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Diagnose & TroubleshootWood Chippers, Shredders & Vacuums

Select one of the symptoms below to find possible causes and common solutions for your MTD wood chipper, shredder or vacuum.

Engine fails to start

Possible Causes		Corrective Actions
1Throttle lever not in correct starting position		Move throttle lever to FAST or START position
Spark plug wire disconnected		Connect wire to spark plug
Choke not in CHOKE position (if equipped)		Move choke lever to CHOKE position (if equipped)
Fuel tank empty or stale fuel		Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline
Engine not primed (if equipped)		Prime engine as instructed in your Engine Manual
Faulty spark plug		Clean, adjust gap, or replace spark plug
Engine flooded		Safety switch must be depressed by the front tab on the bag handle when securing the bag
Safety switch not depressed		Connect safety switch wire to engine connector and ground to mounting bracket
Safety switch wire is not connected to engine or not properly grounded		Wait a few minutes to restart, but do not prime