Snowblower Has No First Speed - Fixed With Easy Adjustment.

If your snowblower has no first speed/gear, it can be due to the drive plate wheel position adjustment. This is an easy cable adjustment on most 2 stage snowblowers. Let's take it apart to see how it works, and get it fixed before this small problem turns into an expensive one.
Video Chapter Time Index:
Intro: 0:00
- Demonstrating the problem: 1:33
- Owners manual fail: 2:06
- Opening up the snowblower: 2:52
- Understanding the drive plate 4:09
- Drive cable adjustment 7:04
- Other items to check 8:38
- Testing first speed adjustment repair 9:58
- Readjustment & fixed 10:42

[@NJroute22]

Great video - the instructions that came with the snowblower are not clear on how to adjust the turnbuckles. A couple diagrams (before / after) would have made a world of difference. I swear - any brand snowblower other than Honda is utter garbage. Best to save up or splurge on the Honda. Saves TONS of headaches down the road. I am still kicking myself for returning my Honda with tread-drive and opting for the "cheaper" Husqvarna. Nothing but disappointment.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Yep. Honda really makes great stuff. My trusty old 1998 Honda Harmony 215 mower is still running like a champ. I never baby it, change the oil seasonally, and a fresh plug every 5 years, and have yet to have a single issue other than replacing the worn our tires once, and the rubber shield thing that drags on the back to stripe the grass. As you said, pay more up front to save lots of headaches and problems down the road, not to mention something that will last many years. This Husky blow-jobber is however working well now after sorting out most of the piss poor factory assembly issues which included removing to fuel tank to clean the in-tank fuel filter. It was half plugged from day one with loose paint particles from the threaded hole where the fuel line hose barb screws into - unbelievable!

[@muskokamike127]

yes Honda is the Rolls of small engines BUT you do pay for it. I disagree that everything else is crap. I had a small snotek I bought for half off at Home Depot and it ran for YEARS with no issues whatsoever. I had to replace a drive belt once and had to put chains on the tires but that thing would pull me up a 30 deg incline on the driveway. It also would blow snow 40 or 50 feet. It was only a single speed but I chewed through snow 2 feet deep like butter. The ONLY issue I ever had with it was one day when it was -48 C out, the plastic choke lever went "plink" and broke off due to the cold.

[@celebrate1203]

AWESOME VIDEO! Thank you so much for posting. I couldn't understand why my Husqvarna snow blower which is just like the one in your video was going in reverse in the reverse mode and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear and crawling along in the top gear. Now I know. Thank you so much. You saved me a ton of money having not to have to rent a trailer to take it to the dealer plus the dealer's bill especially when it is free to fix. This video gets a 5 star rating from me. Thanks again Larry

[@big_binger4063]

Just got off the chat with Husqvarna customer service after 2 hours of trying to figure out what things to rotate and how on the cable. If they would have sent me this video it would have saved me a lot of time! Thank you!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Glad it helped sort your Husky drive issue.

[@jamesdearinger6385]

Great video. I just got one free that someone was throwing away. Starter out and the carb clogged and varnished solid. I got it running, and it only had reverse. 6th was center wheel and the rest were on the reverse side. I'm glad it's a simple fix. Thanks.

[@johnosterman494]

Thanks for posting this! My cable snapped today and this helped me understand what's going on, and where that cable connects. I've always been disappointed with how slow reverse was and how fast 1st was. Now maybe I can alleviate that with the right adjustment!

[@scottferguson527]

Was it much of a job to replace the cable? Mine snapped as well.

[@andrewbrown7740]

Probably one of THE BEST DIY vids I have seen. Thank you!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Wow, thanks back 🙂

[@ChavezOG]

Thank you. I have a Cub Cadet that that had no R1 and my 1st gear was rather fast. Followed your advice and now it drives as it should.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Nice work

[@Markkrochuk1979]

Great video, thank you. Mine just started doing this on a ten year old unit. I thought the rubber on the contact wheel may have gone.

