How to Start an Ariens 500 Series Snowblower

Manual Pull-Starting

• 1

  Locate the black plastic handle of the recoil starter. It will be found at the rear of the engine. The handle itself will be on the right side.

• 2

  Turn the red manual engine choke-control knob all the way to the right. It is on the back left side of the snowblower engine at about the same height as the manual starting handle. Raise the throttle adjustment lever one-quarter of the way up the slot housing it. It is immediately to the right of the choke knob.

• 3

  Press the primer bulb to fill the priming reservoir of the carburetor. The priming bulb is slightly above and to the right of the throttle adjustment. Continue pressing the bulb until a few drops of gasoline drip to the floor or onto the snow.

• 4

  Place your right foot atop the right wheel for additional leverage, and pull the recoil start handle. The engine will start. As it begins to warm up, begin clicking the choke-control knob back toward the left while gradually lifting the throttle control. When the engine is fully warmed up and running smoothly, turn the choke-control knob all the way to the left, and raise the throttle adjustment to the top. Your snowblower is now fully powered up and ready to clear some snow.

Electric Starting

• 5

  Connect the female end of the extension cord to the three prongs on the electric starter motor. The starter motor is on the right side of the engine, slightly below and to the rear of the oil fill tube. Plug the other end of the extension into a 120-volt wall outlet.

• 6

  Turn the choke-control knob all the way to the right, lift the throttle adjustment one-quarter of the way up, and prime the engine with the primer bulb.

• 7

  Press the starter button. It is on a small housing just above and slightly to the rear of the starter motor. The engine will start.

• 8

  Unplug the extension cord from the wall outlet and the starter motor. As the engine begins warming up, gradually begin clicking the choke-control knob back to the left while periodically raising the throttle-adjustment lever. When the engine is fully warmed up and running smoothly, turn the choke-control knob all the way to the left, and raise the throttle adjustment to the top. Your snowblower is fully powered up and ready to go to work.