Snow Blower Won't Throw Snow
In This Guide
It is one of the more frustrating faults: the engine runs perfectly, but a snow blower won't throw snow, or throws it weakly a few feet. The good news is the engine is healthy. The problem is somewhere in the system that actually moves the snow, the auger, the impeller, the shear pins, the belt, and the chute, and each has a distinct fix. Here is how to find which one has failed, safely.
Safety First: Never Reach Into the Chute
Cause 1: A Clogged Discharge Chute
The most common reason by far, and the simplest. Wet, heavy snow packs into the chute and blocks it, so the machine cannot throw what it cannot pass. It often looks like a serious fault and is nothing more than a clog.
With the engine off and the spark plug lead disconnected, clear the chute with a clearing tool. To prevent it, spray the chute and auger with a silicone lubricant before use, take smaller bites in deep or wet snow, and keep the engine speed up.
Cause 2: Broken Shear Pins
Shear pins are the clever safety feature that protects your snow blower, and a very common reason it stops throwing snow. They are soft metal pins that connect the auger to its drive shaft, and they are designed to snap if the auger hits something solid, sacrificing themselves to save the expensive gearbox.
When a shear pin breaks, the auger stops turning even though the engine and shaft still spin. The fix is to replace the pins, which is inexpensive. Our shear pin replacement guide walks through it.
Cause 3: A Worn or Slipping Auger Belt
On most snow blowers a belt drives the auger from the engine. If that belt is worn, stretched, glazed, or has slipped off its pulley, the auger turns weakly or not at all, even though the engine runs fine.
You may notice a burning rubber smell, or the auger spinning slowly then stopping under load. A worn auger belt needs replacing, which our belt replacement guide covers.
Cause 4: Worn Auger Paddles or a Damaged Impeller
On a single-stage machine, the rubber auger paddles both gather and throw the snow, and they wear down with use until they can no longer grab it. On a two-stage machine, the impeller is the fan that flings snow up the chute, and bent or worn impeller paddles cut the throwing distance.
Worn paddles and damaged impellers reduce or stop the discharge and need replacing to restore full throwing power.
The Order to Check In
1. Clear the chute
Engine off, lead disconnected, clearing tool only. The most common and most urgent check.
2. Check the shear pins
If the auger will not turn at all, look here next.
3. Inspect the auger belt
For wear, glazing, or slipping off the pulley.
4. Check paddles and impeller
For wear if the auger turns but throws weakly.
Rather Have a Real Technician Handle It?
A Wildwood technician comes to your driveway, diagnoses the snow blower on site, and gets it running, usually in about an hour. More than 10,000 repairs completed since 2019, with flat rates quoted before we arrive so there are no surprises. When the snow is falling, you cannot wait around.