December 01, 2014

5 snowblower tips and tricks

5 snowblower tips and tricks.
5 snowblower tips and tricks.

Your snowblower makes it so much easier to clear the snowy mess from your sidewalks and driveways.

These tips help your snowblower clear snow as efficiently as it can, so you can return to the warmth of your home faster. 

Once you're done reading the tips, check out our snowblower repair guide page for more tips, answers to most frequently asked questions, repair guides and other articles and videos. Shop Sears PartsDirect for all your snowblower replacement parts, too.

Snowblower tips and tricks

  1. If possible, blow snow that's newly fallen, before it gets packed down or hardens.

  2. If you keep the snowblower in a heated garage, move the snowblower outside for 5-10 minutes and let it adjust to the outdoor temperature. Then, start the engine and let it warm up for a few minutes. Letting it adjust to the outdoor temperature allows the engine start and adjust to the operating air temperature for smoother and steady running.

  3. Before you start, spray a small amount of silicone spray inside the chute to prevent clogging. If the chute starts to clog, pause to allow the chute to clear. If the chute clogs completely, turn off your snow blower and then use the clean-out tool that came with your machine or a thin wooden stick to remove clog.

  4. Start out slowly, increasing your speed only to the point where you feel the engine is working at peak efficiency. If the engine strains, slow down or blow a smaller swath of snow.

  5. For deeper snow, push down on the handles to raise the front and make a first pass to remove the upper layer of snow, and the do a second pass to remove the rest.

Symptoms for gas snowblowers

Choose a symptom to see related snowblower repairs.

Main causes: loose drive clutch cable, damaged drive clutch cable, worn friction disc, scraper blade scraping the ground…

Main causes: dirty carburetor, clogged fuel filter, dirty spark plug, incorrect valve lash, leaky engine gaskets…

Main causes: clogged chute, damaged auger blades, broken shear pins, worn auger belt, damaged gear case, engine problems…

Things to do: replace the spark plug, change the oil, rebuild the carburetor, adjust valve lash, adjust or replace the b…

Main causes: snow build-up in chute, chute drive mechanism failure, bad chute control assembly…

Main causes: stale gas, clogged carburetor, clogged or broken fuel line, dirty spark plug, bad rewind starter, incorrect…

Main causes: dirty carburetor, stale fuel…

Main causes: clogged chute, snow build-up in auger housing, broken auger shear pins, auger drive belt needs adjustment, …

Main causes: broken shear pins, worn or loose auger drive belt, auger drive cable failure, damaged auger, bad gear case…

Repair guides for gas snowblowers

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your snowblower.

How to adjust snowblower engine valve lash

How to adjust snowblower engine valve lash

Adjust the engine valve lash on your snowblower to keep the engine starting and running smoothly.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a snowblower auger drive cable

How to replace a snowblower auger drive cable

A loose or snapped auger drive cable can prevent the auger from rotating. Follow this step-by-step guide to replace the …

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a snowblower friction disc

How to replace a snowblower friction disc

The friction disc is one of the components of the drive system. If it's worn or damaged, the snowblower won't self-prope…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

Articles and videos for gas snowblowers

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your snowblower.

How to tune up a snowblower video

How to tune up a snowblower video

Get an overview of the main steps in a snowblower tune-up and click to videos with more details.…

Start-of-winter snowblower care

Start-of-winter snowblower care

Get your snowblower ready for winter before winter arrives, so you don't have to mess with it while snow piles up.…

How to store a snowblower

How to store a snowblower

Protect your snowblower's engine and body by preparing it for after-season storage.…