How to Troubleshoot a Craftsman Snow Blower

Keep your Craftsman snow blower running smoothly with these tips.

If you rely on a Craftsman snow blower to keep your sidewalk or driveway clear, you'll need to know how to keep it running smoothly. Craftsman's snow blowers aren't really "blowers"--they're actually "throwers." They throw the snow after picking it up with a spiral auger. Problems with the snow throwers can include clogging, skidding and the machine riding up over the snow without picking it up. These kinds of issues can be corrected by changing ground speed, checking for damage and more.

Things You'll Need

• Sandbags or heavy chain

Instructions

1. Slow down if the discharge chute gets clogged. The ground speed may be too fast for the machine. Give the tractor a little more throttle at a lower gear. The lower tractor gear will slow the forward movement and the higher throttle will increase the performance.

2. Raise the snow thrower if the discharge chute continues to get clogged. The snow may be too deep for the equipment setting. Clogs can also occur if the machine heats up and starts melting the snow in the chute. In this case, allow the snow thrower to cool down to match the outside temperature.

3. Turn the snow thrower off, disengage the clutch and check for obstructions around the auger if the engine stalls repeatedly. When you re-start the machine, increase the throttle and decrease ground speed---hard or heavy snow may be causing the issue.

4. Increase weight on the driving wheels if the Craftsman snow thrower loses traction. In the case of a tractor-based snow blower, add sandbags; in the case of a self-contained snow blower, try wrapping heavy chain around the snow blower. This will add weight, but be careful to secure the chain and not allow it to snare moving parts. Reduce ground speed if the Craftsman rides up over the snow.

References

• Craftsman 42-inch 2 Stage Snow Thrower Tractor Attachment Operator's Manual