Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Tecumseh 5Hp Snow King engine bogging and spitting gas out of hole in primer bulb, yard machines snow thrower, mtd yard machines

Question
Hi Eric,
I read the other posts on gas spitting from the primer bulb, but my problem seems a little different.  With the big snowfalls last winter and this winter, I've been having a problem with my MTD Yard Machines snow thrower Tecumseh 5Hp Snow King engine after about 20-30 minutes of heavy use.  The snow thrower works great for the first 20-30 minutes, smooth and powerful, but then starts bogging down and spitting gasoline out of the little hole in the primer bulb.  I can't be certain, but I thought I also saw some gas come out near the choke knob, but I'm not sure about that.  But gas is definitely spitting out of the hole in the primer bulb, usually when it is bogging down after about 20-30 minutes of heavy use, while clearing heavy snow.  This engine has never really been right since I bought the snow thrower (new) in the fall of 2002, only working well for the first half of every job.  I would really appreciate your thoughts if you have any idea what could be the problem.
Thanks!
-Josh


Answer
Difficult problem to isolate.  Have you replaced the spark plug?  It could be an ignition or carb problem.  Carb problems are more common but a faulty ignition coil will sometimes stop working when the engine warms up.

Try a spark plug first.  Does you blower have a float style carb?  You can tell by looking at the bottom of the carb...if it has a bowl then it is a float style.

Let me know.
Eric