You’re going to run into a problem with your snowblower one of these days even if you took precautions to prevent them. It happens to every snowblower. I have put together a list of items that will help you address some of the most common problems that develop in a Cub Cadet snowblower.
Regularly servicing your snowblower and checking it over before each use will minimize the issues that develop. Hopefully, it will help you catch small problems before they develop into larger more expensive ones.
Take all safety precautions before you begin repairing a snowblower including shutting off the engine, removing the spark plug wire, and waiting for all parts to stop moving. Keep hands and feet away from the chute and auger areas.
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Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual before diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.
Won’t Start
The engine requires air, fuel, and spark in order to form a combustion to start and run. Before you begin checking for reasons the snowblower isn’t getting one of these items, check a few simple things.
If your snowblower uses a safety key, insert the key into the snowblower. Check that the fuel supply isn’t still shut off for storage if this is the first time you’re using it for the season.
Make sure you have sufficient fuel in the tank and make sure it’s fresh. Then confirm you have the choke on to restrict airflow so the engine gets a higher concentration of gas required to start a cold engine.
Detailed information can be found at:
Reasons a Cub Cadet Snowblower Won’t Start
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No gas in the fuel tank | Fuel tank is empty. | Fill with fresh fuel. |
| Bad or old fuel | Fuel breaks down over time making your fuel less efficient and prone to clogging the fuel system. | Drain the fuel tank and fill it with fresh fuel. Use a fuel additive like Sea Foam to stabilize the fuel and assist with cleaning the fuel system. Use the right fuel. |
| Incorrect Starting Procedure / Choke Position | ||
| Faulty or clogged fuel cap | The vent in the cap can get clogged causing your tank to form a vacuum restricting fuel flow. | Use a thin piece of wire to try to clear the clogged vent. Replace the cap if needed. |
| Dirty spark plug | Excessively dirty or broken spark plug; bad connection; not gapped correctly. | Replace with a new spark plug, secure connections, and ensure it is gapped to manufacturer specifications. |
| Plugged fuel filter | A dirty fuel filter will restrict fuel flow. | Replace the fuel filter. |
| Blocked fuel lines | Bad fuel deposits and dirt can build up and clog the fuel lines preventing the engine from getting the required fuel. | Use a carb cleaner and compressed air to clear the clog out of the fuel line. Replace the line if necessary. |
| Dirty carburetor | The carburetor can become dirty and clogged due to bad fuel and ethanol deposits preventing fuel flow. | Clean all of the components making up the Cub Cadet carburetor. Replace if needed. |
| Engine Needs to Be Primed | Units without an electric start must have fuel moved through the lines to the carburetor in order to start. Be careful with the amount as too much fuel will cause the engine to flood and not start. | Prime the engine by pressing the primer bulb a few times. |
| Bad electric start | The electric start won’t work if an extension cord is not plugged into a wall outlet and the snowblower. If it still doesn’t start, you may have a bad electric starter. | Confirm the outlet is working and the cord is securely plugged into the snowblower and wall outlet. Use a multimeter to test for a faulty electric starter. |
| Broken recoil | A pull-start snowblower may have a damaged or broken recoil preventing the recoil to initiate starting your engine. | Check the recoil to see if it can be restrung or broken parts, like the pulley, can be replaced. Replace the recoil assembly if needed. |
Starts Then Dies
Many of the items that can keep a snowblower from starting can also be the reason it starts and then dies. These include fuel restrictions in the fuel filter, fuel lines, and carburetor due to running old or dirty fuel.
An oil level that is too low or too high can cause the engine to shut down due to a lack of lubrication or too much oil building pressure in the crankcase.
