this video will show you what to do before storing your snow thrower for next winter depending on your model number the instructions in this video might vary slightly whether you have a single or two-stage unit it's best to prepare for this project by reading the offseason storage section of your operator's manual to begin check the unit's maintenance items to see if they need replacing these items can be found in your operator's manual in the maintenance and adjustments section and the service section grab a piece of paper to create a list of replacement parts you might need on a two-stage unit such as this one check the skid shoes and shafe plate for where the skid shoes and shave plate are installed to protect the housing from damage so don't wait until the wear is so great that the housing is no longer protected this could lead to a major repair make sure to always have a spare set of shear bolts on hand drain any fuel left in the tank using the Arnold siphon pump with the help of an additional person carefully pivot the snow thrower up and forward so it rests on the auger housing remove the lower frame cover from the underside of the unit check the gear shaft and apply a light coating of oil to the hex shaft be careful not to get any oil on the aluminum drive plate or the rubber friction disk check the rubber friction disk for wear or cracking put the lower frame cover back in place with the help of an additional person carefully pivot the snow thrower back and down so it rests on the wheels and skid shoes remove the belt cover on the front of the engine and inspect the belt for where cracks and fraying always use genuine factory belts as they are designed with a specific length shape and strength for peak performance and durability in your machine non original belts may look similar but they can't match genuine factory belts materials or engineering put the belt cover back in place if you have a single-stage unit carefully tilt the snow thrower back so it rests on the handle check the shave plate for where many shave plates have two wearing edges and can be reversed if needed check the augers rubber paddles for damage and where they should be replaced if any excessive wear is present do not let the rubber paddles wear to the point that the metal portion of the auger itself can come in contact with the pavement remove the belt cover on the side of the snow thrower check the belt for where cracks are fraying now return the unit to its upright position if any of the items we just looked at need replacing now is a good time to order them that way you have plenty of time to install them before next winter the next step if your unit has a four cycle engine is to change the engine oil drain the oil by using a plastic drain sleeve that may have come with your unit or you can use the arnold siphon pump next remove the spark plug inspect the sparkplug before reinstalling it clean it with a nylon brush of necessary if you are unsure if the spark plug is good or not it is recommended that you replace the spark plug reinstall the spark plug and reconnect the spark plug wire clean debris from around the engine and muffler apply a light film of oil on any areas that are susceptible to rust wipe away any dried salt that may accumulate over the winter to discourage rust finally you should add fuel stabilizer to your fuel and fill your unit's fuel tank this is better than storing it empty empty fuel systems expose any bare metal parts to air and moisture which leads to rust and also allows gaskets and o-rings to dry out crack and shrink causing eventual problems when you're done store your snow thrower in a clean dry and well-ventilated area away from any appliance with a flame or pilot light such as a furnace water heater or clothes dryer don't store wear power tools are used if possible avoid storing in high humidity keep the engine level when storing tilting can cause fuel or oil to leak if you plan on covering the snow thrower make sure air can get under the cover don't try to seal it up follow these steps and your unit will be ready when the snow flies again you