Cleveland, Oct. 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Once the leaves have fallen and temperatures drop below freezing, snow won't be far behind. And while it may not be here yet, there's no better time to prepare your snow thrower than before you really need it. Although last winter was relatively warm and less severe, this season is expected to have heavier snowfall and colder temperatures in many parts of the U.S.
According to Troy-Bilt®, a leading manufacturer of outdoor
power equipment, you'll be better prepared if you perform routine
snow thrower maintenance before winter hits.
"With this year's winter weather predictions, the last thing you
want is an unexpected repair or trip to the store to
purchase a new snow thrower in the
middle of a blizzard," said Jack Drobny, senior product marketing
manager for Troy-Bilt. "It may feel early, but now is the best time
to pull your snow thrower out of the garage and make sure it's
ready for winter."
Troy-Bilt offers five tips to prepare your
snow thrower for safe operation:
- Push your snow thrower out of the garage. Remove the spark plug boot from the engine's spark plug and ground it to the engine block. Clean off the unit to remove any dust and debris that may have accumulated over time. If areas are rusty, apply a small amount of engine oil to a cloth and wipe them down.
- Check the skid shoes and shave plate for excessive wear. Adjust the skid shoes so the shave plate is set about 1/8-inch above the ground. An easy way to do this is to place a piece of corrugated cardboard, which is about 1/8-inch thick, underneath the shave plate, loosen the skid shoes so they lay flat on the ground and then tighten. This is also a good time to inspect the auger flights and housing.
- Examine the belts and make certain they are not excessively worn or frayed. This ensures your snow thrower will perform at its optimum level during operation.
- Test your operator controls to make sure they're in good working condition. Engage the handle paddles and power steering triggers, operate the chute and move the speed selector through all of its positions.
- Inspect the snow thrower engine and clean out any unwanted debris from the cooling fans and recoil area to prevent damage. Change the engine oil, which needs to be done every season. Also add fresh fuel and tighten the fuel cap.
After you've performed these easy checks, put the spark plug boot back on and start your snow thrower to ensure it's running properly and ready for whatever winter has in store. If any issues should arise, now is the time to have your unit serviced by a professional or start shopping for a new single-stage or two-stage snow thrower.
About Troy-Bilt
In 1937, Troy-Bilt® introduced the first American-made rototiller.
Troy-Bilt has expanded on its legendary expertise and durable
product line to create a complete selection of the industry's
finest lawn and garden tools. Troy-Bilt's award-winning product
line includes top-quality tractors, mowers, tillers, cultivators,
trimmers, snow throwers and a variety of outdoor power tools.
Troy-Bilt machines are built to last and engineered to take on the
toughest challenges to make jobs simpler and safer. For more
information, visit www.troybilt.com.