Get your snow blower ready for winter in 5 easy steps

A SNOW BLOWER CAN ONLY BE USED IN WINTER, (and only in the snow). As a result, it spends most of the year sitting in your shed or garage. Machines that sit without use for long periods of time are susceptible to a few common problems.Will your snowblower be ready when you need it?

Here are 5 easy steps for getting your snowblower ready for winter.

Step 1 - Inflate the tires.
Tires can slowly lose air while in storage. Before the first snowfall, inflate them so that they are firm. don't over-inflate: firm, but not rock hard. If your tire has gotten so flat that it has separated from the wheel rim and does not want to inflate, you'll want to check out my video on how to fix this. I'll link to it at the bottom of this page.



Step 2 - Install a new spark plug.This step is optional if your machine is relatively new or has not seen much use. Nonetheless, a good rule of thumb is to install a new spark plug each year.

Step 3 - Change the oil.
An annual oil change for your small engine is like a daily shower or bath for a human being. It's just good hygiene! Drain out the old oil. Add new, clean oil. Be careful not to overfill it. Clean oil makes your engine happy!





Step 4 - Adjust the skid shoes. 
The skid shoes are the only part of your snowblower (other than the tires) that should touch the ground. With your snowblower on a flat level space, place a paint stirring stick or a shim under the scraper blade at the back of the can so that it sits about 1/8 of an inch off the ground. Loosen the bolts on the skid shoes, and allow the shoes to contact the ground. Then tighten them down. Good job. Replace worn skid shoes.

Step 5 - Add clean fuel and fire it up!
Fuel that has sat in your gas tank and carburetor all year while in storage should be drained. That old fuel can gum up your carburetor and impede fuel flow. If this happens and your engine won't start, you'll need to clean out the carburetor. A fuel stabilizer added to the gas can prevent this. I recommend this for any small engine that only sees occasional use. Now fire up your snowblower to make sure it runs. You're all set for the first snowfall of the season.

(I service and repair small engines. I am located in Southern New Jersey. If you need help with your snowblower or other machine, please leave me a comment or shoot me an email. Thank you.)

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