There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from using a snowblower, watching it effortlessly clear a path through a heavy blanket of snow. But that feeling can quickly turn to frustration when the machine is only tossing the snow a few feet, creating a messy, slushy pile that you’ll just have to deal with again later. If you find yourself asking how to make your snowblower throw snow farther, you’re not alone. It’s a common issue with a set of practical solutions that can restore your machine’s power and your winter peace of mind.
The good news is that a snowblower’s throwing distance isn’t just a matter of raw engine power. It’s a symphony of several key components working in perfect harmony. By focusing on a few specific areas, from simple maintenance to minor adjustments, you can often achieve a significant improvement without a major investment. This guide on How to Make My Snowblower Throw Snow Farther – Practical Tips will walk you through the most effective strategies to get your machine performing at its best.
Start with a Clean Machine: The Foundation of Power
Before you adjust a single bolt, the very first place to look is the impeller and chute. Over time, snow, especially wet, heavy snow, can build up and freeze inside the auger housing. This ice acts like a brake, preventing the impeller from spinning at its full, designed speed. A slow impeller means weak throwing power.
Always make sure the auger housing and the impeller blades are completely clear of any packed-in snow or ice before you start. A quick check and a scrape with a sturdy stick or plastic tool (never your hands!) can make a world of difference. Keeping these components clean during use is also helpful; periodically running the machine for a few seconds after you’ve finished a pass can help fling out any residual, sticky snow.
Mastering the Art of the Shear Pins
Your snowblower’s auger and impeller are connected to their driveshafts by small, inexpensive parts called shear pins or bolts. These are designed to be the weakest link, snapping if the auger hits a solid object like a rock or a curb. This protects the more expensive internal gears from catastrophic damage.
It is absolutely critical that these pins are in good condition and properly secured. A missing or broken shear pin will mean that part of your auger or the entire impeller won’t spin at all, drastically reducing or completely halting snow throwing. If your machine isn’t throwing well, inspect the shear pins. If one is sheared, replace it immediately with an exact manufacturer-approved replacement. A loose pin can also cause a loss of efficiency, so ensure they are tight.
Fine-Tuning Your Auger and Skid Shoes
The height at which your snowblower sits directly impacts its performance. Most models have adjustable skid shoes on the sides. If these are worn down or set too low, the scraper bar on the bottom of the housing will dig into the pavement or gravel, creating immense drag and making it harder for the machine to move and process snow efficiently.
For paved surfaces, you generally want the skid shoes adjusted so there’s about a 1/4-inch gap between the scraper bar and the ground. This allows for efficient clearing without catching on every little imperfection. On gravel or uneven surfaces, you may need to set them a bit higher to avoid picking up stones. Less drag means more of the engine’s power is directed toward spinning the auger and impeller, resulting in better throwing distance.
How to Make My Snowblower Throw Snow Farther – Practical Tips for the Impeller
The impeller is the fan-like component at the center of the machine that is responsible for grabbing the snow from the auger and literally throwing it out of the chute. For it to work effectively, it needs to create a tight seal within its housing. Over years of use, the rubber paddles on a two-stage blower can become worn, cracked, or brittle.
Inspect your impeller paddles. If they are worn down significantly or missing chunks, they cannot move the snow effectively. Replacing worn impeller paddles is one of the single most effective upgrades for improving throwing distance. It’s a relatively simple and inexpensive repair that restores the crucial “grab and fling” action that your machine was designed for.
The Role of Engine Speed and Technique
Your snowblower is designed to operate at its full, wide-open throttle. Running the engine at a slower speed reduces the RPMs of both the auger and the impeller, directly leading to poor performance. Always run the engine at its maximum governed speed when clearing snow.
Your technique also matters. Trying to take too deep a cut, especially in wet, heavy snow, can overwhelm the machine. Slowing your forward pace allows the snowblower to process the snow more efficiently, giving the impeller time to grab and throw the snow rather than letting it bog down and clog. Sometimes, taking a half-width pass is more effective and faster in the long run than struggling with a full-width cut.
A Few Final Checks for Maximum Performance
Don’t overlook the simple things. A fresh spark plug and clean air filter ensure your engine is breathing and firing properly, delivering its full power potential. Also, always use fresh, stabilized fuel. Old, stale gasoline can cause the engine to run poorly, lacking the power needed for tough snow removal tasks.
Finally, if you have a two-stage blower, make sure the drive control is fully engaged. If the wheels aren’t getting power, you’re pushing the machine, which adds strain and slows down your progress, indirectly affecting how well the impeller can do its job.
By giving your snowblower a little attention and care, you can dramatically improve its snow-throwing capabilities. The key takeaways are simple: keep it clean, ensure all parts are intact and secure, adjust the height for the surface, and don’t be afraid to replace worn components like impeller paddles. With these practical tips, you can stop fighting with your machine and start clearing your driveway with confidence and efficiency.