Stop Shoveling Money Into Snowblowers
Last winter, we had lots of snow. Snowblowers were used a lot. Most snowblower manuals say that maintenance is required after every 25 hours of use. But that varies. A machine can be used for several years without receiving maintenance. Then, after 200 hours of use, it may need to be repaired. The cost to do so can be a whopper.
Many co-ops try to avoid large repair bills. Here are some tips for the care and feeding of your snow blowers - ways to save you money and avoid delays by having your staff do it rather than send it to the shop.
Consult the manual. If your manuals are lost, you can generally download them from the manufacturers' websites. They are usually about 40 pages long.
Set up a storage area. Maintenance professionals recommend keeping a dedicated parts storage area. You can create a small set of shelves on wheels. Don't use it to keep other parts, such as for plumbing or electrical repairs. Add labels on the outside and inside indicating that the shelves are only for snowblower parts and materials. Get a separate plastic box with a snap on lid labeled "manuals" and give it its own space in the shelves.
Set up an in-house training set-up for your staff. First, inform them of the need for maintenance after every 25 hours of use. Also, immediately inform them that these machines can spontaneously start and catch their hands if the spark plug wire is not disconnected. Never use your hands to unclog either the front impeller or the top throwing chamber of snow. Some machines provide a special tool for this. A wood stick of more than a foot in length is also good.
Some machines use grease and oil. But others only oil. The manuals should be consulted for each machine. Several different areas need to be lubricated periodically. But keep lubrication off drive belts because this will cause them to slip.
The shear bolt protects the equipment from greater damage in the event that the front of the machine gets jammed up with a hard object. This part should never be replaced with a screw.
Get the gas out at the end of the season. Gas left in an engine will separate and clog the engine and spark plug. Some people apply an additive to the gas and let the engine run the gas out before storing the machine for summer. Other items such as oil, grease, and spark plugs should be added to the storage shelves.
One note about parts: different machines use different parts. The exact spare parts for each machine should be on hand before winter. Consult each manual for this.
Victor Stuhl is the board director of a 200-unit co-op, and is a commercial real estate broker and consultant at Montgomery Shayeur, Inc.
Photo by Robert Cicchetti for Shutterstock.com.