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michaellindst · Dec 28, 2006, 06:50 PM

Hand-me-down craftsman snow blower. Worked great last year and this year's first good storms. Halfway through last week's storm, lost blowing power. Runs good, but the snow gets blown a few feet at best, sometimes barely clearing the shoot. (Was blowing snow 20-30 feet before.)

Sears doesn't stock belt. Replaced belt at auto parts store. Didn't help. Replaced belt again, this time with a green extra sticky traction belt. Still not helping. Ordered Sears belt. Waiting. Based on the description, I think the Sears belt is going to come in LONGER than the one on it now, so I'm not hopeful.

Any suggestions? Snowing hard.

RichardBondMan · Dec 28, 2006, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by michaellindst

Hand-me-down craftsman snow blower. Worked great last year and this year's first good storms. Halfway through last week's storm, lost blowing power. Runs good, but the snow gets blown a few feet at best, sometimes barely clearing the shoot. (Was blowing snow 20-30 feet before.)

Sears doesn't stock belt. Replaced belt at auto parts store. Didn't help. Replaced belt again, this time with a green extra sticky traction belt. Still not helping. Ordered Sears belt. Waiting. Based on the description, I think the Sears belt is going to come in LONGER than the one on it now, so I'm not hopeful.

Any suggestions? Snowing hard.

I don't need snowblowers where I am in the deep deep South but it sounds like your engine is losing power, compression. Do some basic stuff like ck the plug - really don't think this is your problem but might be the air filter - gas good ? Might be old gas which is probably also not your problem since it probably would not have started at all. How about the age of the blower, maybe it's just getting old like some of us humans and is worn or about to wear out, loose compresssion, power.

michaellindst · Dec 28, 2006, 11:43 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but I doubt that's it. 1) The power loss came on suddenly (20 minutes or so) and 2) the motor seems to be running fine. It's not lugging at all. It's running good, sounds good. Wheel drive is strong. Just won't blow the snow.

gadget-queen · Mar 1, 2007, 10:25 PM

Wish I knew the answer- I am having same problem with a two-stage 5HP Ariens that is 5 years old and has not been used that much. Suddenly it just doesn't want to blow the snow but the engine sounds fine and everything else seems to be working well Good luck in finding an answer. :confused:

crok · Mar 21, 2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by michaellindst

Hand-me-down craftsman snow blower. Worked great last year and this year's first good storms. Halfway through last week's storm, lost blowing power. Runs good, but the snow gets blown a few feet at best, sometimes barely clearing the shoot. (Was blowing snow 20-30 feet before.)

Sears doesn't stock belt. Replaced belt at auto parts store. Didn't help. Replaced belt again, this time with a green extra sticky traction belt. Still not helping. Ordered Sears belt. Waiting. Based on the description, I think the Sears belt is going to come in LONGER than the one on it now, so I'm not hopeful.

Any suggestions? Snowing hard.

There is probably a shear pin on the impeller that is broken or possibly the augers.

mountainbiker18 · Nov 30, 2010, 02:24 PM

I have the same problem with a similar craftsman snowblower. Hand me down and everything, engine runs great, starts right up. But snow barely clears chute! Belt looks fine, still looks like it has a lot of life, the pulleys don't seem to be slipping but I wonder if they are. Have you solved the problem? Its been a few years haha