Snow Blower Belt Replacement
In This Guide
Belts are wear items, and on a snow blower they take real punishment, so snow blower belt replacement is a repair most owners meet sooner or later. There are two belts to know: the auger belt that spins the auger to throw snow, and the drive belt that turns the wheels to move the machine. When one wears out, that function weakens or stops while the engine runs on fine. Here is how to tell which belt has gone and how to replace it.
The Two Belts and What They Do
| Belt | Drives | Symptom when worn |
|---|---|---|
| Auger belt | The auger that gathers and throws snow | Auger turns weakly or not at all; poor or no snow throwing |
| Drive belt | The wheels that move the machine | Machine will not self-propel, or drives weakly |
Identifying which function has failed tells you which belt to replace. If it will not throw snow, suspect the auger belt. If it will not drive itself forward, suspect the drive belt.
Signs a Belt Needs Replacing
- A burning rubber smell during use.
- The auger or drive engaging weakly, then slipping under load.
- Visible cracks, fraying, glazing (a shiny hardened surface), or chunks missing.
- The belt has stretched and no longer tensions properly.
- A snapped belt, where the function simply does nothing.
Get the Right Belt
How to Replace a Snow Blower Belt
1. Stop the engine, disconnect the plug lead
And drain the fuel or ensure the tank will not leak if the machine must be tipped.
2. Remove the belt cover
Take off the cover or shroud protecting the belts, usually a few screws or bolts at the front or side.
3. Note the routing
Photograph how the belt runs around the pulleys and idlers before removing it. This is the step that saves you later.
4. Release the tension and remove
Release the idler pulley tension and work the old belt off the pulleys. Some machines need the auger housing separated from the frame for access.
5. Fit the new belt
Route the correct new belt exactly as the old one ran, around every pulley and idler.
6. Set the tension
Adjust the idler so the belt is properly tensioned, neither slipping loose nor over-tight.
7. Reassemble and test
Refit the cover, reconnect the plug lead, and test the auger or drive engages properly.
When to Let a Technician Do It
Belt replacement on many two-stage snow blowers requires splitting the machine, separating the auger housing from the main body, which is fiddly and awkward. If you are not comfortable doing that, or the access on your model is tight, it is a sensible job to hand to a technician, particularly mid-season when you cannot afford downtime.
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.