Some of the most common snow blower problems include plugged intakes and plugged discharge chutes. Other problems are slipping transmissions and tire slippage or loss of traction. One problem that plagues many snow blower owners is the difficulty starting the machine in the cold of winter. Another of the more common problems is difficulty seeing, as the snow sometimes has a tendency to blow back into the operator's face. Other operator problems come in the form of fatigue and slipping while walking behind the machine.
A snow blower is a machine used for removing snow from a sidewalk, driveway or other surface. One of the most common snow blower problems is the plugging of the snow intake. Typically fitted with a horizontal auger, the snow is pulled into the second stage blower device, where it is the blown up and out of the machine. Snow, especially wet and heavy snow, can occasionally become plugged in the intake, rendering the machine useless. The operator must turn the engine off and dig the snow out of the front of the machine until the mechanism is clear and free once again.
Closely linked to the plugging of the intake area of the machine is another of the more common snow blower problems, a plugged discharge chute. The discharge chute is the banana-shaped device used to guide the snow up and out of the machine. As the snow is brought into the blower device of the machine, paddles that are spun by the engine throw the snow up into the discharge chute, where it is directed by the operator towards a direction that will not be in the way. Wet snow often builds up in the chute and creates a blockage, which must be removed by the operator for the machine to be used.
The typical fix for the plugged chute is to use a small pole or shovel and poke the snow down and out of the chute. Spinning tires are another of the more common snow blower problems. The easiest fix for this is the application of tire chains, which can give the tires additional traction and drive the snow blower ahead into the snow. Starting the engine of the machine is also one of the more common of all snow blower problems. The typical fix for this is to add an electrical starter onto the machine to do away with pulling a starter rope in sub-zero temperatures.