Winter is in the air. It's time to retire your rakes and put your snow blower to work. Whether your snow blower is brand new or you're pulling it out of storage, it's important to review the operation and safety directions at the start of the season. Following these instructions can save you from pricey repairs and injury.
Before you get started on tending to your snow clearing efforts, reference these quick tips to help you stay safe and get the most out of your snow blower. And always remember to consult your owner's manual for specific directions on your specific model.
Safety
- Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
- Never operate with a missing or damaged chute assembly. Keep all safety devices in place and working.
- Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the auger/impeller housing or drive chute assembly. Contact with the rotating parts can amputate hands or feet.
- The auger/impeller control lever is a safety device. Never bypass its operation. Doing so makes the machine unsafe and may cause personal injury.
- Exercise extreme caution when operating on, or crossing gravel surfaces.
Operation
- Check your control levers to make sure they are operating correctly. They must operate easily in both directions and automatically return to the disengaged position when released.
- Check the oil before operating. If there is too little or old oil in the machine, it can burn out the engine or cause irreparable damage.
- Refer to your operator's manual to know what type of fuel is required for your snow blower. Filling the tank with the wrong fuel can damage or even ruin the engine.
- Allow your snow blower to warm up prior to use to let the engine adjust to the cold temperature and ensure optimal performance.
- Inspect gears and moving pieces to detect if any screws or bolts need to be tightened. This will help prevent injury and keep your equipment in prime working condition.
