Reasons Why Your Snowblower Wheels Won’t Engage

Snowblowers are powerful machines, but they can still break down. If you’re finding your snowblowers wheels are no longer engaging properly, then there are a few important parts to check as shown in our video guide, and written guide below:

Drive Belt

Your drive belt connects the snowblower engine to the gearbox. A worn-out, misadjusted or broken drive belt will prevent your wheels from turning. To inspect the belt, remove the belt cover. Then remove the tension spring, or loosen the tension mechanism until you can slide the belt off the drive pulley and replace it with a brand new one!

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Spring

The spring ensures the belt is tight by keeping tension on the drive belt pulley. If it becomes weak or broken your snowblower may be unable to move. Inspect the spring to see if it is worn down or damaged, and then replace it if necessary.

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Wheels

A flat wheel is very common and easy to check for. A flat tire may cause resistance when trying to move the snowblower and can be checked by pressing the wheel with your hand. A worn-down wheel may move fine but not be able to gain enough traction to propel the snowblower forward.

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Drive Cable

If your wheels won’t engage that may be a sign that your drive cable is broken, seized or needs adjusting. Inspect the cable, and if it’s sticking you can use silicone spray to try to break it free. If it only needs an adjustment, you can adjust it by tightening the threaded portion of the cable (as shown above). If the cable is broken, you will need to buy a new one.

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Friction Disk

A snowblower that won’t move or moves very slowly may have a worn or broken friction disk. Friction disks can wear down over time and will stop engaging properly. Inspect the disk and if it has any signs of damage then it may need to be replaced.

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Checking these essential areas should clue you in as to what needs to be fixed or replaced. If you need any parts for your repairs, make sure to check out ereplacementparts.com

Written By

Content Team

Comprised of creative, experienced video producers, writers, and graphic designers, the eReplacementParts.com Content Team is focused on using their diverse knowledge base to create high-quality informative content to achieve our simple mission: Help the world fix things. Whether it be through tips, guides, or hacks, we ensure that every piece of content includes only expert knowledge, to guarantee that you can do the job right the first time!

Published on February 19, 2020

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