How to Install Shear Pins for a Snow Blower

Shear pins on snow blowers run through the auger and auger shaft, so the auger will turn when the auger is engaged. When shear pins are damaged or lost, the auger will spin freely on the auger shaft and the auger will not turn for snow removal. Shear pins for snow blowers are designed to shear off when the auger gets jammed from ice or debris. This prevents more costly damages to the snow blower. Shear pins come in many different sizes for different makes and models of snow blowers. Some snow blowers are designed with more than one section of auger, so there will be a shear pin for each section. Some shear pins are retained by a nut and others may be retained by a cotter pin.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Small punch or screw driver
• New shear pins
• Set of wrenches
• Pliers

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Instructions

1. • 1

     With the snow blower turned off, remove the damaged shear pin by punching out with a small punch or screw driver when required.

   • 2

     Align the auger and auger shaft holes to push the new shear pin through. If the shear pins include collars, install the collar on the shear pin first with the curved side of collar facing the center of the auger.

   • 3

     Install and tighten nut to retain the shear pin. If the shear pin is supplied with a cotter pin, run the cotter pin through the hole on the shear pin and bend over with pliers. The auger will still have a little play on the auger shaft, since this is what allows the shear pin to shear when the auger is obstructed.

   • 4

     Repeat steps one through three for all damaged or missing shear pins.