I have one comment, Dony is the hardest small repair mechanic I know. Always a pleasure to watch a real professional mechanic at work. An excellent advice video Dony.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
As always, excellent advice. In addition to holding down the auger lever for a few seconds before putting my snowblower away, I bounce the front of the machine a few times to help dislodge any caked snow, and I visually check the impeller housing to ensure it's clear. And because I'm a belt and braces type of guy (pun intended), I keep a spare auger belt on hand. I don't want to be driving around in the middle of a snow storm trying to find a replacement.
I do what you do too, plus I take any and all snow out of the chute that may be stuck and possibly fall down into the impeller area during the days after..
My 16-year old grandson got his driver’s license Tuesday. I try to feed him driving tips. Back in the day, we never set our parking brake in slushy weather! Don’t know if it still applies with today’s car?
The best thing I ever did for my snowblower and vehicles was to insulate and heat my garage. 🤗 I started with a simple gas unit heater but when I upgraded my house furnace & a/c to high efficiency back in 2006 the old system was moved to the garage. I seldom use the a/c but we heat the garage to around 60-64 Fahrenheit. My garage has been heated for 34 years now. I can only guess how many repairs have been completely avoided but I'd guess it has saved us thousands of dollars over the last 34 years. Plus, it's much more comfortable working in a controlled climate. If you live north of the Mason-Dixon line I highly recommend a fully insulated and heated garage/shop! You'll soon wonder how you ever got by without it. 🥶
As you said, when I am done using my snowblower I always run the the auger for 10 or seconds to make sure the auger and impeller are clear of snow. I also visually check to make sure they are clear. Before I got my Ariens Deluxe 24" I used snowblower impeller kits to make sure wet snow would clear properly and not accumulate at the bottom of the impeller housing.
Super information! This will probably happen here where I live in the middle of Sweden because of the temperature this winter is really up and down. From a day to another. More than ever before what I can remember. One day it is plus 7 degree celsius and then the next day it is minus 20 and on top of that heavy snowfall with lots of wind. Thanks for sharing Dony! Take care!
Great video Donny. Watching from the UK, we don’t suffer with 6’ snow so we don’t use snow blowers here like you guys do. Have you thought of putting a lit tea candle (small) under a terracotta plant pot near the impeller to raise the temperature in that area to prevent freezing. The candles last for several hours and burn with a small flame. The terracotta pot shields the flame and also radiates heat. I see several comments say they put snow blower in a heated garage. Keep it up. 🇬🇧🚜👍
I've been working on and fixing small engines for 50+ years but watch every video that you produce. Seldom do I watch one that I don't learn something. It's incredible to me how you run the one man shop that you do and still have time to make RUclips videos. Keep up the fantastic work and I'll be following your channel until you quit making videos.👍👍👍
Great video, Don! I brush my machine clean as best I can and then it sits in my unheated garage with a small electric space heater in front of the intake for 60-90 minutes. The slow heat works great and will leave it clean. For about $20 you can get a cheap heater that will do wonders for the health of your snowblower. Keep kicking butt, Don! I love this channel. 💪🏼
Great video Don. Never thought about using a torch or heat gun to remove ice from auger. I have a detached garage with no heat. Cleaning snow out after use is key to next time operation.
I can't wait until I get a new machine. With all the tips I've learned on this channel, I can avoid all the mistakes I've made over the years with my current blower
Thank you for the tip. Getting ready to replace both my belts. Got my propane heater out. To start melting the snow off it when done using for that time period.
I know a lot of small engine mechanics tune in to this channel. Once again, Donyboy is not only helping the passionate homeowner, but also giving us a script on how to train the homeowner (if we have a small repair business). Sometimes as mechanics we can do the repairs but forget to communicate to customers what they can do or watch out for (i.e. STOP!!) when operating powered equipment. You rarely see this in other repair channels.
Excellent ! Figured out how to change the auger belt on my Ariens WITHOUT taking the two parts apart by squeezing the belt under the inside assembly. It was kind of fussy but did the job easy. Thanks for the pro tip. ✔✔
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.. Thanks for all the informative information. I do all my small engine repairs from watching your channel.. God Bless you and your wife.. keep up the amazing job..
