Is it worth repairing an old snow blower?

The short answer

An old snow blower is worth repairing when the problem is a wear part and the machine is otherwise sound, and not worth it when the engine or gearcase is worn out, safety parts are missing or the quote approaches the price of a comparable new machine. Age matters less than what failed. The decision is a comparison, so start with a written quote.

Repairs that usually make sense

Shear pins. If a large object gets wedged between your augers and the housing, the pins break as designed to protect your auger gearcase from incurring damage.^[1] Shear pins can be replaced quickly and are a lot cheaper to replace than the auger or gear case.^[1] A broken pin is a sign the machine did its job. See how to replace snow blower shear pins.

Fuel and ignition. A spark plug, fresh fuel, a carburetor cleaning or a new fuel line are normal maintenance for a machine that sits most of the year. On old machinery, seals and hoses on engines and fuel systems tend to be weak and susceptible to degradation.^[3] Ethanol in gasoline can cause them to deteriorate, shrink, or swell, resulting in leaks.^[3] Replacing a perished line is cheap.

Cables, belts and skid shoes. Wear items that are inexpensive next to a new machine.

Repairs that usually do not

• A worn-out engine. Low compression, heavy smoke or a seized engine usually means a rebuild that costs close to a new machine.
• A failed gearcase or damaged auger housing. Large parts, large bills.
• A cracked frame or rusted-through housing.
• Missing or broken safety parts the maker no longer sells.
• A model with no parts support.
• Several faults at once, where each is modest but together they add up.

Older small engines also run differently on modern fuel. Penn State Extension says that older small engines may not be able to adjust their air-fuel mixture for ethanol blends, resulting in a "leaner" burn that may increase engine temperatures and/or reduce engine power, and that a simple adjustment to the fuel system can often fix it.^[3] A shop may be able to adjust for that, which is worth asking about before you give up on a carburetor.

Safety is part of the decision

Check the machine over before you spend anything for loose or missing guards and loose fasteners. CPSC's advice is to always keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.^[2] If guards, shields or controls are missing and cannot be replaced, that tips the decision toward replacing the machine.

Compare the quote with a new machine

No official Virginia price list exists, so the numbers have to come from your own quotes. Get a written estimate that lists parts, labor and any diagnosis fee, then check the price of a comparable new snow blower. As a rule of thumb, repair when the quote is a small share of the replacement price and the machine has been reliable. Replace when the quote is close to it or the machine needs more than one major repair. What snow blower repair costs in Virginia explains what drives a quote.

Count what a new machine gives you, which is a warranty, current safety features and fresh wear parts. Count what yours gives you too: a machine you know that has handled your driveway.

Stop and call a pro if

• The auger will not turn, or the gearcase is noisy, hot or leaking.
• Fuel is leaking from the tank, line or carburetor.
• The engine runs rough, smokes or will not start after fresh fuel and a new spark plug.
• Guards or controls are missing, bent or cracked.
• You cannot say what is wrong and are tempted to keep running it. A shop can diagnose it.

If a shop can look at it, post a snow blower repair job to compare quotes, see snow blower repair, or browse small engine repair answers.