End of Season Snowblower Maintenance

Winter is finally coming to an end, which means it’s time to put away your snowblower for another year. Before you tuck it away in storage, we want to share some tips to ensure that it will be ready to go again next winter. Taking care of these tasks now will ensure your snowblower starts stressfree next snowfall.

VISUAL INSPECTIONS

We’re going to start by giving the snowblower a walk-around and visual inspection. This allows you to look at it with fresh eyes and a new perspective since typically you’d be standing behind the machine while it operates. Before diving in any further, make sure you have the proper PPE such as gloves, to protect your hands from oil, grease, and sharp blades. Then inspect the bucket assembly. Check the gear case to ensure that it’s not leaking oil or weeping grease.

Then inspect the shear bolts to see if they’re in good shape, or should be replaced before using the equipment again. The shear bolts are also known as shear pins, and are used to connect the auger to the shaft. These shear bolts are meant to snap or “shear” off if a jam occurs, so they tend to be a commonly replaced part. If the bolts are due for replacement, you can add them to your maintenance task list in the Fix App.

Look over the tires to make sure that the pressure is up, the shear bolt is still in place, and that there are no cracks, cuts, or splits. If you discover an issue or air leaking, inserting tubes is an economical option.

ENGINE

Check the Oil

When looking over the engine components, the first thing we’re going to consider is the oil. You will want to decide if you’re going to change the oil now at the end of the season, or later at the start of the next snow season. Whether you want to use synthetic or regular oil, that choice is entirely up to you. If you’re using regular 5w30 motor oil you will want to change it now because the oil will break down. If you’re using synthetic, you are fine waiting until the fall when you’re ready to use the snowblower again.

Drain or Top Up Fuel

Once you’ve dealt with the oil, the next item on the list is the fuel. Half of you will want to remove the gas and run the engine dry, and the other half will typically keep the tank full. If you’re in the full-tank camp, you will want to make sure there is a fuel stabilizer added in there. This helps to prolong the life of the gas throughout the season.

If you’re running the tank dry, keep in mind that when you’re ready to start it up again, you will want to add some fuel and let it run down to the carburetor and seals. In the warm season the seals and carburetor will dry out, so they need the fuel in order to swell up again.

FINISH UP

Before putting your snowblower away for the spring, another item to take a look at are the control cables. This is also the time to lubricate them. If the cables are showing signs of wear, or the springs are damaged, they should be replaced.

The last couple items to check off are putting some wood blocks underneath the skids. This will keep any rust off your floor. Then throw a tarp over the snowblower to keep any dirt or debris off the machine. If you’ve discovered you need some replacement parts to maintain your snowblower, we have you covered! Simply search for your model number on our site.