new to snowblowers

[american spirit]

i used my ariens 824E 8HP snowblower for the first time last week. i noticed that the first storm, it launched the snow out of the chute. the next storm the snow didn't throw it as far. there was nothing blocking the chute. does this usually happen if the snow if more wet? a neighbor told me my snowblower sounded rough and to check my clutch cable to see if it was tight. but i didn't know what that was. any tips from veteran snowblower people.

[ProfessorM]

Slop goes less distance. My Ariens is 15 plus years old and a great workhorse. Not much can slow it down, even when i launch half my gravel driveway onto the lawn. Spark show is cool in the dark.

[HESH2]

spray shute and rotating blades with pam,snow etc will not stick.slush will not make a dirrerence and will still clog sometimes.must spray every time,wd-40 probably will do same but i use the pam.

[fishsmith]

I had the same issue yesterday. My problem was the tension cord that activates the auger was not fully engaging it, the auger spun, but slower. When I tightened this wire, the auger spun at full speed and it threw snow like a champ again. I thought the auger was either on or off, but it was comparible to loose throttle cord.

[american spirit]

Originally Posted by fishsmith

I had the same issue yesterday. My problem was the tension cord that activates the auger was not fully engaging it, the auger spun, but slower. When I tightened this wire, the auger spun at full speed and it threw snow like a champ again. I thought the auger was either on or off, but it was comparible to loose throttle cord.

that sounds like what my neighbor was saying. where is that located and is it an easy fix?

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by HESH2

spray shute and rotating blades with pam,snow etc will not stick.slush will not make a dirrerence and will still clog sometimes.must spray every time,wd-40 probably will do same but i use the pam.

I heard that pam will cook your bearings

I use silicone spray.

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by the_shocker

that sounds like what my neighbor was saying. where is that located and is it an easy fix?

You want me to stop by and look at it?

[afterhours]

the slop goes only i/2 as far as fluff with my ariens...

[eastendlu]

I use a shovel and the owner is wound to tight.

[scone]

Originally Posted by afterhours

the slop goes only i/2 as far as fluff with my ariens...

same with my 20 year old toro. here in ct. first storm was 8" of fluffy stuff and the blower threw it across the yard. 2nd storm was 3" of slush that was lucky to go 6".

[fishsmith]

Originally Posted by the_shocker

that sounds like what my neighbor was saying. where is that located and is it an easy fix?

Your auger cord might have a tension nut on it that can be tightened, mine might to, but given the conditions I found the fastest solution (which I'm hoping holds for the winter).

I have a 26" track driven 8hp craftsman, it has two push down handles, the one on the left moves it fwd/backwrd, the one on the right is the auger. The auger cord goes down to a lever that it pulls up to engage, I gave the cord one wrap around the main handle and hooked it back in and that worked for me.

Good luck