Maintenance & Adjustments

Adjustments

WARNING! Before servicing, repairing or inspecting the snow thrower, disengage the auger control. Stop the engine and remove the key to prevent unintended starting.

Shave Plate

To check the adjustment of the shave plate, place the machine on a level surface. The wheels, shave plate and auger should all contact the level surface. Note that if the shave plate is adjusted too high, snow may blow under the housing. If the shave plate wears out excessively, or the snow thrower does not self-propel, the shave plate may be too low and needs to be adjusted.

NOTE: On new snow throwers or machines with a new shave plate installed, the auger may be slightly off the ground.

To adjust the shave plate proceed as follows:

1.Drain the gas from the snow thrower by running the engine until it is empty.

2.Pull the recoil starter handle until resistance is felt. Then tip the snow thrower back until it rests on the handles.

3.Loosen the four flange lock nuts and carriage bolts which secure the shave plate to the housing. See Fig. 6-1. Move the shave plate to the desired position and retighten the nuts and bolts securely.

Side View

Carriage Screw

Flange Lock Nut

Reversible Shave Plate

Figure 6-1

4.Tip the snow thrower back to the operating position and pull the starter handle a few times to see if it is difficult to pull.

5.If the starter is difficult to pull, remove the spark plug and pull the handle several times to ensure that any oil trapped in the head is removed.

Caution: Oil may come out of the spark plug hole when it is removed and the starter handle is pulled.

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6.Inspect the spark plug. If it is wet, clean off any oil before re-installing.

Control Cable

As a result of both the control cable and the auger drive belt stretching due to wear, periodic adjustments may be necessary. If the auger seems to hesitate when rotating, proceed as follows:

The upper hole in the control handle provides for an adjustment in cable tension. To adjust, disconnect the end of control cable from the bottom hole in the control handle and reinsert it in the upper hole. Insert the cable from the outside as shown in Fig. 6-2.

Auger Control Handle

Control Cable

Figure 6-2

Test the snow thrower to see if there is a noticeable difference. If after the adjustment to the control cable the auger still hesitates when rotating, see the Service section for instructions on replacing the belt.

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