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

Hi, this is Wayne from Sears PartsDirect. Today we're going to talk about a snowblower discharge chute that won't change positions. Here are a few things to check.

Make sure chute control works

First, make sure the snowblower is sitting on a level surface, turn off the engine and remove the ignition key. Then, with the trigger depressed, check to see if the chute turns freely by hand. If it doesn't turn by hand, disconnect the bow-tie cotter pin holding the chute rod to the gearbox assembly. Pull the connecting rod back out of the gearbox coupler and let it rest on the top of the gearbox housing cover.

With the trigger depressed, check that the 4-way chute control turns the connecting rod when the joystick is moved side to side. If your joystick won't rotate the connector rod, then your 4-way chute control will have to be replaced. Here's a video that will show you how to replace the chute control.

Check chute and gearbox

If the chute control looks okay, let's separate the gearbox from the chute to see if we can find the problem there. Remove the bolt that attaches the gearbox to the chute bracket. Remove the wing nut from the bottom of the gearbox. Pull the mounting pin out of the chute support bracket. Move the connector rod out of the way. Lift the gearbox off the support bracket and chute. Does the chute move by hand now? If so, check the receiver in the chute bracket for wear. If the gearbox driver rotates freely inside the receiver, then replace the chute. If the gearbox isn't rotating the driver when you spin the shaft receiver, then you'll need to replace it. Here's a video showing you how.

If your discharge chute still won't move, you could have a broken chute or chute adapter. Remove the chute from the chute adapter and clear out any snow, ice or debris. Inspect the chute and chute adapter for any signs of wear and damage, and replace any damaged parts.

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