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

Hi, and I hate my snowthrower.

I have had auger belt issues for a long time, and now we have so much snow here that I have to use the snowthrower insteqd of the plow....so; HELP....PLEASE!!!!!

Had numerous issues  with the auger belt slipping....or so I thought. Replaced the belt and still slippage....so I made adjustments to the pulley mechanism....machine worked great for 5 minutes, then stopped throwing snow. I checked and the auger pulley had loosened. I tighened it, tried again, and it loosened within 2 minutes. I had torqued this to about 70 lbs!

Any suggestions on what is causing this pulley to loosen?  The parts diagram shows just a nut and washer, and the pulley is mounted on a spacer sleeve....nothing fancy here, but could the spacer be worn or perhqaps the auger just really needs to be torqued?

Thanks in advance!!

Have you tried using a lock washer?

Snowedin wrote:

Make this test now, remove your plug wire, remove the belt, try to turn the impeller by hand to see if its run freely? If not you probaly have gearcase problem or bushing at the auger shaft. If its turn freely check again for ajustment at the tension pulley.

Good Luck

Thanks for the replies so far.....

...the lock washer may be the solution, but I hate to add parts that were not there to begin with!

...to Denis, would a belt that is too tight cause the auger pulley to loosen?

Thanks! Keep those cards and letters coming! PS....100" of snow so far and more coming!

Hi,

Is this a single stage rubber paddle machine or a 2 stage machine?

Below applies to two stage. If it is a rubber paddle single stage, let me know and i have another thought.

Maybe this will help you. I have Murray/Craftsman that I think is the same or at least similar to  your Noma (not sure). If it's totally different, then ignore this. I'm assuming that when you say auger that it is the same as the impeller belt . That's also why I'm asking the single or two stage question.

Had mine apart last year thanks to my childs rock obsession. It has the spacer , washer and nut as you mentioned, but there is also a keyway in the pulley and shaft and a key that holds the pulley from rotating on the shaft. I suspect that your problem has to do with that key or keyway damaged, allowing the pulley to rotate. 

First a couple questions to clear up the impeller/auger question?

Is the impeller spinning and the augers not spinning? - then you likely have a shearpin or gearbox problem.

Is the belt pulley spinning but the impeller not spinning - then likely the keyway problem. 

Note augers is the helical things that  are in front of bucket. Impeller is the high speed second stage of you have a two stage.

If it is the key damaged, you'll likely need to split the machine to repair it,  but may be able to at least look for a keyway on the shaft if you just loosten the nut (forget exactly how far the keyway came out on the shaft). Also check parts diagram first)  If yours is the same, the shaft material is very soft steel. After removing the nut, if the pulley does not slide off easily, gently grind or file any burrs off that shaft keyway before applying any major force to the pulley to remove it. Otherwise you will bend the pulley trying to get it to come off.

Hope this helps

Ron

Ron; Thank your kids for me....there was NO key in my keyway....which kind of explains the issues I have had with this snowblower. Newey, new belt and bring it on!!!!!

Thanks!