How to Maintain a Snowblower

All outdoor equipment needs routine maintenance, just like your car and bike. Yet when the device is only used a few times a month and only for one season of the year, it’s easy to forget. When was the last time you thought about maintaining your snowblower? Of all the yard equipment, it’s among the easiest to forget about it right until you need it the most. Before pulling out your snowblower to deal with the first big snowfall of the year, consider these routine maintenance chores.

The auger that turns to move the snow and throw it out of the chute requires plenty of inspection before it's used each winter. Your snowblower should feature a cover or case that is easy to remove to give you access to it. Single-stage snowblowers use the auger to also scoop snow off the ground, so these rubber paddles wear rapidly and need replacement every few years. For two-stage models, the paddles should be metal and will only need cleaning and lubrication each year. Use a grease gun to pump lithium-based grease into the fittings on the auger. Also, check the shear pins that hold the auger to the shaft. If any have broken, replace them. Replace rusty or stuck pins as well. Keep plenty on hand since they’re sacrificial parts that break to keep the auger or paddles from snapping instead.

Electric snow blowers can skip this step, but gas-powered models need a full tune-up before starting each winter. Put in fresh gas after draining out any fuel you forget to remove last fall. Give the snowblower an oil change too. It’s fine to start up the blower first for a few minutes to warm up the oil enough to encourage easy draining. Finally, give the spark plug a look, and replace it if it has dark or white deposits on the tip. You don’t want to deal with oil changes or spark plug replacements in the middle of a busy morning when you need your snow blower working.

All snow blowers, regardless of stages or fuel type, rely on belts to transmit the rotary power needed by the auger. These belts wear out over time, often developing tiny cracks in the surface that cause them to snap under pressure eventually. Take a good look at the belt’s surface and squeeze it with your fingers to see if it’s still soft and flexible. If the rubber is getting stretched, worn, cracked, or hardened, go ahead and replace the belt. This reduces wear and tear on the other parts.