How to replace a snowblower shave plate

The shave plate is a scraper blade that runs along the bottom of the auger housing. It protects the auger housing from wear and scrapes up snow the auger leaves behind.

Check the shave plate regularly and replace it using the steps in this repair guide/video if the plate is worn or damaged.

The shave plate wears out quickly if you don’t keep the skid shoes adjusted properly to lift the shave plate ¼-inch high. Watch our How to adjust the snowblower skid shoes video to see how to position skid shoes to avoid excessive shave plate wear.

This repair procedure works for common Craftsman, Ariens, Husqvarna, Troybilt, MTD, Murray, Snapper, Poulan and Noma snowblowers.

Instructions

1. Drain the engine fuel

Remove the gasoline from the engine.

2. Reposition the drift cutters

Reposition the drift cutters so you can tip the snowblower onto its impeller housing.

3. Tip the snowblower forward

Carefully tip the snowblower forward onto its impeller housing.

4. Remove the skid shoes

Remove the skid shoe bolts and pull the skid shoes off the impeller housing.

5. Replace the shave plate

Remove the shave plate mounting bolts and pull off the shave plate.

Install the new shave plate.

6. Reinstall the skid shoes

Loosely reinstall the skid shoes.

Tip the snowblower down and set the skid shoes to the recommended height. Adjusting the skid shoes as they wear keeps the shave plate from scraping the ground, helping it last longer.

7. Reposition the drift cutters

Adjust the drift cutters to their original positions.