[@daveshort302]

Thanks so much for the video! I’ve got a new Husqvarna and reverse is way too slow and 1st runs like it’s in 4th! Too bad they can’t get these adjusted from the factory!

[@KianaShalix]

HOLY HELL Yours is the first video that actually said how to adjust the cables and actually showed me how to adjust the drive cable everyone else is "Drive cable/auger but they only show the auger and never show the dam drive!!! Thank you soo freaking much. Big thumbs up people for this man right here.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Glad it helped

[@coloradoboo1071]

Good video! My 2016 Husqvarna ST230P decided not to drive at all when we got a foot in Colorado last week so I ordered a few belts. In the meantime, watched your videos and took her apart since the weather is now back up near 60. Unfortunately, mine doesn't have the adjustment for the cable but I practiced take the belts off and back on. Surprisingly, it's now working fine. But I had left it out in the cold (20's) the night before the storm so I'm thinking the drive wheel may have just been spinning on the metal plate in there...so won't leave her outside before a storm and probably will buy a new wheel if I can find one.

[@pedrohuevon8844]

Thx for the straight forward instructions 👍

[@coloradoboo1071]

Thanks, I just used mine and it hardly moves in 6th gear…great explanation and demo!!!

[@MikeMurphyinc]

Thank you for making this video. I sometimes lose power in reverse and it first but it is sporadic. The local service shop thinks I have a friction disc going out

[@chesschess100]

Thank you sir. I only had 2nd gear last year and now only 3rd this year. Followed your vid and I’m good to go! Interesting how your blower is exactly the same, EXACTLY, as my Poulon Pro from Costco. Must have been made in the same factory but with different paint jobs. Great vid.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Yep - I'm guessing a good number of today's blowers all come from the same factory with different stickers and brand specific eye candy. Glad you were able to get your speed selections working again.

[@brianw1620]

I recognize the manual font, style, etc. from my Poulan Pro 800 EPS24 (2011). Only my manual has exploded parts diagrams. :-) Still a little cryptic how some of it goes together though.

[@mattleavitt1750]

Thanks for the video mine has done the same thing. Only used it a few times. Looks very simple to fix.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Hope it's any easy fix for you too 🙂

[@50Stang87]

Thank you so much for this video! My ST277P just stop moving period didn't matter what gear I used. Your video saved me hours from taking it apart and figuring it our myself. Overall been disappointed with this Husqvarna, it's had enough constant little problems I doubt I'll ever buy anything from them ever again.

[@paulyork2143]

I have the same model and have had enough of the little issues as well. It's been three years since I bought this particular model (ST277P) . I'm disappointed and annoyed enough that I will fix the current issue of no forward or reverse movement , sell it with full divulgement of the repairs I've made and buy a different brand name snowblower for next winter.

[@TKM1951]

If we buy from the big box store ,have to remember they are received partially assembled. The store pays an employee to assemble . The money we save in the box store sometimes is spent at the repair shop . We must learn the basics of maintenance and repair or buy shares in the local repair shop

[@icfirst]

Good job, very informative video

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Glad you liked it

[@jjscustomfabrications8234]

Thank you.

[@IamtheActionman]

Thanks dude

[@frankvisscher4577]

Thanks, I just fixed my snowblower, and you saved me a few dollars

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Glad to help

[@muskokamike127]

Nice explanation. A buddy loaned me a snow blower and the drive wheels "cog" in first gear and won't turn continuously. This means in first, it doesn't move very well. This explained how the drive mechanism works and it could possibly be the belt bringing in the wheel too far on the disc. At least this is going to give me a start on where to look for the issue. GOOD JOB!!!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Glad it helped

[@muskokamike127]

@@Rchelicopterfun I haven't attempted the repair yet, but it's given me a jumping off point...the door to get to it opened outwards and was blocked by a snow drift 5' deep x 20 feet wide hahaha.

