How to Get Your Persnickety Snow Blower Montana Winter Ready

How to Get Your Persnickety Snow Blower Montana Winter Ready? As many ways as there are to cheer on the Griz or Cats.  Hope this works for you as it did for me. Needless to say: Don't do any of this while the machine is running, OK?

Kick the Tires. Yup, they are still there! Make sure they have air in them and they’ll roll. Just a once over to find out whatever might need tightening or lubrication.

Check the Oil. This is what makes the whole thing stay working. Keep it clean, topped off, and the right kind, the snow blower should stay happy. Check the spark plug- a new one each year is recommended, but you can clean it and cross your fingers.

Inspect the Shear Pins.

Don’t know what that is? The little things that make the rotating blades spin. If you hit a rock or Ice chunk they shear/break first and stop the cutter from spinning and breaking the machine. You might pick up an extra baggie of those for a few dollars.

Coat the inside of the shoot and impeller area with goop. I’ve used the stuff they sell in little spray cans for lots of money that work well. One was like graphite and it got on everything it touched. I’ve used spray-on cooking oil, I got from the pantry but it worked and saved a bunch of money. My wife is making me buy two to replace it. Ask first!

Fill 'Er Up. Ideally, you either drained the tank of your gas snow blower or filled it with stabilized fuel when you retired the machine for the season last spring.

Even if you used a stabilizer in the gas before you put it away last spring, you should completely drain your snow blower's fuel system before starting it for the first time. I’ve seen some videos that say up to a third of a tank, when mixed with fresh stuff added will fire up, and it may, but it could just as easily not, or run badly. And you’ll have to start over, in the snow at 5 below.

Check out the Controls. The handles and grips are on tight? I oiled the cables for the levers that make the beast go and stop. Check the crank for the snow discharge shoot and look for wear on the moving parts.

Hopefully, it's ready for a test run. I say hopefully because I don’t know what the waiting list looks like at the repair shop if I have to take it in! Or, just know I'll be paying the going rate to have someone shovel out whatever Mom Nature tosses our way this season. Good luck to you!