Snowblower issues

[Beer Belly]

I have a Craftsman 5.5hp, 24 inches Snowblower. Here in the Northeast, we are, and have been, getting hammered with snow. This particular Snowblower will only throw the snow 1 foot high, and only 2 feet away at best....or, it just clogs every 3 feet....clogs more often thatn not....I'm talking only 3-4 inches of snow.....I've replaced the Auger Belt and adjusted the Idler Pulley in hopes to keep the Auger turning better. Any suggestions on what I can do about this....I'd like to get a nice Ariens 28 pro....but Wife sez "work with what ya got"

 

[srossman]

Is it possible a shear pin is busted? I know on my walk behind, I had a shear pin on each side of the auger, and if one broke, it would clog and wouldn't throw snow worth a darn.

 

[cdaigle430]

If it's heavy and wet, then I would understand. Otherwise, it sounds like and RPM issue. These blowers are set to a certain rpm to maximise performance reliability with maximum snow through the chute. Maybe the rpm adjustment is out of wack?

 

[Zork]

Some of the throwers are not rated too highly, especially at higher travel speeds. Moisture content (light/heavy) has allot to do with all blowers abilities in regard to discharge distance. Check sheer pins. Try slowing down, max rpm, maybe some WD-40 on 2nd stage impeller and chute to prevent sticking. AND above all else, do not be tempted to clear the chute with your hand or discharge tool while unit is running.

 

[devildog1]

You need to check shear pins on auger and fan, sounds like one is busted. I have a 30" 10 horse Sears Craftsman's and it blows snow like a bear, had for about 6 or 7 years. I do 200' driveway and large turn around, wonderful snow blower.
DevilDog

 

[chipsndust]

BB:

Is your snowthrower a two stage (does it have an impeller behind the auger)? A single stage blower would work about like you're describing, and is only useful for light snow.

If it's a two stage, I would agree with others that a sheer pin is broken in the impeller.

Possibly the impeller has moved forward on the shaft (away from the back of the housing, toward the auger) due to a loose/missing setscrew and/or woodruff key.

You can check for this with the engine turned off, the impeller should not turn independent of the auger.

Maybe some pictures would help us see the problem.

Never stick your hands in there with the engine running, make sure everything has completely stopped turning.

 

[ljellio]

Yes one person in a cast this year is plenty wish it wasn't that had to set the example

 

[bellcon]

Tell your wife to use it for a coouple of storms and the ariens may be closer than you think!

 

[F1520]

Never stick your hands in there with the engine running, make sure everything has completely stopped turning.

Yep, seriously. We all probably think "yeah, I know" but there were two different accidents not far from here, one where a guy lost one finger and damaged two others and another accident where a guy lost all of the fingers on one hand

Snowthrower accidents lead to loss of fingers, Readington Township Police say | NJ.com

 

[oldnslo]

I have a Craftsman 5.5hp, 24 inches Snowblower. Here in the Northeast, we are, and have been, getting hammered with snow. This particular Snowblower will only throw the snow 1 foot high, and only 2 feet away at best....or, it just clogs every 3 feet....clogs more often thatn not....I'm talking only 3-4 inches of snow.....I've replaced the Auger Belt and adjusted the Idler Pulley in hopes to keep the Auger turning better. Any suggestions on what I can do about this....I'd like to get a nice Ariens 28 pro....but Wife sez "work with what ya got"

Is this one of the models with the rubber single stage auger? If yes the auger flights are probably getting worn and this will prevent the blower from working. There should be less than a 1/4" between the flights and the housing.

Can you have some one operate the blower while you watch from a safe distance to see if the auger is slowing or stopping while under load?

Roy

 

[bironacad]

Adjustments we make adjustments, lol. I try to set up my blower and get it ready for the winter at the end of the summer this keeps my fingers non-numb. My walk behind Yardman blower has several ways to adjust tension for various parts. I did sever a shear pin on on side of the auger once mid season and it did affect the snow blow, lol. Bring it inside, let it thaw and take a good look at possible adjustments.

 

[beenthere]

I ............but Wife sez "work with what ya got"

Tell her that you have been doing that ever since the wedding.

 

[bironacad]

Tell her that you have been doing that ever since the wedding.

