That's what are on my snowflite blower stock from late 80's MTD. My early 80's MTD came with turf tires.
Pull the plug on the gearbox on the auger and check the lubricant level and quality. It can be oil or 00 grease so refill with the same.
I checked mine a few years back, (looked low) I used 80-90W Royal purple gear oil, spins like a dream.
I'm no expert on Snow Blowers, or many things for that matter, but I like to find people who are (in the know) more then I am with stuff. This guy has some great stuff on his channel, He's got lots of stuff. https://www.youtube.com/@GarageGear
I just went out and top off the snow blower with fresh gas, went to start it and noticed the pull cord is freyed really bad and about to break, lucky I have electric start on it but this needs addressing. I'm sure it's dry rotted from just sitting, I'll pull this apart in the spring. I hope I don't need to rely on the pull starter right away...
Is it freyed close to the handle or a ways down? If by the handle, pull it through, knot it and cut it off. Test before to make sure you wouldn't be dead ending the mechanism with a your pulling range. Temporary fix...
A lot easier to fix it before it breaks and safer for the spring. 4 screws and it's off. Pull the rope all the way out and slip a clamp on the pulley. Swap the rope and remove the clamp. It's not even a full beer job. And you get to play with rope and knot's!
I spent an hour with it and did (exactly) what you just said. I slowly pulled out the cord and realized I had about a full 6ft of pull cord in the machine to work with. The freying was down from the pull handle about a foot. I pulled out the cord the full lenght out of the engine till it stopped and tied it off. I cut off the pull cord about 16" down from the handle, which gave me enough to get past the freying. Feed it back into the handle, tied a fresh US Coast Guard figure (8) knot in it so it wouldn't pull through the handle and it's as good as new! I still have plenty to pull to start it, it doesn't short stop. All's well that ends well!
I used some automotive dash cleaner this last weekend. That stuff that makes it shiney. Well wouldn't ya know, with these subzero temps, it froze to the plow blade before I could wipe it off. It worked but I'd bet pam doesn't freeze so fast.
I LOVE Blaster PB formula and keep about 6 cans around the house/garage all the time. So, It got me thinking, this stuff say's it can be sprayed into "Snow blower chutes" and other parts! I'm gonna go hunt some down at Tractor Supply!
