MW snowblower froze up

[Donald]

My ancient MW snowblower froze up after leaving it outside overnight. I live near Albany. Cold these days. The engine started like a champ, and I could put it into gear, but when I went to engage the auger it would stall it. I took out a electric hear gun and melted snow I would in the middle and ends of the first stage and anywhere in the 2nd stage. I suspect it was the 2nd stage as there is more surface area for snow to stick from the auger to the shell.

Other ideas? I was latter thinking I should get a can of spray deicer and use it. The heat gun did take awhile.

Other heating choices might be MAPP torch, oxy/acetylene torch, carbon arc torch connected to Lincoln 225 welder.

 

[tmorris1]

Rent or borrow a Knipco type heater or get it inside of a heated garage. Its not rocket science.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Try some ice melt mixed in a hot water solution. Lean it back and pour it into the auger area. Let it pool around the secondary impeller. Then run it good to clear it out. Good luck.

 

[sluggo]

Same exact thing happened to my 25 year old Ariens unit. When on level ground, the second stage tunnel has a very slight slope towards the back of the blower. Snow had melted in the second stage tunnel, collected in the bottom of the tunnel, freezing the impeller solidly in place. Had to melt it with a heat gun. Since that time, I have been parking it with the wheels on a ramp built of 4x4 posts. This elevates the rear of the machine enough so that any melted snow will drain out of the second stage, towards the first stage and spill onto the floor.

I've had no problems since that time, except of course when I sucked up the newspaper which was hiding under the snow. I learned a lesson from that incident as well.

 

[daman]

Simple fix.. let it run "engaged" to clean out for a few seconds before shut down.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: daman
Simple fix.. let it run "engaged" to clean out for a few seconds before shut down.

And clean out anything left in the chute. (so it does not melt and go back into the auger)

 

[Jim_Beverlin]

+ 1..................running the auger and clearing the chute is an absolute must. Also, rotate the chute and the deflector so it does not freeze in place. Otherwise you could be faced with depositing snow where you do not want to.

 

[ProfPS]

I'd face the front of the snow blower towards the sun for a while to warm up the metal, and try WD-40 on the end and middle bearings of the auger shaft: WD = water dispersant.

 

[HM12460]

Will it fill thru your front door?

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
Will it fill thru your front door?
Yeah...until his wife sees it in the living room and throws HIM thru the front door.