Let us not forget how is the boss here

 

[T_e_r_r_y]

Like others have said,check the belts- if worn-cracked-have small pieces missing-ect-have glazed sides or sit too deep in the pulley.
If 2 stage- check the shear pins or sometimes called shear bolts.
Good idea to pull the bolts and grease the augers so they spin. So when the errant rock or newspaper gets caught- the shear bolts do their job.
DON'T use hardened bolts. Your gear box will thank you.
Also might check the clearance between the impellers and side of the intake tube. Should be less than 1/8 inch.
Use an impeller kit, ie: pieces of stiff rubber belting bolted to the vanes of the impeller, just touching the sides.
Use liquid soap and allow it to wear in, tube might be out of round.
If you had a large enough gap this should decrease the gap and increase your throwing distance.
Check all bearings and keep tire air pressure the same,won't track straight.
Tighten nuts and bolts,grease shafts where gears ride and move.

Above all: KEEP FINGERS AND HANDS OUT OF THE CHUTE!!!!!!
Stay Alert Stay Alive !!!

T.J.

 

[bironacad]

Like others have said,check the belts- if worn-
Use liquid soap and allow it to wear in, tube might be out of round.
Above all: KEEP FINGERS AND HANDS OUT OF THE CHUTE!!!!!!
Stay Alert Stay Alive !!!

T.J.

My cousin uses Lemon Pledge in the chute he swears it keeps it from frequent clogging any wax will do though. With the machine off and inside where it is warm and dry, lol. Safety first! -16 C with a wind chill of cold here in TO but I am headed for:

Bancroft+More info
Past 24 HoursRadar ImagerySatellite ImageryCurrent Conditions


Presently -20 °C
Observed at: Bancroft
Date: 7:00 AM EST Tuesday 8 February 2011
Condition: Not observed
Pressure: 101.1 kPa
Tendency: rising

Temperature: -19.6°C
Dewpoint: -22.6°C
Humidity: 77 %
Wind: N 15 km/h
Wind Chill: -29°C

 

[irvingj]

I'll agree with Terry:
"Also might check the clearance between the impellers and side of the intake tube. Should be less than 1/8 inch."

Biggest killer of throwing distance I know of --assuming belts are good, no slipping-- is that clearance. If you've hit rocks, those impeller fan blades can get bent, increasing the gap. As Terry said, if that gap is much bigger than 1/8", it won't throw far at all.

 

[schmism]

I'll agree with Terry:
"Also might check the clearance between the impellers and side of the intake tube. Should be less than 1/8 inch."

i like the saying another member used.... take a nickel leave a dime. :thumbsup:

 

[CFHartman]

I just wanted to add my two cents, I no longer have it but I did have a JD 214 garden tractor with a 48" snow blower. I used it for 10 years but was not very impressed with the blower. I also had trouble in the summer when it was very hot with the mower getting hot. Then one day I was playing around with a new tachometer that I had bought. I found out that when I opened the throttle all the way open I was only running it at 2700 RPMs. I a jested the the throttle so when I open it all the way up It was running 3600 RPMs. I was then able to blow wet snow + in the summer when it was hot I no longer had trouble with it heating up and miss firing.
What I'm trying to say is check your RMPs, Most 4 cycle engines are to be operated at 3600 RPMs

 

[chipsndust]

Lots of good tips and advice here, but the OP hasn't posted since 2/1.

Would be nice to know if Beer Belly got his thrower throwing.

 

[irvingj]

Here's what I was talking about... My driveway's pretty good, but when I go up to our dirt road to strip back the snowplow ridges so I can see oncoming traffic and the mailman can get to the mailbox, I occasionally pick up a good-sized rock that came from the middle of the road....

When that gets into the blower, it'll curl the fan blades back, increasing the gap between the impeller (fan) and the cylindrical housing. That will reduce the throwing distance real quick.

Had to pull the impeller on my walk-behind and beat the blades back into shape a couple of times before I gave up and replaced it; looks like my tractor blower's going to need a little TLC, too! Third pic is the one blade that has (so far) escaped being nailed by a rock; that's what it should look like.

Fourth pic is my old Toro walk-behind's original impeller- same curling on the tip of the blades.

So today, I'll see how to take the beast apart- anybody got any service info on the RAD Technologies M-F/Kubota blower? I only have the owner's manual, which doesn't show much.