Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have a Chieftain snowblower and haven't had any problems for a couple years. I just used it on Sunday with no problems til I was putting it away and a kids rubber basketball got sucked in and stopped the auger dead in it's tracks. I used a knife to puncture the ball and remove it, then put it in the shed. Well, I got it out today and it worked, a little groggy, for about 1 minute then stopped altogether. When depressing the auger lever, nothing turns. With the engine off, the blades do NOT rotate either.

Please help...I have 18" on the ground that I'd HATE to have to shovel!!!!!

Thanks,
Brian

Thanks for the info. It is a 2-stage. I went back out and tried again. Seems the snow is SO WET that it's clogging the chute. I was able to "get by" and get enough done to get the cars out. I did notice that it's not shooting the snow out the chute as it normally does. The majority comes out, but some of it just falls out instead of shooting. When this happens, I just stop the drivetrain and keep the auger running and it seemed to work.

What website did you go to? Thanks again for the help.

Google.

I typed in Chieftain snowblower in google, and one of the early links went to a thread on some other board asking about those blowers. Although they didn't sound any more knowledgeable than here.

At least you got the thing working for today. But it still sounds like something is broken. Even if the key is sheared off, there might be enough friction to spin the impeller at a low speed. But eventually it will wear down the shaft, and then you have a bigger problem. Take some time and check for the broken shear keys, or take it to a mechanic.

Good luck.

Here are the possible problems that I can think of in order of most likely to least:

1. Shear bolts attaching the augers ( the big things out front that scoop the snow inside) to the auger drive shaft have sheared due to an obstruction jamming up the augers. They're supposed to do this so the auger transmission doesn't break;
2. Loose auger belt, need to adjust the idler wheel, happens due to wear;
   
3. Worn/busted auger belt, need to replace it, I've had one mechanic tell me the belt is upposed to break if the impeller gets jammed. My experience is that the belt slips instead;
4. Auger system frozen up. If so heat it so it melts;
   
5. Sheared pulley key
6. Busted auger worm gear

Items 5 & 6 may be the other way round but both are unlikely since the first three are normal wear and tear and for 5 or 6 to happen the first three would have to not happen.

Since it started to work for you with possible dimished performance I would guess you have loose or worn auger belt. The busted keyway is possible but the belt is more likely especially since I have a hunch it hasn't been adjusted in a long while.