The friction wheel has to be managed with a tremendous amount of care.
This includes assessing how well it’s running when the snowblower is pushing through deep snow. The conditions will vary and you need a snowblower that’s going to remain responsive during these times.
If not, you are going to feel as if the snowblower is not keeping up and that can lead to disconcerting results.
You will also want to know when to replace the friction wheel on a snowblower.
It’s best to replace a friction wheel once the part is starting to show signs of damage and the snowblower doesn’t move in the direction it’s pushed. It’s also recommended to listen for screeching and see if the auger is turning smoothly. If not, the friction wheel should be replaced immediately.
The snowblower is not going to run smoothly until the friction wheel is replaced.
You will want to stay laser-focused on how the snowblower is running. This can be a mistake that’s made because some people will attempt to power through and get the machine to work regardless.
This might seem like a good idea but it’s dangerous too.
This article is going to take a look at when to replace a friction wheel on the snowblower.
Table of Contents
Tips On When To Replace Friction Wheel On Snowblower
1. Test To See How The Snowblower Is Moving
The first step is to see whether or not the snowblower is moving backward.
Can you seem to push the snowblower forward and backward? Does it have a hitch to it that shows something is stuck?
This is a clear sign there is something wrong with how the snowblower is moving and this is likely going to do with the friction wheel. You will need to start thinking about testing the snowblower in different conditions to see what the root cause is.
If it continues to create this type of trouble then you will need to think about changing the friction wheel.
2. Inspect The Friction Wheel For Damage
You will also need to look at the part itself.
Most people are going to spend a lot of time testing the snowblower through snow and that is recommended. This is often a good way to see how the snowblower is performing and the role the friction wheel might be playing in all of this.
However, you will also want to consider whether or not the friction wheel is damaged.
It is not good if the friction wheel is clearly damaged and it is not running as intended. This means it needs to be swapped out as soon as possible.
You are going to be putting other parts of the snowblower at risk if you continue to use a worn-down friction wheel in a snowblower.
It is better to invest right now and swap out the friction wheel right away.
3. Listen For Screeching
You will want to listen for screeching.
This is a concern some people have when it comes to getting full value with what is happening. You will want to take the time to think about how well the auger is going to turn.
However, before you do this you will want to perk up your ears.
Is the snowblower making a lot of noise?
This can be a clear sign there is at least one part that is not working as it needs to. This is when you are going to want to think about seeing if something can be done about the snowblower’s noise.
If it is screeching a lot then it is likely the friction wheel that is the troublemaker and will need to be replaced.
4. Check How The Auger Turns
You will also want to see how the snowblower auger turns.
Sometimes, the auger is not going to turn the right way and that is what will lead to bothersome results.
This tends to happen and it is not a good sign. The issue has to do with how quickly the auger moves and this is not always going to be done at the rate you want it to.
Is the auger hitching a lot? Does it not seem to push through the snow as intended?
These are signs that are going to show that that auger is not going to turn properly.
Final Thoughts
When to replace the friction wheel on a snowblower?
It’s time to replace the friction wheel on a snowblower when it is making screeching noises or the part is worn down. It is also best to change it when the auger is not turning smoothly or it is not as easy to push the snowblower in different directions in the snow.
It is important to be attentive during this step to make sure you are on the right path.
It is not easy to see what is going on with the friction wheel but good attention to detail during this step will make your life easier.
