December 01, 2022

How to position drift cutters on a snowblower

Introduction image for DIY YouTube video and article on installing drift cutters on a snow blower or snow thrower.
Introduction image for DIY YouTube video and article on installing drift cutters on a snow blower or snow thrower.

Drift cutters are dull metal blades that attach to the upper sides of the auger housing to knock down high drifts of packed snow—directing chunks of that snow down into the auger housing to efficiently clear sidewalks and driveways.

For storage, the drift cutters are designed to be positioned against the sides of the auger housing. This prevents damage to drift cutters when storing the snowblower or performing maintenance that requires you to tilt the snowblower onto the front of the blower housing.

How to set up drift cutters for use on your snowblower

Follow the steps in this YouTube DIY video to position the drift cutters for use on your snowblower.

Positioning the drift cutters for use on your snowblower:

  1. Remove the screws and wing nuts from the drift cutters.

  2. Position the drift cutters so they extend up and out from the auger housing.

  3. Attach the drift cutters with the screws and wing nuts. Tighten the wing nuts securely.

How and when to store drift cutters along the sides of the auger housing

You can position the drift cutters in their storage position along the sides of the auger housing when:

  • You’re clearing snow that doesn’t have drifts.

  • You’re storing the snowblower.

  • You need to perform maintenance on the snowblower that involves tilting the snowblower onto the front of the blower housing.

Properly stowing the drift cutters along the sides of the auger housing prevents bending or damaging the drift cutters.

To store the drift cutters along the sides of the auger housing, remove the screws and wing nuts and position the drift cutters along the sides of the auger housing. Reinstall the screws and wing nuts to hold the drift cutters in place against the auger housing.

Frequently asked questions about drift cutters

Do drift cutters really work?

Yes. Drift cutter efficiently knock down snow packed in drifts above the level of the auger housing so the snow enters the housing and gets ejected by the augers and impellers. You don’t need to knock down snow drifts manually with a shovel when you have drift cutters installed on your snowblower. Drift cutters help the snowblower remove heavy snow in one easy pass.

How do I add drift cutters if my snowblower doesn’t have them?

If your snowblower didn’t come with drift cutters, you may be able to add them using a drift cutter kit. Check the owner’s manual for your snowblower and order the drift cutters designed to fit your model. Install the drift cutters as shown in the above video.

Do I really need drift cutters on my snowblower?

You don’t need drift cutters on your snowblower if you live in an area where snow rarely piles up higher than 3 feet. You may need to knock down snow drifts manually at the end of the driveway or sidewalk where snowplows pile up drifts along the street. If you don’t mind a little extra labor once in a while, you can do without drift cutters in areas that don’t get much heavy snowfall.

If you’re in an area that gets heavy snowfall at times, it’s good to have drift cutters installed on your snowblower. It’s better to have the drift cutters ready to use than to need them and not have them installed.

Symptoms for gas snowblowers

Choose a symptom to see related snowblower repairs.

Main causes: punctured tire, damaged rim…

Main causes: dirty carburetor, stale fuel…

Main causes: dirty carburetor, clogged fuel filter, dirty spark plug, incorrect valve lash, leaky engine gaskets…

Main causes: stale gas, clogged carburetor, clogged or broken fuel line, dirty spark plug, bad rewind starter, incorrect…

Main causes: snow build-up in chute, chute drive mechanism failure, bad chute control assembly…

Main causes: loose drive clutch cable, damaged drive clutch cable, worn friction disc, scraper blade scraping the ground…

Main causes: clogged chute, damaged auger blades, broken shear pins, worn auger belt, damaged gear case, engine problems…

Main causes: broken shear pins, worn or loose auger drive belt, auger drive cable failure, damaged auger, bad gear case…

Things to do: replace the spark plug, change the oil, rebuild the carburetor, adjust valve lash, adjust or replace the b…

Repair guides for gas snowblowers

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your snowblower.

How to replace a snowblower fuel filter

How to replace a snowblower fuel filter

Replace the fuel filter on your snowblower if it's clogged or damaged.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a snowblower shave plate

How to replace a snowblower shave plate

Follow the 7 easy steps in this repair guide/video to replace a worn out shave plate on your snowblower.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a snowblower chute control gearbox assembly

How to replace a snowblower chute control gearbox assembly

Replace the chute control gearbox on your snowblower if it's stripped or damaged.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

Articles and videos for gas snowblowers

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your snowblower.

How to make your snowblower last longer

How to make your snowblower last longer

Learn the steps to take to adjust and maintain your snowblower so it lasts longer.…

Find the right carburetor assembly for a Craftsman snowblower, tiller or log splitter

Find the right carburetor assembly for a Craftsman snowblower, tiller or log splitter

This chart will help you find the right carburetor for your Craftsman snowblower, tiller or log splitter.…

Snowblower chute won't turn: troubleshooting chute control and gearbox problems video

Snowblower chute won't turn: troubleshooting chute control and gearbox problems video

Learn how to replace the chute control assembly and gearbox if the chute on your snowblower won't turn.…