This is Why Your Cub Cadet Snowblower Won’t Throw Snow

Once again you’re out in the driveway trying to clear the snow so you aren’t snowed in. While blowing snow, you realize your snowblower isn’t blowing snow out of the chute. Maybe it is, but it’s just not blowing as much snow as it usually does and not throwing it as far.

A Cub Cadet snowblower won’t blow snow when the chute or auger is clogged with snow and ice; the auger is damaged; the auger belt is worn or fell off the pulley; the auger pulley is bad, or the impeller is damaged or frozen.

I cannot say this enough, take caution when working on your snowblower. It is designed to break up snow and ice to blow out of the chute. There are many fast-moving parts on a snowblower that can cause severe harm to you and others around it.

Stay behind your snowblower when operating it. Make sure there are no people or pets in the area. Keep your hands and feet away from the chute and auger. You can find all of the safety precautions listed in your Cub Cadet operators manual.

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 Cub Cadet Snowblower Won’t Throw Snow

Snow Clogged in the Snowblower Chute

Snow can become packed in the snowblower chute, especially wet heavy snow and chunks of ice. This can cause a buildup in the chute that can prevent it from blowing snow.

Break up and clear the snow in the chute. Never use your hands to clear out the snow. Severe injuries can even happen with the engine off.

Remove clogged snow from your 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. If you don’t have one, you can purchase one online or at your local hardware store. It’s nice to have on hand.
• 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 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

If the auger blades aren’t moving, it won’t feed snow into the chute. Stop the snowblower and remove the clog in the auger using a broomstick handle, clean-out tool, or other solid long stick.

You do not want your hands in the auger rotational area. A stuck auger can be under pressure and move even with the snowblower in the off position.

If you don’t see a clog, check the auger paddles or blades (depending on your model) to make sure they are in good condition and not worn or damaged.

Make sure you are not missing any shear pins on a two-stage or three-stage snowblower that can prevent the auger from moving.

Replace any worn auger parts or missing shear pins. Check out this article for additional reasons your auger isn’t rotating or rotating slowly affecting the amount of snow that is being blown.

Worn Belt or Belt Came Off

When the belt is loose the auger will not spin fast enough to throw snow. Take a look to make sure the belt is securely around the pulley and hasn’t broken or fallen off.

If you find the belt is loose and broken, replace it with a new Cub Cadet auger belt.

Damaged or Frozen Impeller

Two-stage and three-stage Cub Cadet 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.

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 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 have a frozen impeller, you need to apply a little heat to warm the area up to thaw the ice. A hair dryer or another heating element will work well for this.