If you fail to maintain your snow blower, then it will eventually fail you when you are knee-deep in snow. Proper maintenance prevents poor performance, so do not fail to maintain and repair your snow blower.
To begin with, find the owner’s manual of your snow blower and read the section on maintenance carefully. Subsequently, purchase and gather the materials required to perform the maintenance actions. Generally, you might need to change the spark plug, engine oil, and fuel. Henceforth, inspect the auger blades, shear pins, scraper bar and auger belt. Lastly, lubricate all the bearings and check the tire pressure. If you have a cordless snow blower, then you also need to keep the battery packs charged and ready to use.
Overview Of Snow Blower Types
First, a quick overview of the different types of snow blowers that are available on the market. Each type will have its own specific maintenance issues.
Single-stage snow blowers have either gasoline engines or electric motors, yet the small wheels are not self-propelled. You have to push a single-stage snow blower with your hands and feet. The auger paddle of a single stage-snow blower gathers the snow and throws it out of the discharge chute in one continuous motion. The auger paddle and scraper bar scrapes the snow right down to the pavement: for this reason, it is not recommended for gravel driveways. Overall, a single-stage snow blower is a good choice for clearing light snowfalls from patios, walkways and small paved driveways.
A two-stage snow blower removes snow in two stages. First, the auger blades cut and push the snow towards the impeller. Second, the impeller turns quickly and blows the snow out of the discharge chute. The advantages of a two-stage machine are its wide auger housing, self-propelled wheels, impeller that throws snow farther away, and ability to handle deeper, heavier snowfalls. Generally, two-stage snow blowers are recommended for clearing both pavement and gravel driveways that are either flat, uneven, or slanted at an incline.
A three-stage snow blower has an extra snow removal part called an accelerator. It turns in the middle of the auger to help break up heavy snow before the rest of the auger chews into it. The impeller then throws it out of the chute. These three-stage machines are probably the largest snow blowers for residential use on the market, and can handle heavy snowfalls and large areas.
Gas Snow Blower Maintenance
A snow blower with a gasoline engine requires the same attention as any other garden tool with a small engine. There are a few things that you should check before you use a gas snow blower for removing snowfalls. For example, you should check the levels of both the fuel and the oil. Then, check that the dual handle interlock and the clutch are working as they should. Furthermore, check that all the bolts and fasteners are tight. Later, after a few hours of getting rid of the snow, you can check the fuel and engine oil levels again.
If you notice that the clutches are not working properly, then check, adjust or repair it. Moreover, check the auger gear case, tire pressure, scraper bar, runners, shear bolts, discharge chute and battery. All the lubrication fittings should be either greased or oiled according to the instructions contained in the operator’s manual.
Electric Snow Blower Maintenance
An electric snow blower requires less maintenance compared to a gas powered model, and yet you should not neglect to take care of its components. I probably do not need to tell you to disconnect the extension cord before you start checking the parts of an electric snow blower. However, you should only repair an electric snow blower if you have both the instructions and the tools to do so.
Every time you use an electric snow blower, you should do a quick check to see if all the bolts and screws are still tight. You do not want to lose a screw in the snow.
If you notice that the snow thrower leaves some snow behind on the pavement, then it might be time to inspect and replace the scraper bar.
You can also run the electric snow blower for a minute or two, before storing it away for the next day. The spinning action should remove any residual snow that might cause the auger to freeze up during the night. Lastly, wipe off any snow and ice that are still stuck on the snow blower or chute deflector.
You should also inspect the condition of the drive belt if the motor turns on, but the auger paddle turns poorly or not at all. The belt that turns the auger paddle might be damaged. Remove the damaged belt and replace it with a new belt. It might also be necessary to replace the plates of the auger paddles when it has worn down too much.
Gas powered snow blowers need regular lubrication to keep things running smoothly. An electric snow blower does not need to be lubricated by the owner. It is already lubricated at the factory, enough to last the lifetime of the machine.
Cordless Snow Blower Maintenance
The maintenance tips mentioned above also apply to cordless snow blowers that operate on battery power. The only difference is that you need to take care of a battery pack instead of an outdoor power cord.
You should take care to unplug the battery charger and remove the battery pack before wiping it clean. Similar to other electrical equipment, you should never immerse the charger or battery in water, or use cleaning fluids or solvents that can damage the plastic. For safety reasons, you should turn off the safety switch button and remove the battery pack before you check and repair the cordless snow blower.
End Of Season Snow Blower Maintenance
There are a few things that you should do at the end of the snowy season, before you store the snow blower for the next winter.
You can clean the snow blower with some mild soap and water. However, do not spray the machine with water under high pressure.
Do a thorough inspection of the snow blower for signs of wear and tear, and repair any damaged parts. Check if the nuts and bolts of the machine are still tight.
You can add fuel stabilizer to treat the fuel system for short-term storage. However, you should drain the fuel system before storing the snow blower at the end of the winter. This prevents stale fuel from leaving gum deposits in the fuel system, which might cause starting problems, or even engine backfires.
Moreover, storing a snow blower for the whole summer with gasoline inside the tank might be a fire hazard, if there are potential sources of ignition inside the same building. If the snow blower has large tires, then you should put a few blocks under the axle or frame of the machine to remove the weight from the wheels.
The best place to store a snow blower is an indoor space that is cool, dry, and protected from the weather.
A battery-powered cordless snow blower also needs a close inspection for worn or damaged parts that might need repair or replacement. Always remove the battery pack from the cordless snow blower before cleaning and storing it.
The battery packs and chargers should be stored at room temperature in a dry place. Excess moisture can cause corrosion on the terminals. Keep the charger unplugged during summer, unless you also use the battery packs for powering other cordless equipment from the same manufacturer.
Conclusion
A snow blower can be maintained in proper working order by checking all the various bolts and screws for tightness before using it. Furthermore, check the fuel, oil and battery levels. At the end of the day, after the snow throwing is done, let the machine run for another minute to prevent melting snow from freezing up the auger or the impeller. Consult the operator’s manual for details on what to do before storing a snow blower for extended periods of time.
Photo by Chad Kirchoff on Unsplash