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

I have a John Deere TRS22, 2 stage snowblower that I bought used for $20.  Thing looks brand new, engine runs perfect...but it won't blow a lick of snow.   I can engage a piece of snow, and it will "throw" (maybe 3' from the machine) for a max of 1 second, before the blower outlet clogs up.

The first time I ran it, (in nice, dry powder) I t wouldn't do squat, and I noticed that the blower impeller blades were bent back.   I think the P.O. used it as a rock crusher.  _just kidding, but it has seen some rocks go through it.  Anyway, I took it apart, and got the impeller back into shape quite nicely, put it back together last night and...same thing.  The machine simply will NOT move any snow!  It's freaking useless!  The blower (and auger) are spinning the 'beat the band" and the most that happens is when cleaned out, the thing spits about 1/2 half shovel scoop full and w/in 1 second, it's clogged again.  I don't "get it".

Any ideas of what the malfunction is?

-Tom

Is your impeller slipping on the shaft under load?  Check the pin that holds it to the shaft, it could be broken and friction makes it look good until it gets a load, then it slips.

Pins are good.  I confirmed that when I removed the impeller from the shaft to straighten it...then reinstalled it.

 I think that the problem is the clearance between the impeller blades and the blower housing.  The blower housing is all "pooched out" from it's "rock crushing" past.  There is 1/2" to 3/4" in places, clearance from the impeller to the pooched housing.  I guess that's it.

 

No matter now.  I ran it last night again in granular re-freeze...pretty easy blowing, I would say.  For the first time, it DIDN'T CLOG...but it could not "blow" more than 2' from the left tire.  Pathetic.  After that, I let it idle for a minute while I did the actual work of moving snow with my Honda, then shut the JD off and snow blow'ed my stairs w/the Honda too.  After that I went to restart the JD...and it wouldn't.  I pulled until I was heaving and sweaty, and finally, It started.  Reved up...then died.  That is good enough for me.  It is now residing in my scrap metal bin at work.  It wasn't worth the $20 I paid for it.  R.I.P.  TRS22.

Sounds like it worked the same as my Ariens 722 single stage.  Only I paid a lot more than $20 for the Ariens.