How to lubricate the auger shaft
Before you begin, make sure the snowblower is shut off and cool. Lubricating the auger shaft takes only a few minutes and helps keep the auger blades moving freely. Once you have access to the shaft, follow these steps to apply lubricant and reinstall the hardware.
Pull the cotter pins out of the shear pins.
Remove the shear pins from the auger blades.
Spray SNOW-JET lubricant on the shaft, spacers and flange bearings.
Manually spin the auger blades to help spread the lubricant.
Reinstall the shear pins and secure them with the cotter pins.
If you haven’t sprayed the auger housing and chute with SNOW-JET recently, now is a good time to coat those areas with that lubricant so snow ejects efficiently from the snowblower.
Lubricating all moving parts of the snowblower
Lubricating the auger shaft is only one part of seasonal snowblower maintenance. Other moving components such as the wheel axles, drive parts, and control pivots also need attention to prevent rust, reduce friction, and keep the machine operating smoothly. Since the snowblower is already prepped and tilted for auger-shaft lubrication, this is a good time to service the rest of these parts as well.
Grease the wheel axles
Start by checking the wheel axles, because they can seize or rust if they are not cleaned and greased regularly.
Drain the fuel tank and carefully tilt the snowblower on its nose.
Use a socket wrench to remove the first wheel. Clean and coat the axle with multi-purpose automotive grease to keep it from rusting up. Reinstall the wheel.
Repeat the process on the other wheel.
Lubricate the drive hex shaft
Lubricating the hex drive shaft is next, and the basic steps below will guide you through the process.
With the snowblower still tilted forward on its nose, remove the lower frame cover from the underside of the machine.
Using a soft cloth, apply a coat of engine oil or 3-in-1 oil to the hex drive shaft. Take care to avoid getting oil on the aluminum drive plate or friction wheel, because oil on those parts can cause drive problems.
Wipe away any excess oil from the shaft and nearby areas.
Reinstall the lower frame cover.
Tilt the snowblower upright.
Clean and lubricate the controls
Wipe dust and dirt off of the auger control and drive control pivots. Spray both of those pivots with silicone lubricant.
Clean and lubricate the auger cable bracket at the bottom of the snowblower.
Tune up the engine
After lubricating all of the moving parts, you can also tune up the snowblower engine so everything is in top shape.
Replace the Fuel Filter
Most snowblower owner’s manuals recommend replacing the engine fuel filter at the start of every snow season. Installing a new fuel filter ensures that the engine will get an ample, clean supply of gasoline from the fuel tank.
Check the Fuel Line
While replacing the fuel filter, examine the fuel line. Make sure there are no cracks in the fuel line and that it’s still flexible and soft.
Replace the fuel line if it’s cracked or broken.
Replace the spark plug
Because snowblowers and snow throwers typically do not have air filters, the spark plug can foul more quickly. Replace it at the beginning of every snow season to keep the engine running smoothly.
You can follow the steps in our guide on checking and replacing a snowblower spark plug, which also explains how to set the correct plug gap.
Change the oil
Motor oil lubricates internal engine parts and helps cool the cylinder, so replacing it regularly is an important part of seasonal maintenance.
If you need a refresher, our guide on how to change snowblower oil walks through each step on a common model.
If you want more repair tips or need help with other seasonal maintenance tasks, explore our DIY snowblower repair and maintenance guides. You’ll find step-by-step instructions for common fixes, tune-up tasks, and troubleshooting.
If you prefer to have someone handle the work for you, you can schedule snowblower tune-up and maintenance service through Sears Home Services. Annual maintenance helps keep your snowblower in reliable, ready-to-run condition at the start of every winter.