All I Really Wanted to do

Was to fuel-up the snow blower and drive it from the backyard shed to the front of the house, so that I would be ready for the first snowstorm of the year.

Two hours later...I was done.

I started the machine with no problems, but seeing a mouse in the shed was a portent of future, like 5 minutes later, problems.

The drive mechanism was stiff and then after moving about 30 feet, it jammed completely. I inspected the housing and there was some kind of fluff sticking out of a mouse-sized port by the axle. I took off the access plate and found the whole gearbox full of some kind of fibrous material. I pulled out enough to fill a bread-bag and the machine was able to propel itself. The fluff had completely cleaned out all the accumulated grease in the gearbox but a quick spritz of WD-40 restored the unit to silky perfection.

While I was at it, I inflated the tires, which were both flat. I also changed the oil and found a loose wire responsible for the headlight not working.