Thanks, Dony! I'd love to see a video of "how to replace a belt for beginners" on the Tecumseh engined snow blower you had there, seems to be the most common type.
Hi Don. Thanks very much for your videos. They are such a great resource. Can you recommend the best place to buy parts? I need a new electric chute control for my Troy Bilt snowblower and it's a lot of money. Thanks in advance. All the best.
I always clean my Honda machine throughly when I am finished and I always make sure that one of the auger blades is NOT at the 6 o’clock position. I leave the two sauger blades at the bottom at the 4 and 8 o’clock position. I have the best luck with doing this every time. And yes I store my machine in an unheated shed. I live in Bracebridge and we have received many different types of snow this season.
I always try to clear my augers after each use. Another thing I do is spray the auger and chute with WD at the beginning of the season and frequently during the season. I feel it does help.
Another excellent video. I am fortunate to keep my snow blower in a garage but i run the augers before putting it away and blow out the impeller with my leaf blower. All the best for 2025 Don and keep the videos coming.
When I'm done blowing snow if there's any snow or slush in that area, I sit a 1500 watt space heater facing the the auger and let it run a few hours.This particular space heater has a fan so will pretty quickly melt and vaporize any snow or ice. This in an unheated garage.
This wouldn't do your sheave any good either...great way to wear it out prematurely. I have a Berco snowblower mounted on my Craftsman lawn tractor. When I'm done blowing I clean out the mouth and chute with the 'shovel' that came with it...then as you said run the blower to make sure I clear the impeller housing. When I park it(afterI shut down the engine) I manually turn the auger until the impeller blades are off centre at the bottom of the housing, just in case water gathers and freezes. Then next time I go to blow snow I manually turn the auger to make sure everything turns freely, before I even start the mower. It only took me not doing it once and butning up a brand new belt for the very reason your video is about...lol. I trust you and your family will have a Happy Christmas Dony. Cheers from NB
I picked up a news paper that was covered by snow and had to stop and clear everything out of the snowblower , pain in the butt,Keep up the great videos.God bless.
Good vid. My garage isn't heated however, I have a small electric heater with a blower that I set in front of the snowblower for an hour or so which melts all the caked snow and ice. I also make sure I run the auger before I stow it then turn on the heater. Another reason people have snapped belts and ruined augers is they replace the shear pins with threaded bolts which is a no-no. Thanks for the vid from northeastern Vermont.
I also have a non-heated garage. I don't have a small heater so I use an industrial work light with a 500W halogen bulb. I place it near the auger/impeller to melt snow/slush/ice.
Dony I find I find I get my blower in the garage with door closed although no heat it usually thaws. But I did have my impeller freeze before...You hear it not spin when you pull that auger lever. Love the tips....Hair dryer.....never thought of that one.
Back in my youth our old Gilson would freeze up like that in the unheated garage. I shoved a broom handle down the chute and gave the impeller a few whacks and that has worked.
I think I'm just gonna leave a small space heater outside on a timer. Set it up in the intake chute for 15min or so right after use to melt away any buildup.
In my experience, it takes longer (more like an hour, depending on heater size) but this is definitely the way to go. It's easy to do and it will make your intake clean and ready to go for next time.
G day Don "If it's not turning it's burning" Yes mine does that some time take hot water& pour it on Ths Merry Christmas & healthy happy new yr to u & urs
I tip the front (augers) upwards by placing a small piece of 2x4 under it, and if iced over just pour hot water over the impellor....there is a hole at the bottom where the impellor is for water to drain...works every time...
Thanks for sharing, Don. I was recommended to get a small propane heater and use that to melt/dry out the auger after each use and to coat with WD40 or Fluid Film afterwards so if anything did happen to freeze up it'd come off easy. Any thoughts on that?
The sun usually comes out after a storm, aim you auger housing towards the Sun to help melt it out AFTER you clear as much out as possible. If no Sun use the heat gun, torch or hair drier.
I park my blower with the wheels on a 2x8 so it slopes forward. When all that slush in the chute melts off and runs down into the impeller housing, it flows out the front rather than freezing solid on the bottom of the impeller housing (yes, there's a weep hole, and yes, it's useless). I also clean the chute with a brush, but that only gets so much.
