Simple instructions on how to change a snow blower belt

Snow blowers belong to the category of complex equipment consisting of numerous components. The basic elements are drive belts.

Their purpose is to transmit torque from the engine to the auger and wheels. Since they are constantly in contact with other nodes and are in motion, over time they become deformed or ruptured.

Read the article about the signs that indicate that the snow blower belts are worn out and how to change them.

How to understand that a replacement is needed?

The main sign indicating problems with the drive belt is is the lack of rotation of the screw. It simply will not receive torque from the engine.

If the belt is deformed or stretched, the auger will continue to rotate, but with periodic stops. Belt slippage will result in poor snow removal. In addition, it will constantly subside.

Malfunctions of the transmission belt of snow removal equipment:

1. Deformation. Most often it occurs due to overheating of parts when the machine works for a long time without stopping.
2. Stretching. This is caused by changing gears too often.
3. Drying. The reason may be failure to comply with storage conditions. If the machine is located next to heating devices or in direct sunlight, the drive will quickly lose its original elasticity and elasticity.
4. Gap. It occurs due to wear of a part or due to improper operation of the snow blower.

Preparation

Replacing belts involves dividing the snow blower into its component parts, so it is necessary to involve an assistant in the work.

When removing the auger body, it should stand on the operator's side and hold the machine by the handles. Otherwise, it may fall, which will cause injury to the worker and lead to breakdown of the equipment itself.

Before you begin replacing the belt, The following preparations must be made:

• roll the snow blower out into the fresh air;
• place it on a flat surface;
• drain the gasoline from the tank into a suitable container;
• prepare the tool - for work you will need a screwdriver and a screwdriver.

Even if only the auger belt is deformed, it must be replaced together with the belt going to the wheels.

How to get to the snow blower part?

To get to the belt, you will need to do the following:

1. Remove the snow discharge chute. To do this, loosen the nut securing its head, then lift it and disconnect the ejector channel from the snow blower.
2. Remove the cover that covers the belt drives.
3. Remove the engine pulley. It is secured with a bolt and washers.
4. The internal screw is removed only from the shaft.
5. Remove the bolts and washers that secure the auger body to the frame and dismantle it. After this, the assistant who held the snow blower by the handles can lower it to the ground.
6. Loosen the tension of the traction drive belt on the roller and remove the traction belt from the pulleys. To do this, the drive handle with a ratchet is inserted into a square hole in the roller lever and turned clockwise.

This will complete the removal of the old belt.

How to put on a new one?

To put on a new belt, operate as follows:

1. Install the drive belt onto the pulleys and inside the holder. In this case, the roller should remain weakened.
2. Wrap the auger drive belt around and push it inside the groove of the auger drive pulley.
3. They ask the assistant to slowly raise his hands. Connect the auger body to the frame and pull the auger drive belt.
4. Press on the sides around the pulley so that the belt fits completely into its groove.
5. Connect all parts of the snow blower.
6. Check the correct rotation of the pulley and the movement of the belts.
7. If the belt falls off and remains on the roller, you need to pull it again, squeezing the sides around the pulley with your hands. The belt should fit snugly into the groove.
8. Install bolts and washers. Check the reliability of their fixation.
9. The motor pulley is mounted by installing the belt in the pulley groove and putting it on the axle. Tighten washers and bolts.
10. Return the cover to its place and secure it with 2 screws.
11. Install a gutter and channel for snow discharge.

If unusual noise and vibrations occur, you need to eliminate the cause:

• turn off the equipment by turning off the engine;
• inspect the compartment with the belts for the presence of foreign objects - perhaps a washer was left there during repair work, or other debris got into it;
• adjust the screws that hold the shafts - when they are turned, the position of the shafts will change;
• if you turn the two left screws, the shafts will become closer to each other - a pair of screws located on the right, on the contrary, increase the distance between them;
• By tightening or loosening the belts, you can achieve stable operation of the equipment.

The video will show you how to change the snow blower belt:

Where and for how much to buy?

You can buy a belt in retail stores specializing in the sale of snow removal equipment and components. However, it is not always possible to find an original spare part.

You can use an analogue; no seller will guarantee that it will 100% correspond to the parameters of the snow blower model.

The cost depends on the manufacturer of the equipment:

• a belt for a KSM snow blower costs about 350 rubles;
• for snow blower Patriot – 1700 rubles;
• for snow blower Husqvarna – 4,300 rubles.

The cost of consumables should always be taken into account at the stage of choosing snow removal equipment.

Call the master

If you cannot cope with replacing the belt on your own, you need to contact a specialist. The cost of services depends on the region and the price list of the service center.

On average, prices for work are as follows:

1. Replacing the auger drive belt – 800 rubles.
2. Replacing a self-propelled belt – 700 rubles.

The price does not include the price of the part itself. It will have to be paid separately.

You can find a master in different ways:

1. Contact a private specialist. Contacts of such masters can be found on message boards on the Internet and in city public pages. They often distribute business cards through mailboxes and leave them in stores selling household appliances.
2. Contact the service center.As a rule, all large city workshops are well known to residents. Therefore, finding contacts is not difficult.
3. Take advantage of word of mouth. Perhaps one of your friends and acquaintances is repairing equipment. However, you can trust an expensive machine only to a person who has experience in handling snow blowers.

Although this way you can save on repairs. To protect yourself from unscrupulous specialists, you need to pay for the service only upon completion of it. Under no circumstances should you give your snow blower to unknown private technicians for repairs.

Conclusion

Replacing the belt on a snow blower is not a difficult task. The main thing is to follow the algorithm of actions and take your time when performing work. It’s good if you can involve an assistant in the repair who will support the unit while removing the main components.