Snow Blowers

Snow blower tire repairs? It is mid July, 80 degrees F and your neighbor is running his snow blower. Your wondering what could be possibly going through his mind. Well he has decided to complete his annual maintenance and perform any snow blower repairs that are required. Summer time is in fact the best time to make sure your snow blower is tuned up and ready to go for the up coming season. It is nice and warm and working outside on something like a snow blower is easy and comfortable to do.

This post is about tire repairs to snow blowers, however before we get there a few words about maintenance. You should be completing the annual maintenance at the same time. Oil changes and lubricating the  auger and impeller, checking the belts and making sure that the tires have sufficient air in them are just a few of the maintenance items to be checked.

Home mechanics should also check the spark plug. Replace it if necessary or clean it up and re-gap it to make sure that it is ready to go at maximum operating efficiency. Finally clean the carburetor bowel and replace any gaskets that are needed. Check your snow blowers maintenance manual for a full set of steps regarding annual maintenance.

During these checkups you may encounter more serious repairs that may be needed. Perhaps you observed something that just was not working right for you during the previous season. Now is the time to get these items repaired and your snow blower ready for the season. We have focused on a  common one that may occur as your snow blower gets older.

Snow Blower Tire Repairs – Flat Tires

It is quite common for tires to go flat. Most tires these days are tubeless so you may have to remove the tire and rim and have your tire repaired if you picked up a nail. Most tire repair companies will fix your snow blower tire for a nominal fee. They will pull out the nail, place a plug in the hole, reseal the tire to the rim and blow up the tire to its proper pressure.

Older machines may be more difficult to repair. The tire rim may be rusted onto the axle making it very difficult to remove. This was the situation that I was faced with. No matter what I did I could not get that tire rim off. I thought that I was going to have to take the entire snow blower into a small engine mechanic just to fix the tire.

Before I went to that extreme, I decided to make a visit to our local small engine mechanic to see what suggestions he could make. I have purchased other parts from him and he was more than happy to help me out. He knew I would be purchasing more parts from him in the future. He had an answer for me I would not have thought of.

His answer to removing rusted tire rims was that he would normally apply heat using a propane torch and knock the rim with a hammer to get it moving. I did not really want to pursue this approach and told him so. I said I will bring the snow blower into him to repair. At that point he said there was another simpler solution and less costly to boot.

Convert from Tubeless to a Tube Tire

Basically you remove the rubber tire from the rim. You can do this using several screw drivers and gradually working around the rim until you have one side of the rubber tires side wall over the outside edge of the tire rim. At this point you want to make sure there are no nails or other sharp objects inside the tire. You can totally remove the tire if you want , however it is sufficient to only remove one side. Next remove the tubeless valve from the rim using a pair of pliers.

Once you have checked the tire thoroughly for nails and sharp objects inside the rubber snow blower tire before you place a new snow blower tube inside the tire. You can buy these for $15 or $ 20 , which I did from my friend the small engine mechanic. Place the tube inside the tire and line up the valve stem with the hole in the rim were the tubeless valve originally was.

Carefully Blow Up the Tube

The next step is tricky, however if you take your time and are careful, you will have no problem. Gradually work the tires sidewall back over the steel rim. Take care not to damage the new tube you have just placed inside the snow blower tire. Once you have the sidewall back over the rim, you need to again check that the valve stem is properly lined up. Make sure it is inserted into the hole in the rim of the tire. Lastly check that there are no twists or kinks in the tube.  This is a bit difficult to do since you will have to do this by feeling with the ends of your fingers.

Insert the valve stem properly and that there are no kinks in the tube. Slowly blow up the tube with a small tire pump. You want to add air slowly so any last minute adjustments can be made. They can be done before you damage the new tube you just installed.

As the tire fills with air, the tire side walls will slip on to the outside edges of the steel rim on both sides. You can then pump the tire up to the recommended tire pressure for the tire you are repairing.

For a total cost of $5 to $20, you have been able to repair a flat tire on your snow blower without removing the tire from the snow blower or taking the entire snow blower into a mechanic. What a simple and inexpensive solution to what could have been a difficult and expensive problem!!

For more details about repairs and maintenance you can do yourself, click here.