Would the rubber sweeps for the impellers help to keep them from freezing? The first thing I do before starting my blower or my neighbors is to make sure that those augers and impeller are moving. Doesn't matter how clean I get them after I'm done, the augers always freeze.
I use a leaf blower on my 1977 Ariens to get rid of snow and water when I put it away. This way everything turns and nothing to freeze it up. No primer on this machine, so blowing it of prevents choke from freezing to heater box as well.
I once had to fix one with the shreded belt, but it wasn't ice build-up on the impeller. It was a rock jammed in between the auger and the shroud. I had to beat it out with a hammer it was jammed in there so tight. This young lady had a concrete driveway, so the only way I could figure the snowplow had to deposit that rock. Wierd things happen!
I would think that’s because they stalled the auger / impeller….maybe blocked it with ice. I’ve never had that happen, because my John Deere snow blowers were chain driven around sprockets. The belt did drive the whole thing off engine PTO, but I’ve never had that happen. Also, my Craftsman walk behind hasn’t broken a belt, but I’ve always kept them inside. -i’m sure that has a lot to do with it.
I find a prybar works best and quickest to hammer ice/frozen snow out of the impeller. A torch or heat gun taked forever to melt the ice. Some people also need to consider where they parl their machines. I know blowing snow can do the same thing
Hi Don Just wondering how you are handling our wonderful Ethanol fuel here in Canada. I will have to try and visit your shop sometime. Down the road in Midland, Bill Wishing you and all family a Merry Christmas
Never happened since I put rubber bands on impeller BUT a bunch of snow melt in when the machine come back in garage n produce water n rust in cylinder bottom, can I do a hole in to exit water from ???
every time I'm done using my blower and put it away, I put a portable heater in front facing the augers and run it for 15 minutes to melt all the snow/ice.
Every time after I use the blower I bring it into the garage and put an small heater in front of the auger and put it on small blocks so the water will run off . Then after it's un melted I just turned off the heater.
I found out that you can’t go in and warm up your hands, have a cup of coffee, use the restroom, and chat with the boss while the machine is running and not cussing myself out afterwards because the drive belt has cooked itself 😢. No heated shop then, of course it’s cold and I can’t work with gloves on doing somewhat critical work. They aren’t built for that and I grew up in the desert so snowblower ritual was not I my vocabulary. Buy two and you will remember not to use the second one 😂
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I have one comment, Dony is the hardest small repair mechanic I know. Always a pleasure to watch a real professional mechanic at work. An excellent advice video Dony.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
How many do you know?
As always, excellent advice. In addition to holding down the auger lever for a few seconds before putting my snowblower away, I bounce the front of the machine a few times to help dislodge any caked snow, and I visually check the impeller housing to ensure it's clear. And because I'm a belt and braces type of guy (pun intended), I keep a spare auger belt on hand. I don't want to be driving around in the middle of a snow storm trying to find a replacement.
Great tips! You may also want to try blowing things out with compressed air. I have a vornado air gun that works really well for clearing snow.
I do what you do too, plus I take any and all snow out of the chute that may be stuck and possibly fall down into the impeller area during the days after..
My 16-year old grandson got his driver’s license Tuesday. I try to feed him driving tips. Back in the day, we never set our parking brake in slushy weather! Don’t know if it still applies with today’s car?
Another excellent video which saves us repair costs! Such good advice from Dony here!!
The best thing I ever did for my snowblower and vehicles was to insulate and heat my garage. 🤗
I started with a simple gas unit heater but when I upgraded my house furnace & a/c to high efficiency back in 2006 the old system was moved to the garage. I seldom use the a/c but we heat the garage to around 60-64 Fahrenheit. My garage has been heated for 34 years now. I can only guess how many repairs have been completely avoided but I'd guess it has saved us thousands of dollars over the last 34 years. Plus, it's much more comfortable working in a controlled climate.
If you live north of the Mason-Dixon line I highly recommend a fully insulated and heated garage/shop! You'll soon wonder how you ever got by without it. 🥶
You're a smart man!
I just bought my 1st snowblower. You just saved me from having to buy a belt. Terrific video.
