The snow-blower is kaput again.
I have been shoveling up north for thirty years and had a snow blower for about one half that time, well all the years I had a snow blower last year was the only year I did not have to shovel all by hand at least once.
They are not cheap box store seconds but bought from yard equipment dealers and while each new one is better they all break down at least once a year even when checked out in the fall.
I work them very hard but it seems as long as you are beating on them they keep on ticking, once you let them sit the kniffer bearing gremlins sneak in.