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

I ran into a problem while giving my snowblower a real workout here in MA.    After about an hour or so   the 1st gear and slow reverse lost most power  .the wheels would barely move!.   If I used any other of the 5 gears they worked fine  also fast reverse worked OK. 

the snowblower is a 1980 yardman with the 5hp tecumseh snowking.    it uses a friction disc type drive sytem. 

thanks for your help

friction disc on your machine has about 3/16 inch of rubber on a steel ring.

if worn to less than 1/8 performance will suffer.

a quick check is to put it in the gear it slips in and then squeeze the engagement lever ,if it dosent move then try giving the cable that the lever operates a little tug while the lever is depressed.

if the machine moves then you may just have to adjust it.

on your machine i beleive there is a spring at the bottom of the cable.you will have to remove the cable from the lever at the top then slide the cable back through the spring and there will be an adjustment nut inside the spring on the cable.just go a turn or 2 at a time.you dont want to over do it or you will wear out the friction wheel to soon.

later chris

I would have to agree with them. Your disk is either wet, or ben worn, or is already worn out.