I had a craftsman lawn tractor, never did a damn thing to it and started for 15 years every single time. Only thing I did was sharpen the blades now and then.
My snow is kind of sticky, surprised because it was 26 during and only 28 now. Thank God I bought a new snowblower, what a dream, ate through the snow like it was buttah, just have to get used to the stick shift auger.