August 5

How Do You Remove A Broken Shear Pin From A Snowblower


Snowblowers manage to remove thick layers of snow at an efficient speed of up to quite a few tons per hour.

That’s why I depend on this power tool entirely to keep my lawn well-maintained and pristine, even during the harshest of winters. Although I’ve been an ardent gardener for decades, I wasn’t well aware of the working mechanism of a snowblower from the get-go.

And honestly, it’s quite embarrassing to admit. In fact, I was quite stressed and confused when the shear pin of my snowblower broke for the first time. I had obviously overworked it, which caused it to break. This is something I know now, but unfortunately, I didn’t back then.

What’s more? I didn’t know how to remove the pin. Hence, I wasn’t able to replace it for a long time. But it was because of this that I started researching more about troubleshooting snowblowers, which included the topic of removing and replacing broken shear pins.

So, how do you remove a broken shear pin from a snowblower? Well, here is where you’ll find your answer.

Hi! I’m Stacy Smith. And today, I come forth with a brief guide to help you fix your overworked snowblower. With this, you’ll be learning how to replace broken shear pins within no time.

Without further ado, let’s begin.

Removing A Broken Shear Pin From A Snowblower

Before diving into my step-by-step guide on this topic, I’d like to throw some light on the function of a shear pin in a snowblower. For this, it’s important to know about its primary working mechanism.

Snowblowers come with augers that help you churn through the dense snow and ice. Now, in situations when the workload is too much for the auger to handle, shear pins break, protecting the engine from damage. In other words, the shear pin is a safety feature that disconnects the auger from the driveshaft when broken, preventing its rotation.

That being said, let’s now go through my step-by-step guide on how to remove a broken shear pin. I’ve also explained the steps involved in replacing the broken pins with new ones to help restart the snowblower. For best electric snowblower recommendations, check out our guide.

Step 1 - Disconnect The Plug Wire

First things first, I’d suggest going through the model’s instruction manual to find the spark plug’s location. Once you find it, disconnect the rubber spark plug boot by simply pulling the wire straight off the spark plug.

This prevents the snowblower from accidentally starting while you remove the shear pin. Hence, it is one of the most critical safety measures that needs to be taken before you begin with the removal procedure. So, make sure you don’t skip this step.

Step 2 - Locating The Broken Shear Pin

Next up, you’ll need to locate the shear pin before actually removing it. For this, lift the snowblower off the ground to take a look at the auger’s shaft. You may also place a wooden block under it for support.

As mentioned earlier, a shear pin connects the auger shaft and driveshaft. So, when broken, it will be located somewhere in this area.

Step 3 - Removing The Shear Pin

Once you locate the shear pin in the auger shaft, you can begin the task of removing it. However, if broken, there might be pieces of it lodged in the shear pin hole. You can remove the broken shards and parts using a hammer and nails. Make sure you clear the hole completely before making replacements, which brings me to the next step.

Step 4 - Finding A Replacement Shear Pin

As you already know, a shear pin is a safety feature that protects the engine in case you overwork the auger. Plus, it also connects the auger with the driveshaft. So, if you wish to restart your snowblower, finding a replacement for the broken pin is a must.

For this, I’d once again suggest that you refer to the snowblower’s instruction manual in order to find a suitable replacement of the correct size. You can then go to a local hardware store to find the desired pin.

Step 5 - Replacing The Broken Shear Pin

Once you find the suitable replacement pin, align it with the shear pin hole. Now, using a socket wrench and bolt nut, secure it into position. You may then reconnect the spark plug and turn on the snowblower engine for testing the operation of the auger. Also, ensure that the driveshaft and auger shaft rotate during operation.

Having said that, I’d like to inform you that this is an important step that needs to be done carefully. This is because improper installation of the new shear pin may damage the driveshaft and auger of the snowblower.

snow blower

Summing It Up

As I said, a shear pin is one of the most crucial safety features of a snowblower that protects its engine from damage unless the auger is overworked consistently. So, when it breaks, you’ll have to remove and then replace it if you wish to use the snowblower again.

The entire process may seem tedious, but trust me, it isn’t. All you need is my step-by-step guide and a few tools, including a hammer, nails, socket wrench, nut bolts, new shear pins, and your instruction manual. With this, I can assure you that you’ll be able to get your snowblower working again within no time.

However, troubleshooting heavy-duty power tools can be hazardous if proper safety measures are not taken. So, I request you to follow all the instructions and use the correct tools for this process. Also, only begin with the replacement if you’re confident enough to complete it. There’s no harm in seeking help if you feel that you may not be able to do it yourself.

On that note, I’ll take your leave. Till next time!


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