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Description of the Craftsman Professional Snow Blower 357 CC Snow Blower

The Craftsman 357 Snow Blower  has a 30 inch clearing width and a 21 inch height capability, to clear lots of snow from driveways and walkways. It also comes with drift cutters to cut through snow drifts and hard packed snow. The tires are 16 inch x-trac tires, there are headlights and it comes with a 5 quart fuel capacity.

Craftsman Professional Snow Blower – Specifications:

• 2 stage, 245 pounds weight
• Intake height is 21 inches

Engine:

• 357cc 4-cycle Craftsman engine, belt drive, electric start
  

Transmission:

• 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds

Warranty: 2 years

Craftsman Professional Snow BlowerFeatures:

• Chute is made of polymer, with 190 degrees of rotation
• Impeller is 12 inches, serrated drum, curved auger blade
• Tubeless tires
• Safety override and headlights
• Handles fold for easy storage
  

Description of the Craftsman 357 CC Snow Blower

The Craftsman 357 Snow Blower  has a 30 inch clearing width and a 21 inch height capability, to clear lots of snow from driveways and walkways. It also comes with drift cutters to cut through snow drifts and hard packed snow. The tires are 16 inch x-trac tires, there are headlights and it comes with a 5 quart fuel capacity.

Delivery

Most sears stores will deliver the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower or any other snow blower you may purchase for a nominal fee. If you do not have a trailer available, they you will definitely need to make arrangements for delivery of your snow blower. Customers can also order the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower on line and shipping and delivery charges can be included.

Accessories

There are no accessories listed for the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower

Online Reviews

At the time of writing there were 11 reviews giving a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars for this model.  All ratings except one were positive for the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower. Glowing remarks covering all aspects were provided by new owners of this snow blower. The one exception was difficult to read. Not sure if this was intentional or not. From what we could make out, oil was dripping from the gearbox and the customer obviously was quite dissatisfied. Unfortunately we could not read any more details, so we have to assume that someone did not assemble the snow blower properly and oil began leaking out  after it was delivered.

One customer found he had to realign the belts before the snow blower would operate properly. He as the type that was comfortable doing this sort of thing and was able to fix it himself. The alternative would have been to load up the machine onto a trailer and return it for repair which is an obvious negative.

Safety & Maintenance

General maintenance of any snow blower including the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower is pretty straightforward. Check the oil level prior to every use just to make sure there has been no leakage while sitting and also that the engine has not burned any oil. With new engines this usually not a problem, however after a few seasons depending on useage and care, the engine oil level could decline and operators should always monitor the oil level prior to every use.

Sheer bolts should be checked after every use to ensure they are tight and secure. Spark plugs should also be changed after 100 hours of use or after every season. Always clean and dry the unit after every use prior to storage. The combination of humidity and salt in the snow, especially salt near the road pushed in by snow plow can over time cause rust and deterioration.

Seasonal maintenance of the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower should always be completed which includes changing the oil, make sure all bolts are tight, spark plug should be replaced, tire pressure checked and corrected if necessary and the snow blower should be thoroughly cleaned and dried.

Many people will not follow these simple steps annually, however the simple truth is that if you do follow these guidelines and those in the manual,  your Craftsman 357 Snow Blower will last for years. If you are not comfortable with even this basic maintenance, most small engine mechanics will perform these annual tasks for a fixed or

flat rate fee.

Craftsman Professional Snow Blower General Comments

As with all snow blowers, the Craftsman 357 Snow Blower is pretty straightforward to operate and maintain. Customers should follow the recommended maintenance guidelines and if you do the snow blower will last for many years.

From a safety perspective, always shut the snow blower off. Also disconnect the spark plug wire prior to performing any maintenance around the auger or the engine. This may seem a trivial thing to do. However too many hands and arms have been damaged by careless accidents. With people are trying to clear an ice jam from the auger only to have their hands cut off by a running machine.

In addition, following the step by step process for changing the oil and spark plugs can be quite easy to do. Dispose of the used oil properly and clean and dry the housing. Properly maintained snow blowers will last for years. If you are not comfortable doing this work yourself, then you should call your local small engine mechanic to see what they would charge for this annual maintenance service.  Also it is a good idea to get to know the local small engine mechanic. Most will give you lots of advice regarding maintenance and repairs for your snow blower and other house hold engines.

For more information about Craftsman Snowblowers, click here.

