Use and Care Manual
23
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
 WARNING
Before servicing, repairing or inspecting the snow 
blower, disengage the auger control lever. Stop the 
engine, remove the safety key or disconnect spark plug 
wire to prevent unintended starting.
Troubleshooting
ENGINE
1.  Engine fails to start, runs erratic, skips (hesitates) or idles 
poorly. Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual.
•  Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual for engine-related 
troubleshooting and service.
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION
1.  Loose or damaged parts.
•  Stop engine immediately, remove safety key or disconnect 
spark plug wire. Check for possible damage. Tighten all 
nuts and bolts. Repair as needed. If the problem persists, 
contact an authorized service center.
FAILS TO PROPEL ITSELF
1.  Drive control cable in need of adjustment.
•  Adjust drive control cable. Refer to Drive Control on 
page 17.
2.  Drive belt loose or damaged.
•  Replace drive belt. Contact an authorized Service Center.
3.  Friction wheel worn.
•  Replace friction wheel. Refer to Friction Wheel Inspection 
on page 26.
FAILS TO DISCHARGE SNOW
1.  Chute assembly clogged.
•  Stop engine and immediately, remove safety key or 
disconnect spark plug wire. See Engine Operator’s 
Manual. Clean chute assembly and inside of auger 
housing with clean-out tool. Refer to Cleaning a Clogged 
Chute Assembly on page 22.
2.  Foreign object lodged in auger.
•  Stop engine and immediately, remove safety key or 
disconnect spark plug wire. See Engine Operator’s 
Manual. Remove object from auger with clean-out tool. 
Refer to Cleaning a Clogged Chute Assembly on page 
22.
3.  Auger control cable in need of adjustment.
•  Refer to Auger Control on page 15.
4.  Auger belt loose or damaged.
•  Refer to Auger Belt Replacement on page 25.
5.  Shear pin(s) sheared.
•  Refer to Replacing Shear Pins on page 22.
CHUTE FAILS TO EASILY ROTATE
1.  Chute assembled incorrectly.
•  Disassemble chute control and reassemble as directed in 
the Assembly & Set-up section.
PUSHES SNOW INSTEAD OF THROWING
1.  Low/slow ground speed in wet/slushy snow 1-3” in depth.
•  Increase ground speed and always operate snow blower 
engine at FULL throttle. 
2.  Shear pin(s) sheared.
•  Refer to Replacing Shear Pins on page 22.
OVERHEAD CHUTE CONTROL DOES NOT STAY STATIONARY 
WHILE THROWING SNOW
1.  Insufficient preload applied to chute control.
•  Refer to Overhead Chute Control (If Equipped) on page 
15.
Maintenance
ENGINE
Refer to Engine Operator’s Manual.
SHAVE PLATE & SKID SHOES
The shave plate and skid shoes on the bottom of the snow blower 
are subject to wear. They should be checked periodically and 
replaced when necessary.
NOTE: Deluxe skid shoes (on select models) have two wear edges. 
When one side wears out, they can be rotated 180° to use the 
other edge.
To remove skid shoes (Deluxe shown):
1.  Remove four carriage bolts (a) and hex flange nuts (b) and 
flat washers (c) which secure them to the housing.
2.  Rotate and reassemble new skid shoes with four carriage 
bolts (a) (two on each side) and hex flange nuts (b) and flat 
washers (c) (Figure 67).
a
a
c
c
b
b
Figure 67










