Toro is one of the best makers of snow blowers in my opinion.
But this doesn’t mean they are not without their problems!
Like any piece of machinery, things can go wrong. If your Toro snow blower is not throwing snow very far, it can usually be put down to one of a few things.
So let’s find out what they are.
Why Isn’t My Toro Snow Blower Throwing Snow Very Far?
If your Toro snow blower isn’t throwing snow very far, then the first thing you want to check is that the chute or auger has not become blocked with snow or ice. Or if it is a single-stage blower, make sure the paddles have not worn down. If everything seems ok in that respect then it is likely there is a problem with a damaged or slipping drive belt.
Reason #1: It Has A Clogged Chute or Auger
Clogged chutes and augers are fairly common as snow blowers get older, particularly on two-stage blowers.
Take a look at the impeller blades, and you will see a gap between the blades and the sides of the discharge chute.
The bigger the gap is, the more likely snow and slush are to slip through and build up around the impeller and clog the discharge chute.
Unclogging the chute should remedy this, but if you want a long-term solution you can buy impeller modification kits.
These are relatively easy to install and will modify the blades to remove the gap and improve the efficiency of your snow blower.
Reason #2: The Paddles Are Worn
Single-stage blowers can be plagued by a similar problem.
The paddles can wear down, leaving too much space between the paddles and the inside of the blower.
As with two-stage blowers, the snow will build up and clog the machine.
It only takes a small amount of wear for this to be a problem. With your snow blower on level ground, see if you can slip your fingers in between the ground and the paddles.
If you can, the paddles need replacing.
Once this is done, your snow blower should be back to throwing snow normally.
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Reason #3: There is a Problem With the Belts
If you’ve checked to make sure your snow blower hasn’t clogged up, or that the paddles haven’t worn down and everything seems ok then you want to check the drive belt. That can be the reason your snow blower isn’t throwing snow far.
If the belt is stretched or damaged then it won’t spin the auger fast enough to throw the snow properly.
Remove the cover in the middle of your snow blower and you should be able to examine the belts to determine if they are the problem.
Take a look at the condition of both belts, and if they are obviously torn, frayed or significantly damaged, then they will need to be replaced.
If they look ok, then they might simply be stretched.
With the engine still turned off get someone to depress the drive lever and look at the blower belt.
It should only depress around half an inch on the long side. If it depresses any more than that then the belt has been stretched and needs to be replaced.
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Depending upon the make and model of your Toro snow blower you might be able to adjust the tension of the belt to tighten it.
Sometimes this is as simple as moving the hook that connects the belt down a hole or two.
However note, that on many of the newer models you cannot adjust the tension of the belt.
There are various videos on YouTube that talk you through the process of changing a drive belt (such as the one above), but if you aren’t sure then you are better off enlisting the help of a professional.
Reason #4: The Shear Pins Have Broken
The shear pin, or shear bolt, is a bolt that connects the auger of a snow blower to the auger shaft.
This allows the snow blower to do its job, by ensuring the augers can rotate and collect snow and then send it into the impeller before it gets thrown from the chute.
The shear pin is so called because it is designed to break, or shear, and shut off the blower if something jams between the auger and the housing.
If the shear pin breaks it stops the auger from rotating, and your snow blower will barely be able to spit the snow out.
If you suspect you have broken a shear pin, turn the engine off, disconnect the spark plug and inspect the augers.
If you can’t see the head of the shear pin, and you can manually spin the auger then you have broken a shear pin.
Remove the broken shear pin and insert a new shear bin.
To make sure the pin is secure, try and rotate the auger by hand. If it doesn’t rotate, you are good to go and hopefully your Toro snow blower will be throwing snow again as normal.
Reason #5: The Carb and Governor Linkage Has Degraded
If your Toro snow blower runs fine at idle and at full throttle, but bogs down as soon as it hits snow and barely throws it, there could be a problem with the carburetor and governor linkage.
The governor is the contraption that regulates the speed of the engine.
This can be a particular problem with snow blowers that are kept outside.
The governor is connected to the carburetor by a spring. If this spring is rusted or corroded, it won’t move properly, and thus won’t efficiently allow the throttle to open to increase the RPM.
The snow blower will bog down, and it won’t throw snow properly.
With the engine turned off, find the linkage and see if it looks rusted.
You can replace the spring, or in the short term lubricate it and gently work it back and forth until it is free.
Once you have done that, it should throw snow like champ again.
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Reason #6: It Has a Worn Gearbox
One final reason that could explain why your snow blower is not throwing snow far, could be the gearbox that connects the augers with the output chute.
If there is a problem with the gearbox, it won’t spin the augers fast enough to throw snow with any power through the chute.
When you put your snow blower under a heavy load if the augers stop moving, but the impeller is still spinning then it indicates a faulty gearbox.
A small engine specialist might be able to diagnose and fix the problem, but more often than not the only solution is a new gearbox which is unfortunately quite expensive.
Final Thoughts
If your snow blower isn’t throwing snow very far, your first port of call should be to check for a clogged chute or auger, or worn paddles if you have a single-stage blower.
If everything looks fine in that respect, then the issue likely lies with the drive belt, which will either need replacing or tightening.
Outside of these areas, there are a few other things that could cause the problem, notably broken shear pins, a damaged carb and governor linkage, or in the worst-case scenario a faulty gearbox.
It is also worth checking your snow blower for any other damage to the auger, impeller or paddles, because if they are bent or impaired in any way it could affect how far it throws the snow.
Good luck!