Toro Power Throw 522

Before It’s Too Late – Get that Snowthrower Ready For Winter
You can’t avoid it – so you might as well be ready for it. Snow season is on the way. Now is the time to make certain that you are prepared to handle what Mother Nature throws your way.

If you didn’t have a chance to properly service your snowthrower before putting it away last spring, the experts at Toro offer a few maintenance tips to prepare your snowthrower for the upcoming snow season:

1. Change the oil and use fresh gas – The best protection for your engine is consistent oil changes. Drain the engine oil and replace it at least once every season. Fresh gas is critical to engine performance. If you have last season’s gas in the tank – drain it and dispose of it properly.
2. New sparkplug – An old or fouled sparkplug is often the reason for hard starting and poor engine performance. A simple and inexpensive solution or preventative measure is to install a new sparkplug before each snow removal season.
3. Check the condition of belts – Just like your automobile, snowthrower belts become worn and brittle over time. Check each belt for signs of excessive wear, cracking or cuts.
4. Check the scraper bar – The scraper bar underneath the snowthrower helps scoop snow into the machine. A worn or missing scraper bar means less efficient snow removal.

Remember to consult your owners manual, it provides a valuable checklist of maintenance practices and also includes recommended replacement parts, part numbers as well as fuel and oil specifications that you should follow for peak performance.

Removing snow can be a difficult and time-consuming task. If you haven’t invested the time to properly maintain your snowthrower before the snow flies, you can count on trouble when you least expect it and can least afford the time to correct a problem. However, with proper maintenance before and throughout the snow season, you’ll be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.