I got an Ariens ST524 snowblower today off craigslist.  The thing wont start.  I'm getting spark and fuel is getting to the carb but it seems that carb is dry. I open the drain bolt on the bottom of the carb and nothing even leaks out.  

 

As a side note, I look at pictures of the same snowblower online and they have a key ignition which mine doesn't have.  I see 1 wire hanging there, but don't see a space where the 2nd wire to connect to.  Would I still be getting spark if the ignition key is missing?

If youre getting fuel to the carb then why would the fuel bowl be empty. Youve got a blockage. Take apart the carb and blow out the ports. Youve got some tinkering around to do. Clean it out with carb cleaner. Maybe the needle is stuck not allowing for fuel passage ?

Carb float is probably stuck. If you have the skills, take carb apart, clean everything, reassemble. Should be good to go.

Float needle all gummed up. It's what meters fuel into bowl. Take pin out of float( you'll figure out what I'm dscribing) float needle should fall out.

 

Or, try Startron and new gas and pull till you puke and let sit over night.

Startron not Stabil.

As others have said, take the carb bowl off and see what it looks like inside.  The "nut" you need to remove at the bottom of the bowl is actually the main jet.  If the needle and seat are so gummed up to stick the float, then the jet is probably clogged as well.  Be sure to get all the holes clear, some of them are tiny.

 

If the carb is that bad it might make sense to hit ebay for a replacement.  They're only about $25 tops.  

 

As for the key, all it does is ground the coil to shut it off, or take the key out to stop someone else from starting it.  If the wire is hanging you're probably good to go.  As long as you have spark, the key is "on".  Did you try starting it with a shot of ether or carb cleaner to verify it would run if it was getting fuel?  

I just tore down and cleaned up a carb today. your best bet is remove and take it apart, there are a bunch of jets, ports various pinholes that should all be cleaned.make everything shine, use the wire from a twist-tie to poke inside the tiny jets/ports.I'll use carb cleaner, starting fluid even brake cleaner to blast thru the holes and scrub everything. Just remember how things go back together including the exterior spring and rod hookups. I like to keep thr nut on the bottem of the bowl  little loose after reassembly to make sure gas drips out then tighten it.

If the engine was put away with fuel in the carb bowl, that fuel evaporated away leaving just a sticky "varnish".   This has everything gummed up.

 

Remove the carb from the engine (two bolts), remove the bowl and clean everything with carb cleaner and a soft toothbrush.  Pay special attention to the fuel metering valve (little tapered thing that attaches to the float in the bowl.

 

Once everything is moving freely again, I think it will start.

Try cleaning it like others have said, but if it's still not running right you'll need to get a carb rebuild kit or a new carb. The ethanol they are putting in gas these days is terrible stuff and can cause problems with the carb. I've seen the neoprene seat in the carb swelled up from the ethanol causing fuel delivery issues.

Just got it running! I only ran it for a few minutes since it's 1AM and I'm sure my neighbors (and wife) don't like an engine running this late.  

 

I cleaned the jets and bowl on the carb.  I think the main issue was that the float was stuck and therefore not allowing any fuel into the carb.  I really need to replace the gasket and possible the bowl itself.  Is the gasket a standard part I can get at HD or Lowes, or do I need to order it online?  I have a few months before I need this thing to run perfectly but I'd like to be able to know that I can depend on it when I need it.

If the big box stores don't have what you need, try some place that sells/services snowblowers...for me, it's Mayberry Sales & Service in Port Murray.

 

 

This signature is AWESOME!!!

The one nice thing about carburetors on those small engines is there are not many parts to replace and most times its a stuck float or needle valve. 

The root cause is most likely that GD ETHANOL in the fuel.

 

See if you can get some AV gas or something like a 'storage fuel"  to run it on, or at least before you put it away for the summer.

 

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/article/vp-racing-fuels-non-oxygenated-fuel-suited-storage

You can get rebuild kits and various small engine parts off ebay.