Maintenance Schedule and Tips

Take care of your machine throughout the winter with our snow thrower maintenance schedule.

Just like your riding lawn mower, your snow thrower requires maintenance throughout the season. Whether you have a 1X single-stage snow thrower, a 2X two-stage snow thrower or a new, one-of-a-kind 3X three-stage snow thrower, the following maintenance schedule and tips will help you keep it running smoothly through blustery winter storms. You don't want to be snowed in with a faulty snow thrower because you neglected maintenance, so be sure to follow through on these regular items and take your snow thrower to an authentic Cub Cadet service dealer if you discover a more significant issue during snow thrower maintenance.

Follow these snow thrower maintenance tips for proper use of your machine.

Use these snow thrower tips to carry out maintenance throughout the year. For questions or details on more complicated repairs, check out the other how-to tutorials from Cub Cadet.

• Disengage all control levers and stop the engine before cleaning, repairing or inspecting the snow thrower. Wait until the auger/impeller comes to a complete stop. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
• Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe, working condition. The natural vibration of the machine can cause them to loosen throughout the winter. Also, visually inspect the machine for any damage.
• Do not change the engine's governor setting or over-speed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
• Check all components frequently and replace with the original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts only. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to wear and damage and proper inspection and repair can keep you safe while operating the machine. Use of parts which do not meet the OEM's specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety.
• Verify control levers periodically to ensure they engage and disengage properly and adjust if necessary.
• Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary to ensure anyone operating the machine follows proper procedure.
• Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.
• Check the fuel line, tank, cap and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if necessary.
• Do not crank the engine with the spark plug removed.