How to make your snowblower last longer

3. Check the fuel line

While replacing the fuel filter, examine the fuel line. Make sure there are no cracks in the fuel line and that it’s still flexible and soft. If the fuel line is cracked or damaged, fuel won't flow to the carburetor to start the engine.

Replace the fuel line if it’s cracked or broken. Our Replacing the Fuel Line on a Snowblower DIY YouTube video shows how to replace the fuel line on a common type of Craftsman snowblower.

4. Replace the spark plug(s)

Because snow blowers and snow throwers typically don’t have air filters, you’ll need to replace the spark plug (or spark plugs) at the beginning of every snow season so the engine starts easily and runs smoothly.

Our DIY YouTube video How to Check and Install a Snowblower Spark Plug shows you how to replace the spark plug. Be sure to set the spark plug gap properly as shown in the video so fuel ignites properly in the cylinder.

5. Drain the oil

Motor oil cools the engine parts and helps cool the cylinder in your snowblower’s engine. You’ll need to replace the engine oil at the beginning of the snow season to keep the engine running smoothly and prevent excessive wear of engine components.

Our How to Change the Oil in a Snowblower Video shows you how to drain the oil from a common MTD engine.

Don’t refill the engine with oil yet. Just drain the oil and then complete the additional maintenance tasks shown below before refilling the engine with oil and adding gasoline to the fuel tank.

Adding oil to the engine and gasoline to the fuel tank as the last steps in snowblower maintenance will help avoid fluid spills and engine problems.

How to lubricate and maintain your snowblower

Now that you’ve completed engine maintenance, you’ll need to lubricate, adjust and perform maintenance on the rest of the snow blower. Keeping auger parts and controls properly adjusted and lubricated will help these parts last longer and work better.

Lubricate the auger shaft and bearings

You’ll need to lubricate the auger shaft and bearings to prevent the auger shaft from seizing up in the dead of winter.

Follow these steps to lubricate the auger shaft and bearings:

1. Remove all the shear pins on the auger shaft.

2. Spray a light coat of silicone lubricant on the shaft and around the augers, spacers and flange bearings.

3. Inspect the shear pins for wear and damage. Replace any worn or damaged shear pins.

4. Reinstall the shear pins and secure them with their cotter pins.

Maintain the wheels and tires

Carefully tilt the snowblower on its nose (with the fuel tank still empty).

Follow these steps to get the snowblower tires and wheels ready for winter:

1. Use a socket wrench to remove the first wheel. Clean and coat the axle with multi-purpose automotive grease to keep it from rusting up. Reinstall the wheel.

2. Repeat the process on the other wheel.

3. Use a pressure gauge to check air pressure in each tire. Inflate the tires to the specification provided on the tire sidewall.

Adjust the skid shoes

Once you have the tires properly inflated, inspect both of the skid shoes. The skid shoes protect the shave plate from damage.

The entire bottom surface of each skid shoe should be touching the ground. If not, then you’ll need to adjust or replace the skid shoes.

Follow the steps shown in this video to adjust the skid shoes:

How To Adjust Snowblower Skid Shoes Video

If the skid shoes are worn down too far to adjust properly, replace them. Our How to Replace Snowblower Skid Shoes Video shows you how.

Clean and lubricate the controls

Wipe dust and dirt off of the auger control and drive control pivots. Spray both of those pivots with silicone lubricant.

Clean and lubricate the auger cable bracket at the bottom of the snowblower.

Lubricate the drive hex shaft

Next, you’ll need to clean and lubricate the drive hex shaft. View our How to Lubricate the Drive Hex Shaft Video to see details on completing that maintenance task.

Lubricate the auger housing and snow chute using SNOW-JET

To keep snow moving smoothly through the auger housing and snow chute, spray those areas with SNOW-JET non-stick polymer.

SNOW-JET eliminates snow buildup in the chute and auger housing so you don't have to stop to clear snow from the snowblower, saving time and fuel. SNOW-JET also reduces friction, so snow blows further.

Refill oil and gas then check snowblower operation

Fill the engine with oil according to the directions in your owner’s manual. Fill the fuel tank with gasoline and check snowblower control operation.

Take your snowblower outside and test out both control handles under normal operation. If either handle doesn’t work smoothly, you’ll need to adjust its cable.

• If the auger spins with the auger control disengaged, adjust the auger cable as shown in our How to Adjust a Snowblower Auger Control Video.

• If the snowblower creeps forward with the drive handle disengaged, watch our How to Adjust the Drive Control Video to learn how to adjust the drive control.

Repeat all of these maintenance and adjustment steps yearly to keep your snowblower or snow thrower in top shape and lasting longer.