If you follow a yearly maintenance schedule, then it is easy to start up your snow blower after summer storage, before the first snowfall of winter.
A snow blower should be kept in good working condition by performing yearly maintenance tasks. For example, check all the moving parts such as tires, belts, chains, and cables for wear and tear. A shear pin can break unexpectedly due to some object embedded in the snow, so always have a few spare pins in the garage. Keeping the fuel in the tank fresh and stabilized is very important if you want to avoid engine problems. Similarly, the engine oil should be checked at regular intervals and replaced with fresh oil when necessary. Moreover, clean or replace the spark plug and air filter when it becomes dirty. You will also need to lubricate all the various moving parts and internal gears at least once per year.
Snow Blower Maintenance After Summer Before Winter
Are you ready for winter with your snow blower? Make sure your snow blower is prepared for the snow by following these crucial maintenance steps. By giving your snow blower some regular maintenance right away, you will be prepared for the upcoming snowfall. Before the first snowstorm, here are a few tips for things that you should do.
Go Nuts With The Bolts
Similar to any other machine, a snow blower is held together by nuts, bolts and screws. A snow blower’s vibrations have a tendency to cause control linkages, nuts and bolts to loosen up. These hardware fasteners should be checked for tightness before starting the snow blower.
You will need open-ended wrenches of different sizes, or an adjustable wrench, maybe even pliers. These tools are also useful for adjusting the runner skid shoes up or down, depending on the conditions, such as clearing snow from a gravel driveway.
Check for broken shear pins. Always have spares on hand, since this component of a 2-stage snow blower is intended to fail whenever the gearing case and auger blades get overburdened by obstacles.
Add Oil!
Additional maintenance is needed for gas-powered snow blowers: before each usage, inspect the oil level and patch any leaks. If you operate your snow blower daily, replacing the oil once each season is insufficient. You should probably drain out and replace the engine oil after every 25 to 30 hours of operation.
Before you start this maintenance operation, read the owner’s handbook and have the proper oil on hand. Check the oil level after you have your supplies. Start the snow blower and let it run a few minutes to warm up. This will facilitate oil flow and mix up any lingering filth in the oil pan that needs to be removed.
Check the oil’s clarity by removing the dipstick. When the oil needs to be changed, it’s dirty. The correct procedure to drain the used oil should be found in the snow blower’s operator manual.
The drain stopper on the majority of models is on the rear end: because of that, the front end of the snow blower must be raised for the oil to drain freely. Empty the oil into a bottle after removing the drain plug using a wrench. Make sure the used oil is disposed of correctly.
Spark Off The Snow Blower
The spark plug requires a quick inspection. The spark plug cable should be disconnected. With the aid of a spark plug socket wrench, remove the spark plug and any surrounding debris. If the spark plug is dirty, then you can clean it. However, if the spark plug is damaged, then you should replace it with a new one.
Gas Up!
Initially, clean out the fuel tank. Use a siphon pump to empty away any remaining fuel in the tank. Run your snow blower until it is completely dry after draining the fuel. Subsequently, you can add fresh gasoline.
Do not add gasoline to your snow blower while it is running: always add fuel before starting it, or after giving the engine a few minutes to cool down. If you are using an ethanol fuel, then you should mix the fresh fuel with a fuel stabilizer. This treatment prevents the ethanol fuel from absorbing water out of the air. It also forms a layer on top of the fuel in the gas tank that reduces the evaporation rate of the volatile compounds. A fuel stabilizer keeps the fuel in the tank fresh for longer.
Simple Ways To Prepare Your Snow Blower For Winter
To get you started, consider some of these safety and upkeep suggestions:
- Read the snow blower’s owner manual to learn how to operate your device correctly.
- Walk around your machine, and tighten any unsecured nuts, fasteners, or cables.
- Examine and replace worn components such as auger paddles, scraper bars and skid shoes.
- Replace the engine oil, and add a fuel stabilizer treatment to the fresh fuel before filling the gas tank.
- Replace the air filter if the snow blower starts to cough and wheeze.
- Lubricate all the parts that are indicated in the operator manual of the snow blower.
- Store the snow blower where it is protected from bad weather, yet within easy reach for quick snow removal.
- Install a fresh spark plug if the current one is damaged.
- Inspect the drive belts, and replace any that show signs of cracking or fraying.
- Replace any corroded areas with fresh paint, and cover all painted surfaces with a lubricant spray or vehicle wax.
- If your model relies on batteries for operation, make sure to charge and store it properly.
How To Prepare Your Snow Blower For Summer Storage
It is important to perform a season-ending tune-up. You can drain and replace the engine oil. In addition, the spark plug should be inspected, cleaned, or replaced.
Emptying the machine of all its gas before summer storage will ensure that your snow blower will start up again when winter arrives.
You can run the snow blower out of gas, after siphoning the gas out with a fuel transfer pump. A fuel siphon pump is the easiest way to remove any remaining gasoline from the tank. Otherwise, utilize the fuel line to drain the fuel system.
The end of the winter might be a good time to inspect and grease the gear shaft. Investigate the gear shaft and coat the hex shaft with oil after removing the bottom frame cover from below the unit. Sandpaper should be used to remove any corrosion from the snow blower axle shafts before reassembling the wheels. After that, give the axle a good cleaning and apply a light to moderate coating of grease. Additionally, make sure the axle ends, which contain the snap clips, are cleaned and greased. The snap clips may corrode to the axle if they are not maintained, making it impossible to remove the wheels.
Rough weather and wet snow can leave salt stains on your snow blower, which can lead to corrosion of the metal parts. Remove salt and other stains from the snowblower by wiping it off with a warm, moist cloth. Squirt the surface metal with an anti-rust spray after it has dried.
Conclusion
You should have no problem with starting up your snow blower after the summer is over, and the first snow starts to fall, if you take care to follow the maintenance suggestions I discussed in this article.
To summarize, remember to inspect the auger and scraper bar on your snow blower, and replace it if damaged. Ensure that the fuel from the previous year was emptied, look for any loose wires, and give everything a thorough inspection to determine if anything needs to be fixed. Before attempting to run your snow blower, make sure all levers and knobs are properly secured and in position. You should also change the oil on your snow blower before the winter starts.
Photo by Tyler Rutherford on Unsplash