Detailed information can be found at:
This is Why Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Starts Then Dies
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bad or old fuel | Fuel breaks down over time making your fuel less efficient and prone to clogging and corroding the fuel system. | Drain the fuel tank and fill it with fresh fuel. Use a fuel additive like Sea Foam to stabilize the fuel and assist with cleaning the fuel system |
| Plugged fuel filter | The filter can become plugged with dirt and debris that has gotten into the fuel tank. Moisture buildup in the filter can freezer restricting fuel flow. | Replace the fuel filter. |
| Clogged fuel lines | Bad fuel deposits and dirt can build up and clog the fuel lines preventing the engine from getting the required fuel. | Use a carb cleaner and compressed air to remove the clog in the fuel line. |
| Dirty carburetor | The carburetor can become dirty and clogged due to bad fuel and ethanol deposits preventing fuel flow | Clean all of the components making up the carburetor. Replace if needed. |
| Insufficient oil level | Too much oil increases pressure in the crankcase. This can push oil to the spark plug and cylinder causing it to shut down. Too little engine oil won’t provide the lubrication required for the internal parts to move without overheating. | Correct the oil level in your snowblower. If this does not fix the problem, have a small engine mechanic inspect the engine for damage. |
| Bad gas cap | The fuel tank must vent so it doesn’t form a vacuum. The vent in the gas cap can become plugged. | Replace a bad gas cap. |
Won’t Move
Most snowblower drive systems are not too complicated. The snowblower uses the power off the engine and a belt to rotate the friction disc. When the friction disc is raised to meet the friction wheel, the wheels are turned.
When you are looking for the reason your snowblower wheels will not move, check the drive cable, belt, and friction wheel.
If you have checked the cable, belt, and friction disk and continue to have problems or you have a hydrostatic model and are having problems, talk to your local Cub Cadet dealer and a good snowblower mechanic near you.
Detailed information can be found at:
Why Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Won’t Move
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Worn or damaged drive control cable | A worn or damaged cable will fail to raise the friction disc to make contact with the drive system that turns the wheels. | Adjust a loose drive control cable. Replace if it is stretched or damaged where an adjustment doesn’t work. |
| Bad drive belt or the belt has come off the snowblower | A broken drive belt or one that has fallen off will fail to engage the drive system. | Replace the drive belt. |
| Worn drive friction wheel | Worn rubber on the friction wheel will fail to turn along the friction disc. | Inspect and replace the rubber when it becomes hardened or has worn to 1/8″ thickness. |
Won’t Blow Snow
When a Cub Cadet snowblower won’t blow snow, the problem lies with a clogged blower chute; broken or frozen impeller; or auger problem.
The auger may not move as a result of a loose or worn auger belt; a damaged auger or missing shear pins.
Before working near your auger or chute, always shut off the engine, remove the safety key (if you have one) and remove the spark plug wire to prevent the snowblower from starting.
Use a hard sturdy tool to remove snow and ice and free up the auger and chute.
NEVER use your hands and feet as severe injury can occur. Keep them out of the rotational area of the auger blades and out of the blower chute.
Detailed information can be found at:
This is Why Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Won’t Blow Snow
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Clogged snowblower chute | Wet heavy snow and ice can plug the chute preventing the snow from blowing out of the chute. | Safely shut off the snowblower & take precautions to prevent it from starting. Remove the clog using a clean-out tool. |
| Damaged or clogged auger | The auger won’t move when an object is lodged in the auger, the auger is damaged or the shear pins are missing. | Safely remove objects preventing the auger from turning, repair any damage and install missing shear pins. |
| Loose or worn auger belt | A broken or loose belt or one that has fallen off the pulley will prevent the auger from turning therefore not feeding snow through the blower chute. | Replace a worn or damaged auger belt. If the belt came off the snowblower, check for pulley damage or a stretched belt. |
| Damaged or frozen impeller | A broken or frozen impeller on a 2 or 3-stage snowblower will not propel snow out of the chute. | An impeller will freeze when it collects moisture when it is warm and then freezes once it cools down. Thaw a frozen impeller. Replace a damaged impeller. |
Auger Won’t Turn
The auger turns to assist with breaking up snow and ice to feed it into the chute. Keeping them from hitting foreign objects is best, but there’s always a chance you’re going to run into an object like a rock, branch, or toy.
It’s hard to see these items when they are covered with a blanket of snow until it’s too late. These objects can get jammed in the auger preventing it from turning.
You may also experience your auger not turning or turning very slowly when the shear pins are broken; the belt is worn or has fallen off the pulley; or the auger cable is out of adjustment, stretched, or broken.
Detailed information can be found at:
Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Auger Won’t Turn (SOLVED!)
