What's wrong with this picture? (Simplicity snowthrower)

17 years ago

I have an 8.5HP Simplicity snow thrower. On Wednesday, toward the end of the big storm here in NH, I cleared the snow from my driveway, figuring doing it then would just leave me with a few inches later. The next morning, I brought out the Simplicity again, but it bogged down and refused to cut through those few inches of frozen snow.

Then, on Thursday night, I see my neighbor -- who hadn't yet touched his driveway and had a foot of snow to deal with -- pull out his tiny little snowblower (and I mean tiny) and clear his entire driveway with no problem. What am I missing here? Why can't this Simplicity cut through the ice? Am I doing something wrong? Any opinions much appreciated...

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Comments (10)

grivera
17 years ago
Is there ice lodged in the auger/chute?
greendemon
Original Author
17 years ago
I wish I could say it was, but it's all clear.
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jimc_vt
17 years ago
I little more descripition is needed here....did the motor stall and die??? or did the motor just slow down??? Are the belts good and tight so they do not slip under a load ??? Were you trying to go to fast ???
I just started an ole sears 6hp on the side of the house I'm selling and it ate it's way thru 2' of snow without any issues ....I think your simplicity may need a tune-up or at least a good looking over to see what the issue(s) are....
Good Luck Jim
johndeere
17 years ago
I would check to make sure you do not have a shear pin broke.Could be one of the cross augers has one sheared?Could also be that they apear to be turning while not under load in snow.But when it gets in snow it stops?

What could have caused it is it froze when you put it away.Then when you engaged it thats when it could have snaped?

Also it could have a chunk of ice lodged in the discharge you can not see?

Could also be your belt needs tightening or it got water soaked if snow melted and ran down into the belt pulley cover?

I have a Simplicity 1180E 11HP 32'' I tightened my belt just a little.Did not show any sighns of needing it.But I noticed the engadgement level worked slightly easier then originally.Not sure about your model.But its a quick easy tweak just a few turns on the linkage turnbuckle.

I do not have a heated area.If it gets above freezing and snow melts a little on the snowblower then freezes.This can cause a problem.I blow mine off as best I can when done.Or if the sun comes out enouph to melt it off.I let it melt and then blow the water away best I can.When it goes below freezing and I need to use it.I check to make sure the impeller and cross augers turn slightly before starting.Just to make sure its not froze up.Water could freeze in the impeller housing very easily.
krislu2003
17 years ago
Greendemon- What you don't realize is Snowblowers will not cut thru ice/frozen snow. Your neighbors tiny machine won't cut thru what you were trying to move either. He was going thru snow not ice, you were trying to go thru ice. Your machine is fine and does not need a tune up. If you had waited like he did your machine would have cut right thru it too. - Kris
greendemon
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks all for your responses. There was indeed some ice lodged in the discharge behind the auger. I managed to get it out, but still was unable to remove the remaining snow/ice combo, which is packed down at this point.

I disagree with krislu2003's comment, however. My neighbor's tiny machine did indeed cut through both ice and snow -- he removed it at 9 p.m. at night, when everything was certainly frozen. The thing just powered right through it. I think part of the problem is that the snow on my side is packed and the Simplicity is just not heavy enough to cut down in at this point.

BTW, johndeere, that's a good idea about ensuring the impeller and augers move before starting.
krislu2003
17 years ago
Greendemon- You just diagnosed your own query. The difference is your side was packed down and his wasn't. His machine wouldn't have cleared your side either. - Kris
baymee
17 years ago
If you had conditions like we had in eastern PA, your remaining snow would have been a solid 4" thick brick of ice on Thursday morning.
krislu2003
17 years ago
I didn't have snow at all. It was all ice. Saturday it warmed up and I was able to use my plow to clear it forget a snowblower. - Kris
old_man
17 years ago
I have an older Simplicity snow blower maybe 12-13 years old, 8HP I think. It is a beast - after I finished with it I lent it to my neighbors. The only problem I ever had was with the shear pin (key?) inside the pully case. Since the pulley case is welded it tool lots of work to fix every time it broke. I finally drilled a hole and through bolted it. Never had a problem since. Great machine. Really throws the snow.

What's wrong with this picture? (Simplicity snowthrower)

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grivera

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What's wrong with this picture? (Simplicity snowthrower)

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