Imagine that you're in the middle of clearing snow when the augur gets stuck, but the engine continues to run.
It happened to me last year, but luckily I knew what to do in that situation. I quickly got my tools and replaced the shear pin on the snowblower. But for that, you first need to know ‘where is the shear pin on a snowblower located?’ and then replace it.
So, continue reading!
What Is A Shear Pin, And Where Is It Located?
Shear pins typically connect the auger to the auger shaft, and there are two of them which allow the augurs to rotate freely, scoop snow, and throw it from the chute. A two-stage snowblower has at least one pin on each gear case side.
These pins have specially designed grooves that allow them to snap if too much torque is applied. This, in turn, prevents damage to the augur shaft and gear case. If a snowblower didn’t have attached pins, gravels or stones in the collected snow could have damaged these parts, costing you hundreds of dollars in repairs and replacements.
Why Do You Need To Know The Location?
Snowblowers, whether one-stage or two-stage, can handle a lot of snow, but if they ingest any foreign particles, the shear pins can break, releasing the auger shaft from the auger.
So, to replace the broken pin with a new one, it’s essential to be aware of its location. At the same time, it’s important to check it for damages and replace it if required.
How To Know If The Shear Pins Are Broken?
The shear pins of your snowblower are broken if:
- The snowblower is pushing the snow rather than scooping it
- Snow builds on either side of the augur housing
When the shear pins break down, the auger doesn’t spin, but the shaft continues to do. And without a spinning auger, the snow isn’t scooped or thrown. As un-ingested snow starts depositing in front of your snowblower, the more resistance it’ll face, thereby halting the snow cleaning process.
If you suspect that the shear pins have broken down, remove the key, stop the engine and wait until all parts have stopped moving. When it’s safe, inspect the augers visually, and if there’s no visible nut or pin head but you can manually spin the auger, you have a broken shear pin.
How To Replace The Pins
A. Know The Size Of The Pin
Before you replace the existing pins, you should know what size shear pins are used in the snowblower.
These are generally available in three sizes: brass ¼-inch, black 5/16-inch, and silver 5/16-inch. Brass ¼-inch shear pins are most commonly used in entry-level, small snow blowers, while the black 5/16-inch and silver 5/16-inch pins are used in mid-level and professional-level snowblowers.
It’s always a good idea to have some spare pins handy in case something happens in the middle of your snow-removal process. Otherwise, you may have to start using a shovel to clear your driveway.
B. Use Wrenches
Wrenches are absolute must-haves if you own a snowblower. You can use them to easily fix minor issues in the machine even without professional help, thereby saving time and money.
First, make sure the wrenches you have fit the size of the shear pin. If they do, hold the pin with one wrench and turn it counterclockwise with the other one until it becomes loose enough to turn with your fingers. But if the pin is completely broken, take it out from both sides of the augur and replace it with a new one.
When installing new pins, use the same set of wrenches to turn the pins clockwise until it tightens up enough.
Final Words
That brings me to the end of today’s guide.
To prevent any foreign particles from entering the auger and, in turn, breaking down the shear pins, check the area to be cleared before bringing out the snowblower. And make sure you manually remove any objects like stones, pebbles, or twigs, which may get caught up between the augers and housing.
At the same time, maintaining the snowblower, especially after a heavy snow season, is key to its prolonged service life. I will see you again next time. Till then, goodbye and take care!