Mowtown Waldo Implement Blog

General Snow Blower Usage

General Snow Blower Usage

Leanne Schmid
QUESTION:
What are some general snow throwing procedures?
ANSWER:

Pre-season (a few weeks before first snow):

  1. Review the Operator's Manual each season.  
  2. Check maintenance and adjustment items: Make sure your snow thrower is ready when you need it.
    • Single-stage snow throwers: drive belt, shave plate, auger spirals, engine oil (4-cycle only), spark plug. 
    • Multiple-stage snow throwers: slide shoes, shave plate, auger shear pins, belts, drive disc (if equipped), engine oil, spark plug.
  3. Add fresh fuel and test-run the snow thrower in an open area with plenty of room to maneuver.

First Snow:

  1. Confirm that there are no hazardous objects to be hidden by the snow in the area to be cleared.  It is better not to find that dog chain or frozen newspaper with the snow thrower.
  2. DO NOT's:
  • Do not try to clear solid ice with the snow thrower. It can damage the snow thrower.
  • Do not throw snow in the direction of anything you would not throw a rock at.
  • Do not try to clear a clogged snow thrower by hand. Turn-off the snow thrower and use snow clearing tool, broom stick, or similar tool.
  1. If the snow thrower has a throttle control, set the engine to run at maximum speed when throwing snow. It runs most efficiently there.
  2. If the snow is especially deep or heavy, slow down your clearing pace to avoid bogging down the engine.
  3. When possible, start clearing snow by creating a path down the middle of the area to be cleared. Work outward from this first path in a spiral pattern, throwing snow to the nearest edge of the area you are clearing. This will pile cleared snow on both sides of the cleared area.
  4. If snow can only be thrown in one direction, start at the side that you cannot throw snow toward. Widen the path with each pass, toward the side you can throw snow to.
  5.  When using a multiple-stage snow thrower on a gravel surface, adjust the slide shoes to raise the front of the snow thrower. For smoothly paved surfaces adjust the slide shoes to keep the shave plate ¼” above the pavement. Refer to the Operator's Manual.

After Use:

  1. Turn off the engine.
  2. Clean snow off of the snow thrower using a broom.
  3. Check shear pins. The augers overlap and a shear pin could break without the operator noticing. If one shear pin breaks, the auger will still be driving the auger next to it, but the shear pin that drives the second auger will carry twice the load.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US OR YOU CAN VISIT THE CUB CADET SUPPORT WEBSITE HERE. 

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FAQ How To SNOW SNOW BLOWER WINTER
SNOW THROWER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TIPS

SNOW THROWER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TIPS

Leanne Schmid

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TIPS

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MACHINE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER WITH CUB CADET'S SNOW THROWER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE.

Just like your riding lawn mower, your snow thrower requires maintenance throughout the season.
Whether you have a 1X single-stage snow thrower, a 2X two-stage snow thrower or a new, one-of-a-kind 3X three-stage snow thrower, the following maintenance schedule and tips will help you keep it running smoothly through blustery winter storms.
You don't want to be snowed in with a faulty snow thrower because you neglected maintenance, so be sure to follow through on these regular items and bring your snow thrower in for service if you discover a more significant issue during snow thrower maintenance.


 		 After 1st 5 Hours of Use
 		 After each use (or every 5 hours)
 		 After every season or 25 hours
 		 After every season or 50 hours
 		 After every season or 100 hours
 
Change the engine oil
 		 X
 
 
 		 X
 
 
Check the engine oil
 
 		 X
 
 
 
 
Clean the exhaust area
 
 		 X
 
 
 
 
Check the spark plug
 
 
 		 X
 
 
 
Lubricate the gear shaft
 
 
 		 X
 
 
 
Service the spark plug
 
 
 
 
 		 X
 

FOLLOW THESE SNOW THROWER MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR PROPER USE OF YOUR MACHINE.

Use these snow thrower tips to carry out maintenance throughout the year. For questions or details on more complicated repairs, check out the other how-to tutorials from Cub Cadet here.

  • Disengage all control levers and stop the engine before cleaning, repairing or inspecting the snow thrower. Wait until the auger/impeller comes to a complete stop. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
  • Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe, working condition. The natural vibration of the machine can cause them to loosen throughout the winter. Also, visually inspect the machine for any damage.
  • Do not change the engine's governor setting or over-speed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
  • Check all components frequently and replace with the original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts only. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to wear and damage and proper inspection and repair can keep you safe while operating the machine. Use of parts which do not meet the OEM's specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety.
  • Verify control levers periodically to ensure they engage and disengage properly and adjust if necessary.
  • Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary to ensure anyone operating the machine follows proper procedure.
  • Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.
  • Check the fuel line, tank, cap and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if necessary.
  • Do not crank the engine with the spark plug removed.

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maintenance SNOW TIPS
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SNOW THROWER FOR WINTER USE

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SNOW THROWER FOR WINTER USE

Leanne Schmid

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SNOW THROWER FOR WINTER USE

Whether you're prepping your trusty 2X two-stage snow thrower for yet another winter, or getting your new 3X three-stage snow thrower ready to face its first blizzard, these snow thrower maintenance tips can help ensure you're prepared for cold and stormy weather this winter.