As you said, when I am done using my snowblower I always run the the auger for 10 or seconds to make sure the auger and impeller are clear of snow. I also visually check to make sure they are clear. Before I got my Ariens Deluxe 24" I used snowblower impeller kits to make sure wet snow would clear properly and not accumulate at the bottom of the impeller housing.
Super information! This will probably happen here where I live in the middle of Sweden because of the temperature this winter is really up and down. From a day to another. More than ever before what I can remember. One day it is plus 7 degree celsius and then the next day it is minus 20 and on top of that heavy snowfall with lots of wind.
Thanks for sharing Dony!
Take care!
Same here in Østlandet too. And a new auger belt costs 900 nok these days.
Thanks Don. What about using sprays in the impeller area to prevent freeze ups? Any options??
Great video Donny. Watching from the UK, we don’t suffer with 6’ snow so we don’t use snow blowers here like you guys do. Have you thought of putting a lit tea candle (small) under a terracotta plant pot near the impeller to raise the temperature in that area to prevent freezing. The candles last for several hours and burn with a small flame. The terracotta pot shields the flame and also radiates heat. I see several comments say they put snow blower in a heated garage. Keep it up. 🇬🇧🚜👍
I've been working on and fixing small engines for 50+ years but watch every video that you produce. Seldom do I watch one that I don't learn something. It's incredible to me how you run the one man shop that you do and still have time to make RUclips videos. Keep up the fantastic work and I'll be following your channel until you quit making videos.👍👍👍
Great video, Don! I brush my machine clean as best I can and then it sits in my unheated garage with a small electric space heater in front of the intake for 60-90 minutes. The slow heat works great and will leave it clean. For about $20 you can get a cheap heater that will do wonders for the health of your snowblower. Keep kicking butt, Don! I love this channel. 💪🏼
Great video Don. Never thought about using a torch or heat gun to remove ice from auger. I have a detached garage with no heat. Cleaning snow out after use is key to next time operation.
I can't wait until I get a new machine. With all the tips I've learned on this channel, I can avoid all the mistakes I've made over the years with my current blower
Thank you for the tip. Getting ready to replace both my belts. Got my propane heater out. To start melting the snow off it when done using for that time period.
I know a lot of small engine mechanics tune in to this channel. Once again, Donyboy is not only helping the passionate homeowner, but also giving us a script on how to train the homeowner (if we have a small repair business). Sometimes as mechanics we can do the repairs but forget to communicate to customers what they can do or watch out for (i.e. STOP!!) when operating powered equipment. You rarely see this in other repair channels.
Excellent ! Figured out how to change the auger belt on my Ariens WITHOUT taking the two parts apart by squeezing the belt under the inside assembly. It was kind of fussy but did the job easy. Thanks for the pro tip. ✔✔
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.. Thanks for all the informative information. I do all my small engine repairs from watching your channel.. God Bless you and your wife.. keep up the amazing job..
Nice job D. Always something to learn here.
Spring is right around the corner I’m told!
Thanks, Dony! I'd love to see a video of "how to replace a belt for beginners" on the Tecumseh engined snow blower you had there, seems to be the most common type.
Thank you for your videos. Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you for your strong knowledge.
Hi Don. Thanks very much for your videos. They are such a great resource. Can you recommend the best place to buy parts? I need a new electric chute control for my Troy Bilt snowblower and it's a lot of money. Thanks in advance. All the best.
I always clean my Honda machine throughly when I am finished and I always make sure that one of the auger blades is NOT at the 6 o’clock position. I leave the two sauger blades at the bottom at the 4 and 8 o’clock position. I have the best luck with doing this every time. And yes I store my machine in an unheated shed. I live in Bracebridge and we have received many different types of snow this season.
I always try to clear my augers after each use. Another thing I do is spray the auger and chute with WD at the beginning of the season and frequently during the season. I feel it does help.
Another excellent video. I am fortunate to keep my snow blower in a garage but i run the augers before putting it away and blow out the impeller with my leaf blower. All the best for 2025 Don and keep the videos coming.
Donny once again you helped many of us guys. Merry Christmas my friend. The best to you and your family
When I'm done blowing snow if there's any snow or slush in that area, I sit a 1500 watt space heater facing the the auger and let it run a few hours.This particular space heater has a fan so will pretty quickly melt and vaporize any snow or ice. This in an unheated garage.
