A landscaping enthusiast should know all about snow blowers, lawnmowers, sprayers, water pumps, generators, and tractors. If you want to maintain your garden very well, you need to know how to take care of these machines properly, so that if ever they malfunction, you know what to do.
Snow blower is probably the most important equipment you have during winter and just like any machine, a snow blower will sometimes malfunction. There are times that it will not start. You cannot really depend on it forever, it will not always be there when you need it so it is really important that know how to get it back up and operating.
Snow Blower Types
The best snow blower for the money that you have will greatly depend on your area. This includes how severe are the weather conditions and the type of terrain your location has. There are three models that you can pick from depending on your needs.
Gas blower with two stages – this is the largest one and would clear space the fastest. The features are an impeller, driving wheels and auger. It comes with a 30 inches of clearing capacity.
Gas blower with single-stage – This is the smaller one with easy handles and depends only on rubber-tipped to get and blow snow. These models are usually a clearing width of 21 inches. T
Electric type – this has 11 to 18 inches of clearing width, the cheapest and is very easy to maneuver.
Problems with snow blowers commonly arise due to negligence or lack of maintenance. Just like any other machine, it needs regular oil checks and oil change? If ever your snowblower won’t start running here are the different steps you need to do.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Inspect throttle and shock positions. Once you have the engine started, check if the throttle is showing that it is in a fast position. The correct position will depend on its engine temperature. The best snow blower for the money should be taken care of to make sure it runs smoothly when it needs to.
- Make sure that the carburetor is getting serviced by fuel. In the instance that the fuel valve if off, just turn it on. If in case that is not the problem, then probably some gunk is stuck in the sediment cup of the carburetor. A snowblower that has untreated gas for over a long time usually will leave some nasty deposits in its carburetor. In time, cleaning this deposit will be a difficult task and doing it on your own is impossible. It is best to hire a technician if this happened. Avoid this by putting some stabilizer to its gas tank before storing it for the summer. Leave the engine running for a few minutes before turning it off and leaving it away in its storage for the summer. This will help the gas move all the way through its system.
- Check if the spark plugs are loose or unattached. Make sure they are clean and free from debris or dirt. Check if the spacing is correct. You may also need to replace them already.
- If you just take it out from the storage for its first run, it is better to empty all the fuel out and put a new one with the best quality. You also need to add some stabilizer to keep it running well.
Proper maintenance of the snowblower is also needed in order for it to run smoothly and without any problem. Maintenance of the best snow blower for the money is very simple; it just likes belt inspection and oil change in cars. The first thing to do is to get the owner’s manual and learn what type of oil, lubricants and replacement parts you need for your mode.
Guidelines in Snow Blower Maintenance
- Inspect all screws, cords, belts, bolts, and nuts to make sure that they are properly attached and not one is loose. Remember that snow blowers with single-stage are with one belt, and two-stage blowers have two belts. Once you notice that they are cracked or worn out, replace them immediately. Make sure that they are also tight.
- Regularly change gas and oil. If your snow blower has an engine with two cylinders, it uses a mixture of oil and gas. An engine with four cylinders, it makes use of straight gas and has a different container for the oil. You have to drain old gas and oil from the engine before replacing them with new ones. To replace oil, turn the engine on for a few minutes to warm it up. Turn the engine off and away from the oil plug. Let the old oil drain straight to the waste bin. Once it is drained out, put the new fluid. Turn on the engine and inspect the oil level. You also need to check if the plug is screwed tightly a check for any leaks.
- Replace air filter, spark plug and fuel. You need to check your snow blower’s manual to be sure that you have the correct replacements available. In changing the spark plug, take the lead wire away then get a socket wrench to unscrew the plug. Put the new spark plug just make sure that you do not put it too tightly and then return the lead wire back.
- Do chassis and drive lubrication. Make sure that you are using the correct lubricant by checking the manual. Turn the machine on its side and check the scraper bar if it is worn out. If it is, replace it. Inspect the skid shoes as well and replace it if it is broken or worn out. Inspect the rubber located on the auger, place your finger and see if it fits in the rubber and the housing. If it fits in between then you have to change the rubber with a new one.
- Inspect the chains and tires of the best snow blower for the money. Check for the pressure of the tires and If needed add enough air. Also inspect for tires’ wear and tear and change to new ones right away. Put the chains if they have ones and ensure that you have ones available if needed.
- Have available new shear pins ready. Shear pins on snow blowers are made for breaks. They are made for safety since they will break when auger is over torqued to avoid damage in the blower. If you notice that there are missing pins or broken ones replacing them right away. You can also store some extras especially during winter.
Make sure that you test run your snow blower on a flat surface to clear it from any snow that is left in there before putting it away. Wipe it clean. All bolts should be tightened and check it for any damaged and worn out parts.
