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Snow-Blower Engine Maintenance

Steve Thomas shows Roger the basics of snow-blower engine maintenance. These general suggestions are applicable to other small engines such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, line weed-trimmers, etc.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Host Steve Thomas and landscape contractor Roger Cook perform annual maintenance on a snow blower.

It's a good idea to perform annual routine maintenance on snow-blowers beginning on November 1 -- to ensure that the engine is in good condition before the first snowfall.

Begin by removing and inspecting the spark plugs (figure A).
After a year's use, a spark-plug begins to show wear and scoring around the contact). It's a good idea to go ahead and install new plugs (figure B) each year.
Next, use a grease gun to lubricate all of the grease fittings -- in particular, the ones on the auger (figure C).
It's a good idea to have a number of replacement shear-pins (figure D) on hand. These pins connect the auger to the central gear drive. If you have to replace one due to breakage, it's better to have one on hand than to try to locate and purchase one during a snowstorm.
Add fuel stabilizer to your gas (figure E) to ensure that the gas remains good even if it sits in a storage tank for several weeks or months. Gas that is stale may result in difficult starts.
Add fuel to the blower' gas tank (figure F)
Start the engine and check all functions for proper operation (figure G). Now your snow-blower should be ready for work when the first snow hits.
Tip: Drain your snow-blower's gas tank a the end of the winter season, and run the carburetor dry before storing your equipment for the warm months.