⬆️ This is the way
Thanks Don!! Fantastic advice and content. I really appreciate you taking the time to give us these great tips.
This wouldn't do your sheave any good either...great way to wear it out prematurely.
I have a Berco snowblower mounted on my Craftsman lawn tractor. When I'm done blowing I clean out the mouth and chute with the 'shovel' that came with it...then as you said run the blower to make sure I clear the impeller housing. When I park it(afterI shut down the engine) I manually turn the auger until the impeller blades are off centre at the bottom of the housing, just in case water gathers and freezes. Then next time I go to blow snow I manually turn the auger to make sure everything turns freely, before I even start the mower. It only took me not doing it once and butning up a brand new belt for the very reason your video is about...lol.
I trust you and your family will have a Happy Christmas Dony.
Cheers from NB
I picked up a news paper that was covered by snow and had to stop and clear everything out of the snowblower , pain in the butt,Keep up the great videos.God bless.
Good vid. My garage isn't heated however, I have a small electric heater with a blower that I set in front of the snowblower for an hour or so which melts all the caked snow and ice. I also make sure I run the auger before I stow it then turn on the heater. Another reason people have snapped belts and ruined augers is they replace the shear pins with threaded bolts which is a no-no. Thanks for the vid from northeastern Vermont.
I also have a non-heated garage. I don't have a small heater so I use an industrial work light with a 500W halogen bulb. I place it near the auger/impeller to melt snow/slush/ice.
Dony I find I find I get my blower in the garage with door closed although no heat it usually thaws.
But I did have my impeller freeze before...You hear it not spin when you pull that auger lever.
Love the tips....Hair dryer.....never thought of that one.
Thank you, Dony. I'm new to snowblowers and I need to know this stuff.
Don, I always sweep the augur before I put the machine away. 😁
Back in my youth our old Gilson would freeze up like that in the unheated garage. I shoved a broom handle down the chute and gave the impeller a few whacks and that has worked.
Grest video Don i always spin the auger before i put mine away that works good ! Merry Christmas to you and your family Don !
I an happy that you are busy! We need to be needed!
When I would use my snowblower I would always make sure when I was done Let the Drum run out everything that's in there thank you for the video
I think I'm just gonna leave a small space heater outside on a timer. Set it up in the intake chute for 15min or so right after use to melt away any buildup.
In my experience, it takes longer (more like an hour, depending on heater size) but this is definitely the way to go. It's easy to do and it will make your intake clean and ready to go for next time.
I always before I start the snowblower is to hold the auger lever down an just pull the engine over to make sure the auger turns
G day Don "If it's not turning it's burning" Yes mine does that some time take hot water& pour it on
Ths Merry Christmas & healthy happy new yr to u & urs
Thx Don ! Always giving us great tips, thx buddy !!
I tip the front (augers) upwards by placing a small piece of 2x4 under it, and if iced over just pour hot water over the impellor....there is a hole at the bottom where the impellor is for water to drain...works every time...
Which auger belts do you recommend for Ariens snowblowers,?
Thanks again for the video. Happy holidays
Thanks for sharing, Don. I was recommended to get a small propane heater and use that to melt/dry out the auger after each use and to coat with WD40 or Fluid Film afterwards so if anything did happen to freeze up it'd come off easy. Any thoughts on that?
That should work
Hi Dony! Is it absolutely necessary to disassemble the auger from the machine?
To change the belt. Thanks.
Thanks for posting Dony
The sun usually comes out after a storm, aim you auger housing towards the Sun to help melt it out AFTER you clear as much out as possible. If no Sun use the heat gun, torch or hair drier.
I park my blower with the wheels on a 2x8 so it slopes forward. When all that slush in the chute melts off and runs down into the impeller housing, it flows out the front rather than freezing solid on the bottom of the impeller housing (yes, there's a weep hole, and yes, it's useless). I also clean the chute with a brush, but that only gets so much.
Would the rubber sweeps for the impellers help to keep them from freezing?