Snow blowers can be great time-saving devices as well as protecting and avoiding sore backs and keeping other sore muscles from developing. This site is aimed at helping consumers make decisions about whether they need a snow blower or not. What type they should purchase? What they need to know about maintaining their snow blowers as well as repairs.

If you would like to add comments about a particular snow blower, please feel free to add comments to our blog about snow blowers. There will always be someone who will find your comments useful

Snow Blowers – Why Buy One

Consumers purchase snow blowers for many reasons, however, the main health issue that consumers should be concerned about is triggering a heart attack while shoveling snow. A snow blower can prevent heart attacks, especially when the snow is heavy and wet. Many people every year suffer heart attacks while shoveling snow every year. If you do plan to shovel the snow from your driveway, take your time and if you do get short of breath, STOP and take a break! The snow can wait and you can always come back later to finish the job. If you are in a hurry, ask someone to help before you trigger a heart attack which can ruin your life.

Consumers also need to know that they should let the snowblower do its work. All you need to do is steer it and point the blowing snow in the proper direction. Many people make the mistake of trying to push or pull the snow blower when you can just engage the drive and steer it in the right direction. Let the tires or treads push the machine ahead and if you have chains on your tires, they will not slip and actually push the snow blower along at a steady clip. Trying to manhandle a 500-pound snow blower can be tough work and could trigger a heart attack as well. Let the machine do its work and you steer the machine!

Long Driveways

If you have a long driveway and the snowplow dumps a great deal of snow at the end of your driveway you may want to consider purchasing a snow blower. Double car driveways, lots of snow to shovel, walkways, and yards that need clearing are excellent reasons to purchase a snow blower. In later posts, we will talk about how you decide which snow blower is the right one for your needs.

Snow Blowers – Considerations

There are a number of things to keep in mind when you purchase a snow blower.

• Size of your snow blower including engine size and width
• Safety during operation of your snow blower
• Maintenance of your snowblower on an annual and monthly basis
• Adjustments and repairs to your snowblower
• Storage of your snow blower during the off-season
• Troubleshooting your snowblower if it does not operate properly
• Can you find parts for your snow blower easily
• Can you obtain repairs close to your home for your snow blower?

The items listed above are important and if you think about them, the answers will help you decide which snow blower provides the best solution for your application. Of course, the more features you have and the more powerful the snow blower is, the higher the price is going to be. Transportation can be an issue for delivery and also when you want to have your snow blower maintained or repaired.

Snow Blowers – Safety

Safety is paramount when operating your snow blower to ensure that you or anyone around you is not injured in any way. A few basic things to remember are:

• Always have all guards in place, and never direct the discharge from your snow blower towards other people or windows.
• Stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug if you need to remove debris from the auger.
• Always keep the machine clean and free of oil and gasoline that may be spilled anywhere on your snow blower.
• Never allow children to play or be around a running snowblower
• Always tightly wrap scarves or other loose clothing so that there is no chance of these items getting caught in the snow blower.

Most people just look at the price and average sizes of snow blowers. They should also give some consideration to the warranty, the location, and the availability of a place to take your snow blower should it need maintenance or repairs. Parts availability is also an issue. Where do you get parts? Can you do some of the maintenance work yourself.

We will review all of these details and more in later posts about snow blowers.

Don’t Wait Until the Snow Comes

Most people will wait until that first major snowfall. Guess what so is everyone else and the chance of finding a snow blower on sale at this time is remote. In addition, consumers could find that there are no longer any snow blowers left for sale. This phenomenon almost every year just after a major snowfall. Consumers are fed up with shoveling snow and decide they are going to get a snow blower only to find that the store is sold out.

Features are also important to consider. Electric start, headlights, power chutes for angle and direction, dead man switch, ease of oil changes, snow guards and guides so you know where the edge of the snow blower is in deep snow, tire chains, battery electric start or plug-in electric start are all items that are convenient, but also drive up the price. So it helps to decide ahead of time regarding which features you consider must-haves and those that are considered nice to have vs. the price of these additional features.

Finally, if you do not see a subject that you are interested in please send us a comment and we will be happy to add a post on the issue you identify. Give us sufficient details so that we can adequately deal with your issue. We hope you enjoy our website and posts about snow blowers. We also have a website that reviews lawnmowers for consumers. Click here to proceed to our website about lawn mower reviews.

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