Warranty

30SD, 36SD, 45SD

Rev. Nov2014

Avoiding Impeller Freeze-Up

Impeller freeze-up occurs when snow and ice remain in the impeller housing after the job is finished.

The remaining snow and ice melts partially and only temporarily due to residual heat in the snow blower.

The remaining mixture re-freezes and essentially “welds” the impeller to the impeller housing and

prevents rotation of the impeller.

Snow blowers are especially susceptible to freeze-up immediately after use when the machine is stored

outside or in an un-heated garage where the temperature is below freezing.

Residual snow in the discharge chute and impeller

housing melts in the heat of the engine and friction

from other rotating components. The melting residual

drips and flows to the bottom of the impeller housing

which is the furthest point from a heat source. During

very cold conditions, the residual cannot escape

through the drain hole before it freezes in the impeller

housing and seizes the impeller. The remaining snow

and ice pools in the bottom after the drain hole, and

continues to build up ice around the components. The

drain hole is located at the lowest point on the back of

the impeller housing.

 Run the auger/impeller for a few minutes after snow blower

use to clear any residual snow.

 After shutting off the snow blower, dust off any remaining

snow.

 Manually spin the impeller so that none of the blades point

straight down.

 Place a heat-source (an incandescent light bulb works well)

in the housing (see photo right).

 Tarp the snow blower to retain the heat and to keep additional

snow off the machine. Use caution when covering a hot snow

blower. The muffler can melt covers or catch fire. Never

cover a snow blower immediately after shutdown.

If the impeller is frozen up when the impeller / collector handle is engaged, the belts will bog down the

engine and the belts will begin to burn on the engine pulley since they cannot move, or a shear pin could fail.

To avoid this, we recommend manually spinning the impeller before starting the snow blower to ensure it

moves freely. If already frozen, a hairdryer will usually clear the ice quickly.

To avoid impeller freeze-up when storing in cold conditions, we recommend: