What good is a snowblower when it won’t throw snow? A snowblower is a helpful tool to remove snow following a big snowstorm. That is as long as it is working properly and able to move large amounts of snow efficiently.
A Craftsman snowblower won’t blow snow when the chute is clogged; the auger is packed with ice and snow; the auger is damaged or shear bolts are broken; the belt is worn or has fallen off, or the impeller is frozen or damaged.
Take precautions to avoid injuries while working on your snowblower. This includes shutting off the snow blower, disconnecting the spark plug wire, and keeping hands and feet away from the impeller, auger, and chute 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.
Reasons a Craftsman Snowblower Won’t Throw Snow
Snow Clogged in Your Craftsman Snowblower Chute
Snow can build up and clog the chute. When this happens, the snowblower will not be able to throw or blow snow. This problem happens more frequently when the snow is wet, heavy, or turned into ice chunks.
To dislodge the snow and ice, you will need to break it up and remove it using the clean-out tool that came with your snowblower. NEVER USE YOUR HANDS.
Placing your hands in the area of the chute can put you at an increased risk of severe injury.
Remove clogged snow from your snowblower chute:
- Disengage the auger and drive controls so the auger and snowblower no longer move.
- Shut off the snowblower, remove the ignition key or safety key (if your model uses one), and remove the spark plug wire.
- Use the shovel on the clean-out tool that came with your snowblower to break up and remove snow from the chute and around the chute.
- Attach the spark plug wire.
- Restart the snowblower.
- Engage the auger control to check to see if the chute is no longer clogged and able to blow snow.
Prevent snow from clogging your snowblower chute
There are a couple of things you can do to prevent the chute from clogging frequently.
- Use a non-stick spray to coat the chute.
- Blow freshly fallen snow. As the snow warms, it becomes heavier. Thick heavy snow is more prone to stick to the chute than light snow.
Packed or Damaged Auger
Just like the chute can become clogged with ice, the auger blades can become packed with ice and heavy snow.
The auger blades won’t be able to move to break up snow and feed it into the chute when ice or other objects are lodged in the auger.
Dislodge the object
- Disengage the auger and drive controls so the auger and snowblower no longer move.
- Shut off the snowblower, remove the ignition key or safety key (if your model uses one), and remove the spark plug wire.
- Use the shovel on the clean-out tool that came with your snowblower to break up and dislodge ice or objects from the auger. If you don’t have a clean-out tool, use a broom handle or other long solid item. Keep your hands and feet away from the auger rotational area. The auger can still be under pressure and spring-loaded.
- Once the auger is free of buildup, clogs, or foreign objects, inspect the auger for damage. Check for missing shear pins on a two or three-stage snowblower. Missing shear pins will keep the auger from turning. Replace shear pins and fix any damage.
- Attach the spark plug wire.
- Restart the snowblower.
Engage the auger control to check to see if the auger is able to rotate to feed snow into the chute. Check out “Your Craftsman Snowblower Auger Won’t Turn” for additional reasons your auger is rotating slowly or not moving.
Worn Belt or the Belt Came Off
A worn auger belt on your snowblower will slip on the pulleys causing the auger to spin slowly and not sufficiently feed snow into the chute. You will need to replace a worn Craftsman belt.
A belt that has fallen off the pulleys will also keep your snowblower from blowing snow because the auger won’t turn. If it has fallen off, reinstall the belt.
Verify there are no problems with the pulleys or other parts that may have caused the belt to come off your snowblower. Fix any worn or damaged parts.
Damaged or Frozen Impeller
Two-stage and three-stage Craftsman snowblowers use an impeller to propel snow out of the blower chute. Check to make sure the impeller is not broken and can still move freely.
Again, be careful as this is another item that can cause injury.
The impeller can freeze up when moisture accumulates on the impeller and freezes in cold weather. If you don’t have a heated garage, run the snowblower impeller to remove as much snow as possible before putting it away until the next use.
You want to avoid moisture from collecting around the impeller and freezing. A drop light works well to hang in the chute to provide a little warmth to the blower to avoid ice from forming while it isn’t being used.
If you find the impeller is frozen, apply a little heat to warm the area to thaw the ice. A hair dryer or another heating element works well for this.