Facebook Marketplace Snow Blower Safety Checklist
Marketplace listings often hide costly mechanical issues with fresh spray paint or warmed-up engines. Follow this checklist to ensure you get a solid machine without surprises.
Before You Go: 3 Crucial Questions to Message the Seller
1. “Can you leave the engine cold until I arrive? I want to test a cold start.” (If they say no or warm it up anyway, be cautious—it likely has carburetor issues).
2. “Has it been stored with fuel in the tank or ethanol-free gas?” (Tells you immediate carburetor condition).
3. “Do you have the spare shear pins and owner's manual?” (Sellers who kept the manual usually took care of the machine).
10-Minute Used Snow Blower Inspection Checklist
Take this on your phone or print a paper copy when inspecting a machine on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist in Missouri.
Check Engine Oil Level & Color
Pull dipstick before starting. Oil should be golden to light brown. Milky white or gray oil means water/snow entered crankcase. Pitch black gritty oil means zero maintenance.
Smell Gas Tank (Ethanol Varnish Check)
Remove fuel cap and sniff. If it smells like varnish or sour turpentine rather than fresh gasoline, old fuel sat in carburetor and jets will be clogged.
Insist on a True Cold Start
Touch muffler before starting to ensure the seller did not warm it up prior to your arrival. Set choke, prime 3x, pull or push electric start. Should fire within 3 pulls or 5 seconds on electric start.
Inspect Auger Gearbox for Oil Leaks & Cracks
Crawl under front housing and inspect center cast iron/aluminum gearbox. Check for weeping gear lube or horizontal hairline cracks from hitting hidden rocks or curbs.
Verify Factory Shear Pins (NOT Hardware Store Grade 5 Bolts)
Examine pins connecting auger spiral blades to the drive shaft. If seller substituted hardened Grade 5 or 8 hardware bolts, the gearbox has lost its protection against catastrophic jams.
Check Impeller Bearing Play
With engine OFF and spark plug boot disconnected, reach into chute and wiggle the fan blades. There should be zero fore-and-aft wobble in the center bearing.
Test All Forward & Reverse Gears Under Load
Engage drive handle. Shift through every forward gear (1 through 6) and both reverse gears. Machine should immediately pull without hesitating, shuddering, or slipping.
Operate Chute Rotation Crank & Pitch Cable
Turn chute 180 degrees left and right. Cables should not bind or have frayed wire strands. Plastic chutes should be checked for winter stress cracks.
Inspect Housing Scraper Bar & Skid Shoes
Check bottom scraper blade. If worn down completely into the housing steel, the bucket itself will be compromised. Skid shoes should have reversible wear remaining.
Examine Tire Sidewalls for Dry Rot & Rim Rust
Look between tread blocks for dry cracking. Check if tires hold pressure or if valve stems are cracked. Rusted-on wheel axles can make tire changes impossible.
Missouri Used Market Tip: Late August through early October is prime buying time on Missouri Facebook Marketplace. Ariens Classic/Deluxe units under 10 years old typically sell between $350–$650. If buying in January during a blizzard warning, expect to pay a $200+ panic premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Storm-Prep Reminders Before Missouri Winter Weather Strikes
Never get caught with a gummed-up carburetor the morning of a 6-inch storm. We send timely alerts on pre-season startup deadlines, parts availability in KC/St. Louis/Columbia, and storm preparation equipment checklists.