Getting the snow blower ready before the first storm

A snow blower sits unused for most of the year. Check it over in the fall, while there's still time to order a belt, a skid shoe or more shear pins. The owner's manual lists the oil, the spark plug and the service intervals for your model, so keep it with the machine.

What you need

• The owner's manual
• A wrench set and a screwdriver
• The oil the manual calls for, and a drain pan
• A wire brush for the spark plug
• Spare shear pins, and any belt, shave plate or skid shoes that need replacing
• Fresh gas, fuel stabilizer and a gas can

Steps

1. 1

   Stop the engine and pull the spark plug wire

   Before you clean, inspect or repair any part, disengage the controls, stop the engine and wait for the auger to stop. Pull the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine so the machine can't start.

   1 min

2. 2

   Tighten the bolts and look over the fuel system

   Check the bolts and screws for tightness. Look at the fuel line, the tank, the cap and the fittings for cracks or leaks, and replace any that are damaged.

   10 min

3. 3

   Check the shave plate, skid shoes and paddles

   On a two-stage or three-stage machine, the shave plate and skid shoes protect the auger housing. Replace them before they wear through. On a single-stage machine, tilt it back onto the handle and check the shave plate and the rubber auger paddles. The paddles shouldn't wear down far enough for the metal auger to touch the pavement.

   10 min

4. 4

   Check the belts

   Take off the belt cover and look for wear, cracks and fraying. Replace a worn belt now, before the snow.

   10 min

5. 5

   Stock spare shear pins

   Shear pins connect the auger to its shaft and are made to break when the auger hits something hard, which saves the gears. Keep a supply with the machine.

   5 min

6. 6

   Change the oil

   On a four-stroke engine, drain the old oil and refill with the type the manual lists. Take the old oil to a place that accepts used motor oil.

   15 min

7. 7

   Clean and check the spark plug

   Take it out, look it over, and clean it with a wire brush if it needs it. Replace it if the manual's interval has come up. Don't crank the engine with the plug out.

   10 min

8. 8

   Clear the engine and muffler

   Brush off leaves, grass and other debris from around the engine and the muffler.

   5 min

9. 9

   Fuel it outdoors

   Fill the tank outdoors with fresh gas and stabilizer while the engine is cold. Keep the gas can capped and stored outside the house, away from anything that could ignite it.

   5 min

10. 10

    Start it and test the controls

    Reconnect the spark plug wire and start it outdoors. Each control lever should engage and release cleanly, and the auger should stop when you let go.

    5 min

Clearing a clog

Most snow blower injuries happen when someone reaches into the discharge chute or the auger to clear packed snow, and finger amputations are among them. People have also been caught in the machine and killed. Stop the engine, wait for every part to stop moving, and clear the clog with a long stick, never your hands.

Running it safely

• Run it only outdoors. People have died of carbon monoxide poisoning after leaving the engine running in an enclosed space.
• Keep hands and feet away from the moving parts.
• Add gas only when the engine is off and cool.
• With an electric snow blower, keep track of the cord the whole time you're clearing snow.

At the end of winter

Look over the same wear parts and belts after the last storm, and order anything that needs replacing so it's on hand by fall. Before storage, drain the old fuel with a siphon pump, then fill the tank with fresh gas and stabilizer. A full tank keeps air and moisture off the bare metal inside the fuel system, which can rust when the tank sits empty. Then put a light coat of oil on the auger's hex shaft.