind blow..and it was cold..

That blower would start w/the starter..but if I wanted the best chance I pulled that cord. Timewise it makes sense..walk over pull cord or walk over..plug in..plug other end in..press button..hope it starts.

You should change the plug and oil in the blower if it hasn't been done lately. Could be the plug is merely dirty etc.