[@philstucker1312]

Thanks for this video!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Hope it helped

[@nakorwohbeta]

Thx for that video. Just bought a ariens 28 sho deluxe and i had the same probleme.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

No problem 👍

[@arthurprice9834]

check the rubber on drive wheel if it flat replace my murray 10 29 had no low and slow reverse works great now

[@bjbj4me]

You should check underneath the snowblower to change the belts. All you need to do is remove the plate from the bottom and you should have access to the belts.

[@muskokamike127]

I had a snotek and they said you had to separate the two halves to change the belt. BS. To change the main drive belt you did have to remove the auger belt first, but you can just slide them halfway off and rotate and they pop right off. Took me 10 minutes.

[@kenhilson786]

I'm thinking that if you keep shifting the speed while holding the lever engaged is going to cause issues. Like destroying the rubber on the drive wheel .

[@Rchelicopterfun]

You would be thinking right

[@johnryle6917]

Good video entertaining

[@dennisleslie]

I have an ST224 and ever since new reverse gear has been painfully slow. I usually just pull it backwards. My only complaint about the ST224.

[@keimolantio]

How to fix if the wheela stop rotating when trying to plow liitle more snow. Wheels just stop rotaing like now torque at all. Is the drive belt slippimg! I have Husqvarna 227

[@navel1969]

Nice thanks

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Welcome

[@jamiemcbane]

I have the St 227p and my reverse is a little quicker than my first

[@USMC0332]

I just found a video on here about belt replacement. You don't need to split the machine, just tip it on the auger side and remove the bottom cover, after getting the belt on the top pulley.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

I already did a video on that method. It works on some machines, but not all: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKGtZmutntSZm68

[@419crw]

What model snowblower do you have, the gear adjuster on my ST 224 doesn’t have one on the rightside of the machine .

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Hi Clayton, it's the ST 227P. That's strange your ST 224 doesn't have the gear selector; assuming that's what you mean by gear adjuster? I just looked at some photos on Husky's site of the ST224 and the control panel looks identical with the same control layout for the chute and the 7 position gear selector gate. Even pages 7&8 in the ST224 owner's manual show the same layout and gear selector: www.snowblowersatjacks.com/images/husqvarna/st224p/st224-manual.pdf Very strange indeed???

[@ldklinux]

It appears that Husqvarna removed the ability to adjust the shift cable. Manuals for older revisions mention a turnbuckle that can be used to adjust the cable tension. But I have a late-2018 ST224 and there is no turnbuckle, and mentions of adjustment have been dropped from the manual.

[@perrydiebert455]

Any ideas if I have reverse only? Cable seems like it’s seized.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

"Cable seems like it's seized". Sounds like you just diagnosed the problem - that would certainly cause it. A stuck or seized drive wheel slider mechanism is also another possibility.

[@RichardNorby420]

How would I make this adjustment on an old style snowblower?

[@Rchelicopterfun]

If there is no cable housing length adjuster on the cable like on this Husky, perhaps there is one up in the handle assembly or down in the wheel slider mechanism? Just a guess of course; as I said in the video, this is the first two stage snowblower I've ever owned.

[@builtyankeegirl]

I would agree not to use first gear but still there are times I need first gear and no matter what it takes I'm fixing that bad boy and usually because it's not making contact with the friction disc where it should or a worn out friction disc. Usually a very simple adjustment but definitely a fix yourself issue.

[@chestercallahan8856]

Don't need to separate unit to do belts, simply tilt blower up on its front housing and remove the bottom access covers, usually only 4-6 bolts. As for an extra reverse gear just cut another notch in selector and you got yourself a second reverse speed position for free, that's all the factory does and there's more than enough adjustment on the friction wheel to give you two reverse speeds at least.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

You mean like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKGtZmutntSZm68 Incidentally, not everyone finds that way easier. I've gotten a fair amount of negative feedback on that video stating pulling the bottom plate off is much harder than separating the halves. Totally machine dependent.

