The long curved rubber blade is the largest element of a single stage auger set, stock number 302110092, and it is the one part in the set that can be fitted backwards. The curve is not decoration, and getting its orientation wrong costs you most of your throw distance. A long curved rubber blade is the subject of this page, and the notes below are specific to it.
On this page
- Where a long curved rubber blade fits
- Specifications
- Which way round the long curved rubber blade goes
- What the long curved rubber blade fits
- Fitting the long curved rubber blade without damaging it
- Getting a second season out of a long curved rubber blade
- Related parts on the same machine
- Common questions
Where a long curved rubber blade fits
A straight paddle meets the snow all at once, across its full length, on every rotation. That produces a shock load through the auger shaft, the gearbox and the belt, and it is loud.
A long curved rubber blade engages progressively. One end of the blade enters the snow first and the contact patch sweeps along the length as the auger turns, in the same way a helical mower blade or a spiral router bit cuts. The load is spread across the rotation instead of arriving as a hammer blow. The machine is quieter, the belt lasts longer, and, most usefully, the snow is accelerated along the blade toward the chute rather than simply being shoved.
That last effect is why a worn or backwards long curved rubber blade shows up as poor throw distance long before it shows up as poor clearing.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stock number | 302110092 |
| Part type | Auger rubber blade, long, curved profile |
| Machine type | Single stage |
| Orientation | Directional, must match the auger rotation |
| Sold as | Single blade |
| Interchangeable | No, will not substitute for the straight blades |
Which way round the long curved rubber blade goes
This is the whole reason to read a page about a rubber blade.
The long curved rubber blade must trail the direction of rotation, so that the leading tip enters the snow first and the sweep runs toward the centre of the housing where the chute opening sits. Fitted the other way round, the blade throws snow toward the outer edge of the housing, where it packs against the end plate instead of going up the chute.
The symptom is unmistakable once you know it: the machine clears the driveway perfectly well but only dribbles snow a few feet, and snow packs solidly in the corners of the housing. Owners usually blame the chute or the engine. It is the blade.
Photograph the auger before you remove anything. If you have already dismantled it and have no photograph, the giveaway is that the concave face of the curve looks toward the direction of travel of that blade as it sweeps the ground.
What the long curved rubber blade fits
Match on stock number 302110092. The long curved rubber blade will not substitute for the standard, short or small straight blades in the same auger set, and they will not substitute for it. All four look similar in a listing photograph and none of them are interchangeable.
These are single stage parts. If your machine has a separate impeller behind the auger, it is a two stage machine, it has steel flighting rather than rubber, and you want the two stage snow blowers parts instead. If you are unsure which you own, single stage against two stage explains how to tell in one look.
Fitting the long curved rubber blade without damaging it
Disconnect the power first: plug lead, cord or battery. Then tip the machine forward onto the housing.
Undo the bolts and lift off the blade with its steel backing strip. Fit the new long curved rubber blade with the curve oriented exactly as the old one was, backing strip on the same side, and start every bolt by hand before tightening any of them. Tighten from the middle outward in stages. Rubber creeps: if you pull one end down fully before the other has started, the blade sits proud at the far end and wears unevenly from the first hour.
Rotate the auger through a full turn by hand and watch the curved tip pass the housing. It should sweep close along its whole length. If it touches at one end and gapes at the other, the bolts are uneven or the shaft is bent. Our snow blower repair guide covers checking the shaft, and CSA Group sets the safety standards these machines are built and certified to.
Getting a second season out of a long curved rubber blade
The long curved rubber blade usually outlasts the straight ones, because the progressive engagement spreads the abrasion rather than concentrating it. Two habits extend it further.
Clear early. Rubber wearing against snow lasts a long time. Rubber wearing against the pavement under a thin layer of snow wears fast, and that is exactly what you are doing when you let a snowfall get packed down before starting. Second, keep off salted and sanded sections where you can. The grit that municipalities spread at intersections is the single biggest killer of auger rubber in this country, far more than cold.
Store the machine dry, off the concrete if possible, so the blade is not sitting compressed against a damp floor all summer. Our off season storage guide covers the rest of the routine, and the full wear part range is in parts and accessories.
Related parts on the same machine
While the machine is apart, two related parts are worth checking and ordering together.
Small Rubber Blade: the shortest blade in the set, and the one people most often replace on its own.
Auger Belt (Gates Truflex 4LXP700): worth inspecting while the machine is tipped over, because you can see the whole belt.
Common questions
Which way round does the long curved rubber blade fit?
The curve trails the direction of rotation so the leading tip enters the snow first and sweeps toward the chute opening. Photograph the auger before dismantling it so you have a reference.
What happens if I fit it backwards?
The machine still clears snow but throws it only a few feet, and snow packs hard into the corners of the housing. It is usually mistaken for a chute or engine problem.
Why is the long curved rubber blade curved when the others are straight?
The curve engages the snow progressively instead of all at once, which reduces shock loading through the belt and gearbox and accelerates snow toward the chute rather than just pushing it.
Can I fit a straight blade in its place?
No. The lengths and profiles are matched to positions on the auger spiral. A straight blade in a curved blade position will not seat correctly and will foul the housing.
Does the curved blade last longer than the straight ones?
Usually, because the progressive contact spreads abrasion along the blade rather than concentrating it. It is still a wear part and still needs checking every autumn.
Is stock 302110092 for single stage machines only?
Yes. Two stage machines use steel auger flighting that never touches the ground, along with adjustable skid shoes and a scraper bar.
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