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Object jammed in auger | An object jammed between the auger and auger housing can cause the auger to stop turning. | Remove the jammed object using the snow removal tool or broomstick. Do not use your hands or feet to clear the object. |
| Broken shear pins | 2-cycle and 3-cycle snowblowers use shear pins to hold the auger to the auger shaft. When they break, the auger will no longer turn. | Shear pins are designed to break when the snowblower impacts a hard object. This prevents damage to the gear case. |
| Worn Belt or Belt Out of Place | A worn belt won’t make good contact with the pulley which can make the auger turn slowly or not move at all. | Make sure the belt is installed securely around the pulley. Replace a worn belt. |
| Worn Auger Cable | An auger lever that is depressed to engage the auger may not work when the cable is worn and stretched. | Adjust the auger cable. Replace is stretched and not working after being adjusted. |
Leaking Gas
It’s common for the carburetor to start leaking gas when the gasket between the bowl and carburetor becomes dry or the carburetor float no longer functions correctly.
A snowblower will also begin leaking when fuel components begin to degrade or are damaged. Items to check include the fuel filter, fuel cap seal, gas tank, fuel lines, primer bulb, and fuel shut-off valve.
Detailed information can be found at:
This is Where Your Cub Cadet Snowblower is Leaking Gas
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bad carburetor bowl gasket | Gasket gets dry and no longer seals allowing gas to seep between the bowl and the carburetor. | Replace the gasket. |
| Stuck float or float needle | Old fuel can cause the float and float needle to stick so fuel is allowed to continually flow into the carburetor and overflow. | Clean the carburetor to free up the parts. Replace any damaged parts. |
| Cracked fuel lines | Fuel lines become dry as it ages and are prone to cracking. | Replace dry fuel lines and any lines that have become punctured. Check fittings so the hose is secured to fuel components. |
| Bad fuel tank | A metal fuel tank is prone to rusting over time and can develop a rust hole. Poly tanks can fail at the seam and begin leaking. | Replace the fuel tank. If you are unable to find a compatible replacement tank, attempt to repair it. |
| Bad fuel shut-off valve | The valve is prone to leaking with time. | Replace a leaking fuel shut-off valve. |
| Degraded or damaged fuel filter | A fuel filter that isn’t changed regularly can become soft and begin leaking at the seams. | Replace a leaking fuel filter with a new filter. |
| Bad fuel pump | The fuel filter can degrade from old fuel and begin leaking. | Replace the fuel pump. |
| Bad fuel cap seal | The seal in the gas cap can become dry and lose its sealing capability. | Replace the seal or complete fuel cap. |
| Weak primer bulb | The snowblower can begin leaking from the primer bulb or from where the bulb connects to the fuel line. | Replace the primer bulb. |
Leaving Behind Snow
When you find your Cub Cadet is leaving the snow behind, it could be that you are trying to blow more snow than your snowblower is able to handle.
You could also have a low tire or damaged wheel; worn scraper bar, worn auger, or worn skid shoes.
Detailed information can be found at:
Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Is Leaving Behind Snow: SOLVED!
| Cause | Reason for Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| SINGLE STAGE: Worn or damaged scraper bar or cutting edge | A worn bar can’t cleanly remove snow. Gouges in the bar will leave behind snow | Adjust the scraper bar, if possible, so it sits on the ground. Replace if worn or damaged. |
| SINGLE STAGE: Worn scraper paddles | Paddles won’t be able to scoop up snow to feed through the chute. | Replace worn paddles. |
| 2-STAGE & 3-STAGE: Damaged or worn cutting edge | While the cutting edge sits off the ground, it can still wear or become damaged so it doesn’t cleanly push snow into the auger. | Adjust the cutting edge and replace it when worn or damaged. |
| 2-STAGE & 3-STAGE: Uneven or worn skid shoes | Skid shoes that are installed unevenly or have become worn will cause the snowblower to sit unevenly. | Check the skid shoes and adjust them properly. Replace worn skid shoes. |
| 2-STAGE & 3-STAGE: Damaged auger blades | Auger blades aren’t able to efficiently break up snow to feed through the chute. | Replace a damaged auger blade. |
| 2-STAGE & 3-STAGE: Damaged wheel or low tire pressure | Will cause the auger housing to not sit level allowing more snow to pass through one side of the snowblower than the other. | Replace a damaged wheel. Correct the tire pressures. |
Problem 8: Cub Cadet Snowblower is Vibrating
A Cub Cadet snowblower that is vibrating could be from something as simple as loose hardware or worn parts. Inspect the unit and tighten loose parts and replace missing or damaged parts.
When you find you are getting excessive vibration, shut the snowblower off and check for auger damage and missing parts. Make sure you remove the spark plug and wait for all moving parts to stop before you begin working on your snowblower.