[@chestercallahan8856]

@@Rchelicopterfun John, I meant no criticism just wanted people to know that's another way and on my machines its the easiest way. I see now you've already got it fully detailed in your other video. Truly unfortunate in this modern era these companies owner/service manual have almost no details on maintenance procedures. This is hugely detrimental for those who aren't mechanically inclined. Your quality videos are a big help to those who need the guidance, cheers!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

I never took it as criticism; I just wanted to make sure you were talking about the same method of removing the bottom plate as what I had done. 🙂

[@jonathanfierberg3807]

John you are the salt 🧂 of the earth 🌎

[@trueblevr]

Don't have to take apart to change belts. tip machine up so it sets on auger housing so you can get to bottom of machine and remove panel on bottom to access belts and pulleys easily.

[@trueblevr]

Be sure gas tank ls empty or no more than 1/2 full to avoid gas spilling when you tip machine up.

[@jacquelineflaherty5743]

Toro speed control on power max 825

[@RCplanesrfun]

In my opinion reverse is way too slow on snowblowers. Probably a safety thing. I seldom use speeds 3-5 so i set it up for fastest reverse possible and sacrifice the transport speeds.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Good tip. I'm going to give that try myself because I find reverse painfully slow as well.

[@themrfabio2459]

What did you record this video with bud?

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Canon Vixia

[@02hreblue30]

If your snowblower doesnt move its a friction disc or hydrostatic problem. Adjustment only works if these two previous things work to begin with

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Guess that's exactly why the title of the video is "has no first gear" and thumbnail is "no go slow" while showing it not moving in first but moving fine in all other gears.

[@milohajek]

There's actually a trick to changing the belts, you DO NOT have to remove the entire front end, you can losen the pullies and unhook the belts from the crankshaft at the top and then slide the belts down and you can pull them out from the the bottom, without taking the entire front end off. I had issues with belts slipping off and got to a point that I could take the entire front end apart and replace the belts in under 12 minutes, but finding this other system of changing the belts, it got me down to taking a mear 5 to 8 minutes without pulling the front off.

[@johnosterman494]

Update. My cable does not have that adjustment......so back to barely no reverse and 1st is too fast.....ugh. Still thanks again

[@kaaregc]

My cable also lacks that adjustment. I have no reverse. No idea what to do. Non-working blower just off the truck.

[@johncurrid1844]

You don't have to take all six bolts off . You take the two top 1/2 in boths and then the two 3/8 in bolts out and the front and back break down like a shotgun and all you do to do this is those four bolts and take off the first belt to the alger and then you can change either both if you need to

[@francislang5075]

mine was streached so bad i put a new cable on

[@joeserrenti9857]

Toro doesn't use a cable for this, instead it uses a metal rod with threads on it positioned under the speed selector. The rod connects to the linkage below. There's a nut on the threaded end of the rod. Depending on clockwise turn shortens the rod, counterclockwise lengthens it. This regulates the position of the friction wheel and the speed. And it NEVER stretches out !!!

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Good design. I wonder if all Toro models use an adjustable rod selector over a cable, or just specific ones?

[@joeserrenti9857]

@Rchelicopterfun well the 2 , 2 staggers I have are 20 years apart and it's the same design ....!?!?? I just had a new friction wheel put on my old one, and I am having a bit of a hard time getting it right back to the sweet spot I had it at ..... one turn too many and 1st. Is too slow but backup 1 is strong....one turn too many the other way and 1st. Is perfect, but backup 1 is slower ... After the wheel breaks in, I'm sure the perfect spot issue will fix itself ....

[@Rchelicopterfun]

👍

[@tedmann498]

They don't want you to fix your own problems. Dealer won't make money

[@pasqualepapaleo662]

Ariens

[@CHRISTOPHERBLAISE13]

i would honestly be missing "1st" and have "2 reverse speeds" lol

[@Rchelicopterfun]

😄 - Yep