Make sure all your parts are moving smoothly, but also make sure you tighten up the nuts and bolts that may have been shaken loose by use last season.

STEP 1 - CHANGE THE OIL ON YOUR SNOW THROWER.

This should also be done after the first five hours of use this winter and after every subsequent season.

STEP 2 - INSTALL A NEW SPARK PLUG IF NECESSARY.

Check your spark plug at the start of every season. It it has become dirty, it may just need cleaning. However, rust and corrosion on your snow thrower's spark plug will call for replacement.

STEP 3 - INSPECT BELTS FOR WEAR. REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

It's wise to keep a few snow thrower belts on hand in your garage or shed so you can make replacements quickly when necessary. You can check out the top-selling belts from Cub Cadet to find what you need for your model. Any significant wear and tear merits replacement to avoid the danger and frustration of a belt breaking during use.

STEP 4 - DRAIN THE GAS TANK AND REPLACE WITH FRESH FUEL.

Make sure your fuel includes stabilizer so it stays fresh even if you have a few mild weeks during the winter and don't need to run your snow thrower.

STEP 5 - LUBRICATE THE DRIVE AND CHASSIS.

Make sure all your parts are moving smoothly, but also make sure you tighten up the nuts and bolts that may have been shaken loose by use last season. 

After you've prepared your snow thrower for winter, start it up and let it run for a few minutes in a well-ventilated area just to be certain there are no surprises when it storms. Consider starting it every so often if it sits for an extended period of time

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maintenance SNOW

SNOW THROWER FAQ's

Leanne Schmid

Here we answer some common questions regarding Cub Cadet snow throwers...

1. 

PROBLEM
What is the proper fuel and oil mixture for a 2-cycle engine on a single-stage snow thrower?
SOLUTION

Our two-cycle snow throwers use a 50:1 ratio of gasoline to 2-cycle oil.
A 50:1 ratio is a mix consisting of 2.5 ounces of 2-cycle oil with 1 gallon of gasoline.

NOTE:  Always mix 2-cycle fuel oil and fuel in an approved gasoline safe container prior to filling the engine. Make sure to use a separate gas can for this 2-cycle fuel mixture and label it accordingly. Keep in mind that the fuel capacity of these engines normally is less than a gallon, therefore you will have to use this mixture for multiple fuel fills. Adding a fuel stabilizer will help to increase the shelf life of fuel.

2.

PROBLEM
How is the single-stage snow thrower shave plate adjusted?
SOLUTION

The shave plate adjustment on our single stage snow throwers can be made by first checking the shave plate to find how much adjustment is needed.  To do this, place snow thrower on a level surface.

Drawing auger, shave plate and wheels
Drawing that shows, the auger, shave plate and wheels.

Components on Unit
Components on an actual unit.

These components should all be touching the ground at the same time. If either the auger or wheels are not touching the ground, this means that the shave plate is adjusted too low and needs to be raised.  If the wheels and auger are both touching the ground and the shave plate is not, this means that the shave plate is too high, and needs to be lowered to meet the auger and wheel levels. The shave plate has four nuts and bolts that fasten it on. To make this adjustment, loosen these four fasteners and slide the shave plate up or down as needed.

3.

PROBLEM

How are the skid shoes on a multiple-stage snow thrower adjusted?

SOLUTION

Adjusting the "skid shoes" (a.k.a. "slide shoes" ) on a multiple-stage snow thrower allows you to select how close to the ground the unit will clear snow.

Smooth Surface Adjustment:
Note:  Something will be needed to support the auger housing during this adjustment (thin wood plank, cardboard, etc..) that is approximately 1/8" H x 20" W x 6"D. Make sure the width is slightly less than that of your snow thrower auger width. To properly support your unit for this adjustment, do not use anything that is unstable or unable to support the snow thrower.

  1. Place the supporting device below the center of the shave plate. This support should then elevate the sides of the auger housing slightly.
  2. Next loosen the hardware securing the skid shoes on both sides of the auger housing, slide both shoes until they are positioned even with the ground, then tighten the tighten the hardware and remove the support material.
  3. The shave plate should now be positioned just slightly above the ground with the shoes properly supporting the entire auger housing.

Irregular and Gravel Surface Adjustment:  
If you are clearing a surface that has an unusually irregular surface you should follow the instructions above, with the exception that you should use something thicker than 1/8 of an inch for support during the adjustment. The actual height needed will depend on the severity of the surface irregularities. 

4.

PROBLEM

How can the ground traction on a snow thrower be improved?

SOLUTION

To improve the traction on a snow thrower we have optional tire chains available for most tires. The tire size and/or the name ‘Snow Hog’ or 'X-Trac' should be molded into the side of the tire. Use the following chart to identify which chains fit the tires.

TIRE SIZE

SNOW HOG or X-TRAC

PART # FOR CHAIN SET

13 X 4.1

Yes

OEM-390-062

15 X 6

No

OEM-390-145

16 X 6.5

No

OEM-390-146

16 X 6.5

Yes

OEM-390-655

16 X 4.8

Yes

OEM-390-991
NOTE: All tire size measurements are in inches. NOTE: All chain sets above consist of 2 chains.

Tire chains installed on a snow thrower.
Tire chains installed on a snow thrower.

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2017 FAQ SNOW