Maintenance Checks to Prepare Your Snowblower for Winter

Take a look outside. Is there snow on the ground? Then it’s time to pull out the sleds and the snow gear! This should also include your snowblower. As fun as snow can be, you still need to get out of your driveway sometimes, so make sure your blower is ready for the winter. Scott’s Power Equipment has provided some essential maintenance tips that you’ll want to cover to get your blower primed to work again and continue to perform as you use it throughout the season. If you need additional help, stop by one of our locations in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri, proudly serving all of St. Louis.

Getting Set Up

Before we dive into the maintenance itself, you’ll need to gather some supplies and get your strategy in order. First, double check and triple check that the machine won’t turn on while you’re working. Disengage all control levers, make sure the engine is complete off, and disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine.

Next, gather all the supplies you’ll need. This might mean some spare parts, if you have them or if it’s necessary, but even a basic tool kit can be helpful. Include things like a flashlight, screwdriver, wrench, hammer, and all the basics so you don’t have to stop in the middle of your work to go hunt a tool down.

Finally, make sure your owner's manual is nearby and that you’ve spent some time reviewing it. The tips we’re giving here cover a lot of the basics that’ll work for most models, but some snow blowers or snow throwers might have specialized needs or recommended maintenance products. 

The Inspection

If you’re not comfortable with performing maintenance repairs or fixes, then consider at the very least inspecting your snowblower. Look at all the moving parts and see if you can spot signs of excessive wear or damage. This way, even if you don’t perform any fixes yourself, you can at least contact our service department at Scott’s Power Equipment and we’ll get you squared away. 

In the Motor

When it comes to either maintenance inspections or fixes, consider starting with the motor. You’ll want to change the oil and filter as needed, or top it off, much like you would with any motorized vehicle or machine. If you need to, consider running the motor to warm it up a bit and make the oil less viscous. 

You’ll want to check your spark plugs after every 25 hours of use, or simply at the start and end of each season if you don’t use your snowblower that much. They’ll need to be serviced once have 100 hours, or at the end of the season. These are some of the basic tips, but if you notice they’re damaged or see deposits while you’re performing your inspection, then you might need to replace them early.

The motor needs fuel to run, so top off your tank if necessary. You might also want to add fuel stabilizer so the gas stays fresher, longer. This can be particularly helpful if you don’t use your snowblower terribly often.

The Shave Plate and Auger Paddles

Next, move to the shave plate, which is the part that scrapes the snow off your driveway. If you notice it’s worn, and you have a single-stage snowblower, then simply reverse it (if you haven’t already reversed it before). If you have a two-stage snowblower, you’ll need to replace it.

The auger paddles also do a lot of work to get the snow off the ground, so inspect them fairly often. If they look damaged, worn, or don’t hit the bottom anymore, then they’ll need to be replaced. This might require professional intervention. 

Belts

Your belts play an important role in getting power from the engine to the rest of the machine, so if you notice there are rips or cracks, then they’ll need to be replaced. If you’ve never done this before, consider taking a picture before removing them so you know how to put them back.

Check for Broken Shear Pins

Shear pins connect the auger to the gear case and they’re actually designed to break sometimes. It’s a safety feature to prevent the machine from getting overloaded and breaking down. But if they are broken, you’ll need to replace them. 

These are some of the easier, more basic ways to take care of your snowblower, but as we mentioned, not everyone is comfortable performing their own maintenance. Whether your machine needs a pre-season checkup or you suspect there’s something wrong with it, contact our service department at Scott’s Power Equipment to see how we can help you. We serve all patrons from Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, East St. Louis, and St. Louis, Missouri.