The phone call hardware dealers dread comes with the first storm. A customer reports that the snow blower, bought three years ago and used twice, will not start. It is eight degrees outside, the driveway is under a foot of snow and the gas in the tank is the same gas that went in last February. Nearly every such call has the same cause, and nearly every one could have been prevented in October by half an hour of checks.
This guide is the owner’s pre-storm routine: the things any owner can reasonably do, in the order that matters, and the safety rules that apply every time the machine runs. It is not a repair manual. Your manufacturer’s manual is the authority on your machine, and a service technician is the right person for anything beyond routine maintenance.
The call every dealer expects with the first storm: the snow blower bought three years ago will not start. The gas in the tank is last February’s.
Why snow blowers fail
Snow blowers are small engines that sit unused for most of the year and then are asked to start in the cold and work under load. The usual failures are predictable.
- Gasoline degrades in storage, and the gum and varnish it leaves can block the carburetor.
- These small, deliberately weak pins protect the gearbox when the auger hits something solid. They break by design, and a machine with a broken pin will run but not turn its auger.
- Makes cold starts hard.
- Reduce clearing performance and let the housing wear.
- on two-stage machines.
- which affect traction.
- on moving parts.
Most of these show up in a pre-season check.
The pre-storm checklist
Do this in autumn, in a well-ventilated space with the engine off and cool, and read the manual first. If you are not comfortable with a step, have a dealer do it.
1. Fuel
- If gasoline has sat in the machine through the summer, have it handled according to the manual. Do not pour old fuel on the ground or down drains; take it to a proper disposal facility.
- of the grade the manual calls for. Many manufacturers recommend avoiding fuel with high ethanol content in small engines, so check.
- At the end of the season, a stabilizer added per the product label can help fuel last through storage.
- and never fuel indoors or near an ignition source.
2. Oil
Check the oil level and condition, and change the oil at the interval in the manual. Cold weather makes thick oil harder to turn, and the manual may recommend a specific viscosity for winter.
3. Spark plug
Inspect or replace the spark plug according to the manual’s interval. It is cheap and one of the most common causes of hard starting.
4. Shear pins and bolts
Check the shear pins on the auger. Keep spares of the correct type, because the wrong pin either breaks too easily or fails to protect the gearbox. Tighten any loose fasteners.
5. Belts
On two-stage machines, inspect the drive belts for cracks, glazing or fraying, and replace them according to the manual. Belt replacement may require removing covers; if you are not sure, ask a technician.
6. Scraper bar and skid shoes
Look at wear. The scraper bar and skid shoes keep the housing at the right height above the ground. When worn, they should be replaced.
7. Tires or tracks
Check tire pressure and tread. Low or worn tires reduce traction, especially on ice. If tracked, inspect for damage.
8. Lubrication
Lubricate the points the manual specifies, such as chute rotation and control linkages.
9. Test start
Start the machine in a ventilated outdoor area, let it warm up and run the auger and drive briefly. Listen for unusual noises. Check that the chute rotates and the deflector adjusts.
Safety rules for every use
The most important rule in snow blower use is the one that most injuries violate.
- If snow jams, stop the engine, remove the key if there is one, wait for all moving parts to stop and use the clearing tool provided.
- and keep children and pets away.
- Hearing protection is sensible for gas machines.
- on electric models, and keep them clear of the auger.
- such as newspapers, toys, doormats and the edge of the lawn.
Quick reference
| Item | When | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Start of season, and after long storage | Fresh, correct type, no old fuel |
| Oil | Start of season | Level and condition |
| Spark plug | Per manual | Deposits, wear |
| Shear pins | Start of season and after hits | Intact, correct spare on hand |
| Belts | Start of season | Cracks, glazing, tension |
| Scraper and skid shoes | Start of season | Wear |
| Tires | Start of season | Pressure, tread |
| Test run | Before the first storm | Starts, runs, chute works |
During the season
After each use, knock off packed snow, let the machine dry in a cool place and look for loose parts. Moisture left on metal can freeze the auger and chute. After heavy use, check the shear pins. If the machine will not start, check fuel and the spark plug first, then consult a technician rather than disassembling it.
End-of-season storage
Plan storage before the last storm. Clean the machine, follow the manual’s guidance about fuel, either running the carburetor dry or using stabilizer, and store in a dry place covered but not sealed in a way that traps moisture. A quick note of what needs replacement next autumn saves time later.
Choosing and buying with maintenance in mind
If you are still shopping, ask about service availability and parts. A machine that cannot be serviced locally is a poor choice, however good it looks. Our guide to snow blower stages and sizing to your driveway will help you pick the right machine in the first place.
If maintenance is more than you want, consider a service. Our guide to hiring a plowing service covers how contracts work.
The short version
A snow blower that starts on the first pull is the result of fresh fuel, a clean spark plug, intact shear pins and a quick test run, all done before the storm. Follow the manual, keep spares, and make safety the habit: engine off before touching the chute, every time. Do the checks in autumn and the first storm is just another morning.
Remember this
- Fresh fuel, a clean spark plug and intact shear pins prevent most no-starts.
- Do the checklist in autumn, not during the storm.
- Engine off before touching the chute, every time.
- Keep spare shear pins of the correct type.
Related: choosing a snow blower type if the old machine is beyond saving.
