Life in an area that gets quite a bit of snowfall makes owning a snow blower almost a necessity. And it sure beats the alternative of being out in the cold shoveling snow for hours only to have to turn around and do it again, sometimes on the same day. Snow blowers are a valuable piece of mechanized machinery, perhaps only secondary to cars. If it is taken care of properly, then you should be able to extend its service life by several years.
Your winter snow blower requires regular servicing, just as any summer electric lawnmower, riding lawnmower, push mower or racing lawnmower would, to ensure that it will continue to perform when you need it the most. You need to make sure that the tires have adequate pressure and tread. If chains are used, then check their condition and store them in a convenient location. It is also a good idea to regularly check the rubber on the auger, as the space between it and the housing should be less than the width of a finger. If it is more, then it is time to replace the rubber.
After checking the owners manual for the proper way to conduct maintenance and what type of safety guidelines you should follow, check the scrape bar on the snow blower by laying it on its side and looking for worn spots that need to be replaced to lessen the risk of damaging the housing. It is also suggested that you check all of the snow blowers bolts, belts and other moving parts before they become worn out. This can eliminate costly repairs.
If you have a two cylinder (or two strokes) engine, which uses a mixture of oil and gas, then you will need to replace the spark plug periodically. If you have a 4 cylinder engine snow blower, just as with a lawnmower engine, and if it has separate oil and gas requirements, then you will need to change the filter, oil and spark plug. Ideally, you need to check the oil levels every time you use your snow blower; keeping a decent supply of oil on hand to be used when necessary.
It is important that you lube the chassis and drive on your snow blower; however, on stage 2 snow blowers it is a good idea to consult your owner's manual to help determine exactly what type you have and what type of lubricant should be used. At the end of snow season, it is recommended that you siphon off the old gas and for the next season start off with a fresh tank. It is also a good idea to add a little methanol to the gas every few months to help prevent the carburetor from freezing.
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