How to engage the snowblower drive

Engaging the snowblower drive system

Once you have the snowblower engine started, follow these steps to drive the snowblower:

1. Move the throttle control to the fast or “rabbit” position.

2. Position the shift lever to the desired drive position. Use slower forward or reverse speed settings when you’re unfamiliar with driving the snowblower.

3. Squeeze the drive control lever against the handle to spin the snowblower wheels.

4. Steer the snowblower in the desired direction. If your snowblower has power steering, pull the right trigger control to turn the snowblower right or pull the left trigger control to turn the snowblower left.

5. Release the drive control lever to stop the snowblower.

When throwing snow, select a drive speed appropriate for the conditions of the area that you’re clearing and a pace that you’re comfortable with.

Never reposition the shift lever to change speeds or direction of travel without first releasing the drive control lever and bringing the snow thrower to a complete stop. Doing so will cause premature drive system wear.

Adjusting the snow thrower shift cable

When you can’t properly control snowblower speed using the shift lever, you likely need to adjust shift cable tension.

1. Park the snow thrower on a level surface with the engine shut off.

2. Place the shift lever in the fastest forward speed position.

3. Loosen the hex nut on the shift cable index bracket.

4. Pivot the bracket downward to remove slack in the shift cable. If you’re not able to remove slack from the cable by moving the bracket downward, disconnect the shift cable from the index bracket and reconnect it in a lower hole so that you can remove slack from the shift cable.

5. While holding the shift cable tight, tighten the hex nut.

View our How to Adjust a Snowblower Shift Cable Video to see how to complete the adjustment.

Test the snowblower drive performance and continue to adjust the cable until the snowblower drives properly at all selected speeds.

Perform snowblower maintenance

Maintaining your snowblower or snowthrower will help keep it in top condition and lasting longer.

Major steps of snowblower and snow thrower maintenance include:

• Performing an engine tune-up.

• Lubricating all moving parts.

• Checking and replacing belts.

Completing these maintenance steps can be overwhelming for some people. Instead of performing the maintenance yourself, you can have a Sears Technician do it by scheduling Snowblower Maintenance & Cleaning Service.

In addition to professionally performing the above maintenance tasks, the Sears Technician will complete these important tasks:

• Check ignition system, carburetor, throttle, and choke controls.

• Check the recoil starter and electric starter if so equipped.

• Test the overall operation of the snowblower.

• Ensure that all safety features are fully operational.

Having your snowblower professionally serviced every year will also help prevent breakdowns during the snow clearing season. Trust Sears to help you keep your snowblower or snow thrower working properly all season long.