Buy links on this page go through our /go/ redirects to the manufacturer or retailer. We earn nothing from them today; that may change. Disclosure.
In short
When a two-stage snow blower's auger stops turning, Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt check the same things: the auger control cable, the auger belt, and the shear pins. If the impeller still spins but the augers don't, Fix.com says broken shear pins are the likely cause. If the pins are fine, the gearbox is next.
Common parts for this fix:
Cub Cadet auger belt 954-04050A Cub Cadet / Troy-Bilt 738-04124A shear pin Ariens shear bolt kit 72100600Check in this order
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| 1. Auger cable | Cables stretch with use. Adjust the auger control cable as your manual describes (Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt). |
| 2. Auger belt | Take off the belt cover in front of the engine and look for cracking, glazing or a loose or broken belt (Cub Cadet). |
| 3. Shear pins | Troy-Bilt says if the belts look fine and the engine runs but the augers lost half or full operation, broken shear bolts are likely. One broken pin can stop just one side (Cub Cadet). |
| 4. Gearbox | If every pin is in place and the augers still won't turn, Fix.com says the gearbox may have worn or broken gear teeth or a broken key. That's dealer territory. |
How to tell a shear pin broke
Ariens says the machine feels like it's pushing snow instead of throwing it, or snow builds up at either side of the housing. With the engine off and the plug wire disconnected, look for a missing pin head or nut. If you can spin the auger on its shaft by hand, the pin is broken.
Need the right replacement? See shear pin part numbers by brand, and why a regular bolt is a bad stand-in.
Belt part numbers (Cub Cadet example)
Belts vary by engine. Cub Cadet's manual 769-24534 lists auger belt 954-04050A for its 272, 208 and 243 cc machines and 954-04195A for 357, 277 and 420 cc. Check your own model's parts list before ordering.
Before any check: park on a flat surface, shut off the engine, let it cool, disconnect the spark plug wire and remove the key (Cub Cadet).
How we work: steps come from Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt troubleshooting pages, Fix.com, Ariens and the Cub Cadet manual. We don't test snow blowers ourselves. Sources are listed below.
Questions people ask
Why is my snow blower auger not spinning?
Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt check a stretched auger cable, a worn or broken belt, and broken shear pins. If those are fine, Fix.com points to the gearbox.
Why does the impeller spin but the auger doesn't?
Fix.com says broken shear pins are the likely cause. If every pin is in place, the gearbox may have worn gear teeth or a broken key.
How do I know if a shear pin is broken?
Ariens says look for a missing pin head or nut. With the engine off and plug wire disconnected, if the auger spins on the shaft by hand, the pin is broken.
Why does only one side of the auger turn?
Each side has its own shear pin. Cub Cadet says a fractured pin can cause loss of one or more auger sections.
Sources
Last checked Oct 24, 2026. Part numbers come from Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Ariens and Toro; troubleshooting from Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt and the MTD manual. Stop the engine and pull the spark plug wire before touching the auger.
- Cub Cadet: Troubleshooting auger or drive loss on a two-stage snow thrower
- Troy-Bilt: Troubleshooting auger or drive loss on a two-stage snow blower
- Fix.com: Impeller turns but auger does not
- Ariens: What are shear pins and why do I need them?
- Cub Cadet: Operator's manual 769-24534 with parts list (PDF)
