Repair help
Why Is My Snow Blower Auger Not Turning? How to Fix
AAZparts Team
Updated on December 2, 2025
5 min read
One of the most common and frustrating issues during winter is a snow blower auger not turning, even when the engine is running smoothly. Since the auger plays a critical role in collecting and throwing snow, its failure can severely impact your machine’s performance.
In this article, AZParts will guide you through 5 common reasons why your snow blower auger might stop spinning, along with practical fixes to help you get your equipment back to peak condition quickly and efficiently.
1. How Does the Auger Work on a Snowblower?
The auger in a snow blower is responsible for gathering and pushing snow out of the area being cleared. When the engine is running, it transmits rotational force to the auger, causing the spiral blades to turn. These blades, shaped like a corkscrew, scoop snow from both sides toward the center. The snow is then pushed up through the discharge chute by an impeller located behind the auger (in two-stage and three-stage models).
In single-stage snow blowers, the auger both gathers and throws the snow, making them ideal for light, fluffy snow and smaller areas. Meanwhile, two-stage and three-stage models feature an additional impeller or auger to improve efficiency, especially helpful for clearing heavy or packed snow. Users can control the direction of the discharged snow using a lever or rotating knob.
To ensure safe and reliable operation, avoid using the machine in areas with gravel or rocks, and regularly inspect and maintain key components such as the auger blades, shear pins, drive belt, and bearings.
The auger responsible for gathering and pushing snow out of the area being cleared (Source: Freepik)
Check out more: Two-Stage vs Three-Stage Snow Blower: What’s the Difference?
2. 5 Common Reasons the Auger Isn’t Turning
2.1. Broken or missing shear pins
A snow blower shear pin is a safety component designed to break when the auger encounters a hard obstruction. This prevents damage to the gearbox and auger shaft. If the shear pin breaks or falls out, the auger will stop spinning even though the engine continues to run normally.
How to fix: To repair this issue, turn off the machine completely and disconnect the spark plug (for gas-powered models) or unplug the power cord (for electric models) to ensure safety. Then inspect each section of the auger to check whether any shear pins are broken or missing.
If the shear pin breaks or falls out, the auger will stop spinning (Source: AZParts)
Read more: How to Replace a Shear Pin on Snow Blower
2.2. Worn or broken drive belt
The drive belt plays a crucial role in transferring power from the engine to the auger system. Over time, the belt may stretch, wear out, slip, or even break. This disconnects the engine from the auger, preventing snow from being collected and expelled from the machine, causing the snowblower auger not turning.
How to fix: To resolve this issue, you should remove the belt cover and inspect its condition. If the belt is stretched, worn, scratched, cracked, or broken, it’s essential to replace it with a new one to ensure smooth operation of your snow blower. Regularly checking and replacing the drive belt helps maintain optimal performance and avoids unexpected issues during use.
The drive belt plays a crucial role in transferring power from the engine to the auger system (Source: Freepik)
2.3. Faulty auger gearbox
The gearbox of the auger transmits torque from the engine to the auger, ensuring efficient operation. However, if the internal gears become broken, worn, or jammed, the entire auger system will fail to rotate. This is a serious issue that typically occurs when users ignore signs of a broken shear pin and continue operating the machine, a frequent reason why augers won’t turn on snowblower.
How to fix: To address this issue, you need to remove the auger and inspect the condition of the gearbox. If the internal gears are damaged, you will need to replace the entire gearbox assembly or the gear set, depending on the extent of the damage. Early replacement will restore the machine's normal operation and prevent more severe issues from arising.
If the internal gears become broken, worn, or jammed, the entire auger system will fail to rotate (Source: Freepik)
2.4. Loose or damaged cables/levers
The control cable connects the lever on the handle to the auger clutch mechanism. If the cable becomes stretched, broken, or the lever is misaligned, users will be unable to engage the auger even though the engine is running properly. This often leads to situations where augers won’t turn on snowblower.
How to fix: To fix this issue, you need to check the condition of the cable and lever. Start by determining if the cable is stretched or broken, and verify whether the lever is misaligned. If you find any damage to the cable, you should replace it with a new control cable to ensure the clutch mechanism works accurately.
2.5. Engine runs but auger doesn’t engage
When the engine is running but the auger does not rotate, it's likely that one of the internal drive components has worn, loosened, or shifted out of place. These damages are often difficult to spot with the naked eye, especially components such as worn pulleys, loose bolts, slightly slipping belts, or misaligned clutch mechanisms. If left unaddressed, the issue can spread to other parts, reducing the machine's performance and lifespan.
To resolve this issue, you should carefully inspect the entire drive system, including:
- Pulleys: Check the wear on the pulleys. If the contact surface is smooth or cracked, replace the pulley.
- Bolts and screws: Tighten all bolts, especially at the pulley connections, gearbox, and clutch mechanism.
- Clutch mechanism: Inspect for misalignment or wear. If necessary, adjust or replace the clutch.
- Belt: Even if it’s not visibly broken, the belt may slip if it’s stretched or the contact surface is too worn. Check the tension and replace if needed.
If the engine runs but the auger doesn’t spin, a drive part may be worn, loose, or misaligned (Source: Freepik)
If you are looking for snow blower parts to replace, visit AZParts for genuine parts compatible with a variety of models, enabling quick and effective repairs.
Contact Info
Address: 8 The Green, Ste A, Dover, Delaware 19901-3618, United States
Email: support@azparts.com
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