Working on your gas-driven snow blower, especially given this past winter, might be the last thing you want to think about as you fire up the mower. But taking a few minutes now could make all the difference when you suddenly need it in the fall. Here are some simple steps to take.

Drain it. If you do nothing else now, get any unused fuel out of the machine. You can siphon out the excess—never start the suction using your mouth—and run the snow blower dry from there. If the tank is full, you might want to gas it up gingerly at the end of next season so there’s less gas to remove. Your next step is draining any fuel left in the carburetor bowl.

Change the oil. Do this now or at least before next winter. For small, single-stage models, you might need to turn the unit upside down to drain the oil. (Wait till you’ve run it dry.) Larger, two-stage models usually have a drain bolt at the bottom of the crankcase. Be sure to replace it afterward. Check which viscosity the manufacturer requires, such as 5W-30, and add new oil using the dipstick as a guide.

Replace the spark plug. At the very least, take it out and give it a good cleaning below the ceramic part using a wire brush. But count on replacing the plug once a year whether you think it needs it.

Check other parts. It’s good to have a replacement belt on hand—it’ll likely go when the blower is working its hardest. And be sure you have replacement shear pins for the augers. Resist the temptation to swap in bolts; pins are meant to break in order to protect the transmission. And check your starter cord for fraying.

Keep a log. Especially if you’re maintaining multiple machines, you’ll want to keep track of what you did when. Put it where you’ll know to look for it, and check it against your equipment’s owner manuals to be sure you’ve left nothing out.

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