How to lubricate a snowblower drive hex shaft video

Before you begin

Follow these steps to prepare the snowblower for this procedure:

1. Remove the key.

2. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine.

3. Drain fuel from the engine in a well-ventilated area.

4. If your snowblower has drift cutters, position the drift cutters in the storage position so they’re out of the way when you tip the snowblower onto its auger housing. Our YouTube DIY video How to set up drift cutters on a snowblower shows you how.

Lubricate the hex drive shaft

Follow these steps to lubricate the hex drive shaft:

1. Tilt the snowblower onto its auger housing.

2. Remove the lower frame cover from the underside of the snowblower.

3. Using a soft cloth, apply a coat of engine oil or 3-in-1 oil to the hex drive shaft. Be careful not to get oil on the aluminum drive plate or friction wheel. Oil on those components can cause ground drive problems.

4. Wipe off any excess or spilled oil from the shaft and surrounding area.

5. Reinstall the lower frame cover.

6. Tilt the snowblower upright.

You may need to remove the spark plug and spin the engine using the recoil start or electric starter to remove any oil that may have entered the cylinder during this procedure while you had the snowblower tilted forward. Reinstall the spark plug after clearing the cylinder.

Reinstall the spark plug wire and fill the fuel tank with fresh gasoline.

Reposition the drift cutters if necessary.

Test snowblower operation to make sure that you’re ready to clear snow.

If you prefer to have a Sears Technician complete this maintenance for you, schedule Snowblower Tune-Up and Maintenance Service on our Sears Home Services website.

During the snowblower tune-up and maintenance service, the Sears Technician will:

• Check the ignition system, carburetor, throttle, and choke controls.

• Clean engine cooling fins.

• Change the engine oil.

• Check the recoil starter or electric starter.

• Lubricate moving parts such as pivot points, cables, auger shaft, and drive plate zerk.

• Lubricate, inspect, and adjust drive belts and/or chains as applicable.

• Test overall operation of equipment and ensure that all safety features are fully operational at the time of service.

Keeping your snowblower in top shape with annual maintenance and tune-up service will help prevent unexpected breakdowns during the winter so you can keep clearing snow smoothly all season long.