Snowblower: Drive Wheels Won't Engage

The drive belt connects the engine and the gearbox. If the belt is worn out, stretched, misadjusted, or broken, the wheels on your snow blower won’t turn. You will need to inspect the belt to determine if it is broken or worn out, and make sure that the belt is properly adjusted. If you notice that the belt in your snow blower is broken or worn, you need to replace it. To replace a drive belt, remove the belt cover then roll the auger belt off the drive pulley. The tension on the drive wheel belt will need to be released, and you can do this by pivoting the idler pulley and taking the belt off the drive pulley. You need to access the transmission to do this repair, so carefully tip the snow blower upwards onto the auger housing. You can then remove the transmission cover. Loosen and remove the shoulder screw, which helps hold the belt in place on the auger pulley. Remove the auger spring from the brake bracket on the frame of your snow blower. Use a clamp to hold the drive lever down to the handle bar. Now you should be able to easily remove the old auger belt. Remove the clamp on the drive lever. Next, loosen stop bolt. This will allow the friction wheel support bracket to move down and it will increase the clearance. Slip the drive belt off the friction wheel drive disc, and reinstall a new belt around the friction drive wheel. To do this, start by going under the friction disc and sliding the belt upwards to the auger housing. Move the stop bolt to its original position and tighten it back up. Clamp the drive handle to the handle bar. Install a new auger belt around the auger pulley and housing. Put the shoulder screw back in place on the pulley. Connect the auger spring to the brake bracket. Reinstall the transmission cover, and put the snow blower back on the ground. Now you can pull the drive belt over the drive pulley and under the tensioner, then roll the auger belt onto the drive pulley. Lastly, you’ll need to reinstall the belt cover.

The spring helps keep the belt tight. It does this by applying tension on the traction idler pulley. If the spring breaks or becomes weak with time, you will need to install a new one. To start this repair, you’ll need to tilt the snow blower up onto the auger housing, and then remove the transmission cover. Locate the idler pulley and remove the spring, if still intact. To install a new spring, connect one end to the idler pulley and the other end to the unit housing. You may need to refer to a manual for your specific model, as the spring needs to attach to a specific spot to function properly. Once you have replaced the spring, you can reinstall the transmission cover, and stand the snow blower upright.

The wheels propel the snow blower forwards and backwards. If a wheel is flat you will notice there is resistance, and this could prevent movement entirely. If a wheel is worn, it will not be able to gain enough traction to propel the snow blower, especially in slippery conditions. If your tire is worn you will need to replace it, if it is flat you can install a tube to repair it. You will need access to the wheels, so simply tilt the snow blower upwards so rests it on the auger housing. Remove the tire from the snow blower, and then use a tire-removing tool to remove the tire from the rim. We recommend that you clean the rim where the tire meets the rim. Install a tube of the proper size for your tire if you are fixing a flat, then reinstall on the rim. If you are replacing a worn tire, simply install a new tire on the rim. Once that is complete you can reinstall the wheel back onto the snow blower.

If your drive wheels won’t engage, it is likely that the drive cable might be broken or misadjusted. First, check that the drive control cable moves freely. If the drive cable does not move freely, try applying a small amount of oil into the end of the cable. If lubricating the cable is not effective we suggest that you replace it. To replace the drive cable, you’ll need to carefully tip the snow blower upwards and rest it on the auger housing. This will allow you to access and remove the transmission cover. Then remove the bolt securing the drive cable wheel roller, and remove the bolt and roller. This will allow you to free the cable. Detach the Z end of the cable from the control lever, and unhook the spring end from the drive plate assembly. Now that the old drive cable has been removed, you can install the spring end of the new cable. Connect the cable to the drive plate assembly, and attach the Z end of the cable to the control lever. Insert the roller into the roller bolt, reattaching it to the bracket. It is important to make sure you properly line the cable up in the roller before moving onto the next step. Reinstall the transmission cover, and carefully move your snow blower back into the upright position.

A friction drive is a type of transmission that helps to propel your snow blower. Instead of a chain and sprockets, this drive system uses two wheels in the transmission to transfer power to the driving wheels. When you press the drive lever on handle, it lifts the friction wheel up, at which point it makes contact with the friction disc. The wheel, driven by the motor pulley, spins, and uses the energy from the friction it is creating to spin the fiction disc. This is what rotates the axle and transmits power to the drive wheels. When the friction disc pad becomes worn, it can no longer transmit power, and the wheel on your snow blower won’t engage. You will require a new friction disc. You will notice this symptom more when your snow blower is under load, as it will start to slip. To install a new friction disc, you will have to access the transmission. Lean the snow blower forward and resting it on the auger housing. Remove the transmission cover. Remove the bolts on either side of the shaft, then pull the shaft out. Now you should be able to slide the friction disc assembly off the shaft. Next, remove the bolts on the friction disc assembly. Separate the two halves and remove the old friction disc. You can now install the new friction disc, and reattach the two halves. When you are doing this, make sure you line up the holes with the threaded ends. Put the friction disc assembly back onto the shaft in the same direction it came off. Insert the shaft back into the transmission and tighten the bolts that hold it in place. Clean the shaft with engine cleaner to remove any residue, and grease the shaft with a lower temperature grease. This will allow the friction disc to slide across easily without freezing up. Do not get any grease on the friction disc or the drive wheel. Reinstall the transmission cover, and carefully move your snow blower back to an upright position.