Now that the snow blowing season is over,

[ArlyA]

I spray any parts that paint was worn off with spray grease, like fluid film stuff. Why paint it, when it will be worn off again next season.

In the lake effect snow zone on lake Superior we were 100-+ short this year.

 

[grsthegreat]

I spray any parts that paint was worn off with spray grease, like fluid film stuff. Why paint it, when it will be worn off again next season.

In the lake effect snow zone on lake Superior we were 100-+ short this year.

True.... but I just like my stuff to look good. Besides, its only about $5 worth of paint

 

[Peter 315]

I just clean up the rust spots and paint where somebody hit the metal fence post.....

 

[PILOON]

Protecting any bare metal with paint or whatever is critical for 2 reasons.
-prevent serious rust
-prevent 'toothy surface' for snow/ice to stick and clog your blower next season

I also like to bag my coupler to prevent water infusion, (have to store outdoors)
I always park mine on scraps of 4 x 4 lumber to allow good air circulation.
Also a good time to do a serious investigation of all bearings and moving parts.

Face it, much easier to maintain/repair while it is warm and sunny than cold and wet.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just pulled the chains off and power washed all my snow equipment. I left the plow accessible just incase. Ground is too thawed to worry about chains anymore, and the chains are messing up the ground too much.

even the snow pile in wifes garden is almos5 gone. That usually remains until end of April.

 

[Fastball]

We had ass-deep snow last winter, so I spent 3K on a blower last fall....and used it exactly ZERO times. I don’t have a shop to store it over the summer, but I have it off the ground on a pallet. I have lubed up the chain and chute mechanism in oil and covered up what I could with a half sheet of plywood. Hope that helps.

 

[aesmith]

... also grease the pto shaft and leave it in two pieces so it does not rust solid...

I must say I don't get that last bit. If it's greased it won't rust solid. And surely it's better left assembled so you don't get dirt stuck to the greasy inner section, or into the outer. Or do you clean all the grease off so there's nothing for it to get stuck to?

Back on topic, I haven't fully mothballed my blower yet but greased up the bearings and oiled the chain with gear oil.

 

[hube2]

I was just thinking about this, but don't plan to do anything with it till mid April. I've seen 3 foot of snow on the last day of March. Doesn't look that will happen this year, but then it didn't look like it would in the years is happened.

But I have been thinking about it, mostly the paint, deciding if I should try Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer as a primer and whether or not to get a can of OEM colored paint or to leave it back.

Anyone have any experience with Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer, is it worth the effort?

Another question I was just thinking about after reading to leave the PTO in 2 pieces which I don't understand either... anyway, I may store the blower outside event though I can probably store it inside, just to have more room to walk in the shed. But I had a thought to take the PTP right off and keep it inside anyway.

Anyone have any thoughts on removing the PTO shaft and storing it inside rather than bagging up the free end?

 

[grsthegreat]

ive never in 30 years done anything more than lube a pto shaft and leave it hooked up on equipment. never had a unit rust together. never worried about a shaft rusting together. never will worry about it.

 

[RjCorazza]

I was just thinking about this, but don't plan to do anything with it till mid April. I've seen 3 foot of snow on the last day of March. Doesn't look that will happen this year, but then it didn't look like it would in the years is happened.

But I have been thinking about it, mostly the paint, deciding if I should try Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer as a primer and whether or not to get a can of OEM colored paint or to leave it back.

Anyone have any experience with Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer, is it worth the effort?

Another question I was just thinking about after reading to leave the PTO in 2 pieces which I don't understand either... anyway, I may store the blower outside event though I can probably store it inside, just to have more room to walk in the shed. But I had a thought to take the PTP right off and keep it inside anyway.

Anyone have any thoughts on removing the PTO shaft and storing it inside rather than bagging up the free end?

No experience with the rust reformer, but I just touched up my Kubota with Rustoleum orange, and it was a near perfect match. Much cheaper than OEM (at least Kubota).
When my blower was stored outside I removed the entire shaft. It was quick release on both ends.
The 2 piece thing is valid if the shaft is not lubed well, or stored together for a long time. I had one seize on a tiller, and it's a royal pain to separate. Right now that shaft is stored separated, but I will need to take a wire wheel to the tiller side shaft before using it.