Snow Blowers Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Snow Blowers And Maintaining Your Machine
By Joel F Morningstar
Life in an area that gets quite a bit of snowfall, makes owning
a snow blower almost a necessity. It sure beats the alternative
of being out in the cold shoveling snow for hours only to have
to turn around and do it again, sometimes on the same day.
Snow blowers are a valuable piece of mechanized machinery, perhaps
only secondary to cars. If it is taken care of properly, then
you should be able to extend its service life by several years.
Your winter snow blower requires regular servicing, just as any
summer electric lawnmower, riding lawnmower, push mower or racing
lawnmower would, to ensure that it will continue to perform when
you need it the most. You need to review your options and make
sure that the tires have adequate pressure and tread.
Chains On Snow Blowers
If chains are used, then check their condition and store them
in a convenient location. It is also a good idea to regularly
check the rubber on the auger, as the space between it and the
housing should be less than the width of a finger. If it is more,
then it is time to replace the rubber.
Remember to check all of the bolts, belts and moving parts on
snow blowers as they can become loose or worn and belts can become
cracked or frayed. Be sure to check the owner’s manual on how
to perform this type of maintenance and what safety guidelines
you should follow or to find dealer repair information.
Avoiding Expensive Repairs
It is also recommended that you check the condition of the scrape
bar by laying the machine on its side and looking for worn spots
and replacing any you find before it becomes too worn out or you
run the risk of damaging the housing, which can cause expensive
repairs.
If you have a two cylinder (or two strokes) engine, which uses
a mixture of oil and gas, then you will need to replace the spark
plug periodically. If you have a 4 cylinder engine snow blower,
just as with a lawnmower engine, and if it has separate oil and
gas requirements, then you will need to change the filter, oil
and spark plug. Ideally, you need to check the oil levels every
time you use your snow blower; keeping a decent supply of oil
on hand to be used when necessary.
Maintenance Tips For Your Snow Blower
In order for your snow blower to continue to work in top condition
there are a few maintenance chores that can help extend the life
of your machine. Be sure to start every season with fresh gasoline
by siphoning off the old gas and filling with new fuel to help
the parts continue to function properly.
Lubing the chassis and drive on snow blowers extends the life
of the product. However, if you have a stage 2 snow blower, then
check the owner’s manual to find exactly what lubrication should
be used. If you add a little methanol throughout the season it
will help to keep the carburetor from freezing. Not doing so may
result in costly repairs.
About the Author:
Joel F Morningstar has written a number of articles on lawn mowers, landscaping, gardening and home improvement
including
Front Yard Landscape,
Lawn And Garden,
Backyard Landscaping
Big Backyard,
Patio Garden,
Miniature Fruit Trees,
Pepper Plant,
Lawn Swing,
Fast Growing Trees,
Stone Walkway,
Deck Ideas,
Swing Set Backyard.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Lawn Mower Facts....
Are there safety issues concerning the use of lawn mowers?
As with any type of equipment there are safety
issues. Lawn mowers can be quite deadly if they are used improperly.
That is why the manufacturer always posts
the potential hazards and warnings. It is important to always
read your manufacturer’s guidelines and instruction manual
when you purchase a new lawn mower.
There have been many people lose fingers,
limbs or their lives because they did not realize how dangerous
a lawn mower can actually be. You are dealing with very sharp
blades. You should also never stand near a lawn mower when it
is in use.
A rock or piece of metal can easily be
thrown by the blades in your direction. If you respect the equipment
and the dangers that it can represent, you will save yourself
from injury.
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