The first thing I do before starting my blower or my neighbors is to make sure that those augers and impeller are moving. Doesn't matter how clean I get them after I'm done, the augers always freeze.
I use a leaf blower on my 1977 Ariens to get rid of snow and water when I put it away. This way everything turns and nothing to freeze it up. No primer on this machine, so blowing it of prevents choke from freezing to heater box as well.
Y are the Man, great tips as always, Thanks Again!!😊
What is the advantage of a tracked snowblower versus a wheeled blower? Which is more dependable?
I once had to fix one with the shreded belt, but it wasn't ice build-up on the impeller. It was a rock jammed in between the auger and the shroud. I had to beat it out with a hammer it was jammed in there so tight. This young lady had a concrete driveway, so the only way I could figure the snowplow had to deposit that rock. Wierd things happen!
I would think that’s because they stalled the auger / impeller….maybe blocked it with ice.
I’ve never had that happen, because my John Deere snow blowers were chain driven around sprockets. The belt did drive the whole thing off engine PTO, but I’ve never had that happen.
Also, my Craftsman walk behind hasn’t broken a belt, but I’ve always kept them inside.
-i’m sure that has a lot to do with it.
I find a prybar works best and quickest to hammer ice/frozen snow out of the impeller. A torch or heat gun taked forever to melt the ice. Some people also need to consider where they parl their machines. I know blowing snow can do the same thing
Donyy saludos una consulta estimado qué me recomiendas comprar una motosierra Stihl ho echo para trabajar
Thanks
Hey, Donny... I wonder if you could just clear the machine and park it on a Heated Hog Mat in the Garage or Shed ? 🤔
Great video! Dony thanks!
Hi Don
Just wondering how you are handling our wonderful Ethanol fuel here in Canada.
I will have to try and visit your shop sometime.
Down the road in Midland, Bill
Wishing you and all family a Merry Christmas
Hi donyboy, would you recommend Yamaha snowblower? Not very common blower brand, is it?
thank you
Never happened since I put rubber bands on impeller BUT a bunch of snow melt in when the machine come back in garage n produce water n rust in cylinder bottom, can I do a hole in to exit water from ???
Great video Dony
What is the average cost for a shop to replace a belt
Thank you
I have a heated garage set st 60 deg. I haven't had the issue 😅
TY
Good job
A kerosene torpedo heater (or salamander) works great for that.
Have you ever done a video on how to replace this belt
Great video 😎
Thanks Don.. Did You see My comment on an Earlier Video ??
That is why I have HOT Water outside to wash stuff off. LOL....
every time I'm done using my blower and put it away, I put a portable heater in front facing the augers and run it for 15 minutes to melt all the snow/ice.
Every time after I use the blower I bring it into the garage and put an small heater in front of the auger and put it on small blocks so the water will run off . Then after it's un melted I just turned off the heater.
I also spray silicone after using the snow blower
More great tips.
...mmm OR you hit a Newspaper - rock or a small pet and it got stuck in the auger or impeller !
Not turning? Belt is burning! Magic smoke is proof. Got it!
It's a smoke screen for something sinister!
Thanks Donny!
Last resort Reed and understand the operating manual
Reed valve ?
@@ENZIO90 lol
Briggs belts likely on backorder
😁😆😅😂🤣🤣😌...😉👍
I found out that you can’t go in and warm up your hands, have a cup of coffee, use the restroom, and chat with the boss while the machine is running and not cussing myself out afterwards because the drive belt has cooked itself 😢. No heated shop then, of course it’s cold and I can’t work with gloves on doing somewhat critical work. They aren’t built for that and I grew up in the desert so snowblower ritual was not I my vocabulary. Buy two and you will remember not to use the second one 😂
👍👍
Common Sense is hard to find these days. Simply clean out all the snow when you finish the job. Stand it on end if necessary.
People should learn how to change their belts or they may be waiting for it in a shop during a snow storm.
Love how people ignore the squealing and smoke rolling out of it, to burn up a belt. Lol
I see a Honda next to this yellow 💩
👍🎅🎄
You sound like you are from Quebec… are you?
From Northern Ontario, I am bilingual
@ Ça explique tout! Merci pour tes excellents vidéos et bonne journée!
All common sense, maybe not common.😢
👍👍