To get your snowblower ready for off-season storage and save money, follow these eight easy tips: 1) Replace the spark plug annually to maintain engine performance. 2) Drain and refill the oil, ensuring used oil is recycled properly. 3) Add fuel stabilizer to fresh fuel to prevent carburetor buildup. 4) Check and clean the fuel cap vents and inspect tires for wear, adjusting air pressure as needed. 5) Lubricate all bearings, including wheel, auger, and impeller bearings. 6) Inspect and replace any worn or damaged scraper blades and slide shoes. 7) Store your snowblower in a cool, dry place, covering it to prevent dust accumulation. While preparing your snowblower, consider purchasing a tune-up kit for your spring equipment needs from RepairClinic.com/tune-up. Find all necessary replacement parts at RepairClinic.com.
1. Replace the spark plug.
The tiny but mighty spark plug should be replaced at least one per season, even if it appears to be working fine. Over time, a spark plug’s performance will degrade due to carbon buildup and a weakened electrode. This dramatically increases emissions, reduces engine performance and increases fuel consumption.
2. Drain and replace the oil.
Before replacing engine oil, check your owner’s manual for the recommended way to tilt the snowblower. It varies from model to model. Unscrew the drain plug and release the oil into a bucket. Replace the plug and add fresh oil, as recommended by the manufacturer.
Used oil should be recycled. Most small engine repair shops have a free recycling program for this.
3. Add fuel stabilizer to fresh fuel.
Fuel stabilizer slows buildup in the carburetor. Follow the owner’s manual for instructions on leaving fuel in the engine during storage, as this varies by manufacturer.
4. Degrease.
Spray a degreaser on greasy and dirty areas. Allow the degreaser to sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping with a clean cloth.
5. Check the fuel cap and tires.
Fuel caps have small vent holes to allow air into the fuel tank. Replace the fuel cap if its air vent holes are blocked by buildup or debris. Cover or close the fuel cap vents. Check the tires for wear and replace as needed. For pneumatic tires, a tire pressure gauge should be used to check the air pressure.
6. Lubricate bearings
Lubricate wheel bearings, auger bearings, and the impeller bearings.
7. Inspect the scraper blade, slide shoes and other parts for wear.
Thoroughly check the scraper blade and slide shoes (a.k.a. skid shoes) for wear. These parts have the important job of protecting the housing from damage. Replace these parts if they have worn dangerously thin or are damaged beyond repair.
8. Store in a cool, dry place.
Cover the snowblower to prevent dust and debris from entering the unit.
“While you’re preparing the snowblower for storage, it’s a good idea to also get a jump on prepping your spring outdoor power equipment such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, etc.” said Linderman. “A tune-up kit with air filters, oil and other maintenance essentials makes it convenient.”
[Note: Tune-up kits for small engines can be found at RepairClinic.com/tune-up. Small engine owners can enter their engine model number to find the kit designed for that engine. All kits are on sale through 5/31/14.
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RepairClinic.com® makes fixing things easy for millions of people. Founded in 1999, it is North America’s trusted online store with replacement parts for major household appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment. Free repair resources including more than 1,500 how-to videos empower people to fix stuff on their own. One million parts for 160 brands are stocked at its 86,000-square-foot facility in Canton, Michigan. It offers a generous, no-hassle 365 Days. Period.® return policy. In-stock parts are guaranteed to ship the same business day. For more information, visit RepairClinic.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Contact Jody Lamb, Public Relations Manager, at JLamb [at] RepairClinic.com.
All quotes from this release may be attributed to Jeffrey Linderman, RepairClinic.com’s outdoor power equipment specialist.
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