A snow blower rubber blade is the part that does almost all the work on a single stage machine, and it is the part most owners never think about until the machine stops pulling itself along. This is stock number 302110078, the standard length blade in the PowerSmart single stage auger set. This listing is a snow blower rubber blade, and everything below is written about that specific configuration.
On this page
- What this snow blower rubber blade is for
- Specifications
- The ten second snow blower rubber blade wear test
- What this snow blower rubber blade fits
- How to change a snow blower rubber blade
- What to order with it
- Related parts on the same machine
- Why a snow blower rubber blade dies faster in Canada
- Common questions
What this snow blower rubber blade is for
On a two stage machine the auger only gathers snow and a separate impeller throws it. On a single stage machine there is no impeller. The auger is the whole mechanism, and the rubber blades bolted along it do three jobs at once.
A snow blower rubber blade scoops the snow. It accelerates it up the housing and out of the chute, which is why a single stage machine throws less far as the rubber wears down. And, because the blade contacts the pavement on every rotation, they pull the machine forward. That last job is the one nobody expects. A single stage snow blower has no drive wheels and no transmission: the rubber touching the ground is the drive. When owners say their machine has started to feel heavy and needs pushing, the snow blower rubber blade is almost always the reason, not the engine.
That triple duty is also why this is a wear part by design. The rubber is meant to give way so that your driveway, your deck boards and the auger itself do not. We keep the whole single stage wear set in parts and accessories.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stock number | 302110078 |
| Part type | Auger rubber blade, standard length |
| Material | Moulded rubber |
| Machine type | Single stage |
| Sold as | Single blade |
| Position | Part of a multi blade auger set |
| Hardware | Reuses existing bolts and backing strip |
This snow blower rubber blade is sold singly rather than as a set, which matters when you order. Check your parts diagram for how many your auger carries and whether it mixes lengths.
The ten second snow blower rubber blade wear test
You do not need a manual to know when a snow blower rubber blade is finished. Tip the machine back with the plug lead off or the battery out, and look at where the rubber meets the housing.
On a new snow blower rubber blade the rubber reaches the bottom edge of the housing and touches the ground when the auger turns. As it wears, a gap opens. Once you can slide a pencil between the blade tip and the ground, the machine is leaving a layer of snow behind on every pass and has lost most of its self propulsion. Once the wear reaches the steel backing strip, stop using it: steel on concrete destroys both.
The other tell is throw distance. A machine that threw 25 feet in November and dribbles snow six feet in front of itself in February has not lost engine power. It has lost the seal between blade and housing. Our piece on auger paddles and scraper bars walks through the same check with photographs.
What this snow blower rubber blade fits
This blade is the standard length item from the PowerSmart single stage auger set. Match on stock number 302110078 rather than on appearance, because the short, small and long curved blades in the same family look similar in a photograph and are not interchangeable.
If you are not certain which machine you own, the model plate is usually on the rear of the housing or under the handlebar. Take a photograph of it before you order. Every single stage machine we sell is listed in single stage snow blowers, and if yours turns out to be a two stage machine then it has no rubber blades at all and you want two stage snow blowers parts instead. The difference is explained in single stage against two stage.
How to change a snow blower rubber blade
Twenty minutes with basic hand tools. Work through it in this order.
Disconnect the power first, and mean it. Pull the spark plug lead on a gas machine, unplug a corded machine, take the battery out of a cordless one. An auger that rotates while your hand is inside the housing does not care that the engine was off. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is blunt about stored energy in powered equipment, and a snow blower auger stores plenty.
Tip the machine forward onto the housing so the auger is accessible. Photograph the assembly before you touch it, because the order of blade, backing strip and washer is easy to get wrong on reassembly. Undo the bolts holding the blade and its steel backing strip. Expect them to be seized: winter road salt gets everywhere. Penetrating oil and patience beat an impact driver, which will round the heads.
Fit the new snow blower rubber blade with the backing strip on the same side it came off, run the bolts up finger tight, then tighten evenly across the blade rather than one end at a time so the rubber seats flat. Spin the auger by hand through a full turn before you reconnect anything. Full procedure with the torque notes is in our snow blower repair guide.
What to order with it
Two things are worth adding to the same order rather than paying shipping twice.
The scraper bar along the bottom of the housing wears on the same schedule as the blades, because they wear against the same surface. If the rubber is finished the scraper usually is too. And the bolts: nylon insert locknuts are single use items, and the ones you just fought off should not go back on. Both live in parts and accessories.
If your auger uses mixed blade lengths, order the others at the same time. Fitting one new blade against three worn ones leaves the auger out of balance, which you will feel through the handlebar. More on that under our snow blower accessories range.
Related parts on the same machine
Two parts wear on the same schedule as this one, and they are worth putting in the same order rather than paying shipping twice.
22 inch Shave Plate (186C Red): the scraper bar wears against the same pavement, so it is usually due at the same time.
Auger Belt Single Stage: if the auger turns slowly or squeals under load, the belt is the next thing to check.
Why a snow blower rubber blade dies faster in Canada
A snow blower rubber blade does not mind cold. It minds grit, salt and pavement.
A snow blower rubber blade on a smooth heated driveway in Vancouver can last several seasons. The same blade on a rough broom finished concrete driveway in Winnipeg, run over road salt and the sand a municipality spreads at intersections, is sandpapered away in one. The grit is the problem, not the temperature. If your machine is clearing a driveway that meets a salted and sanded road, expect to buy a snow blower rubber blade every season and budget for it.
The single worst thing you can do to one is run it on gravel. A single stage auger touches the ground by design, so a gravel driveway feeds stone straight into the rubber and out of the chute. That is a two stage job. Snowfall totals for your own address, which decide how many hours the blade actually runs, are on Environment and Climate Change Canada climate data.
Common questions
How do I know when the snow blower rubber blade is worn out?
Tip the machine back and look at the gap between the rubber and the ground. If you can slide a pencil under it, it is done. If you can see the steel backing strip, stop using the machine until it is replaced.
Does a worn blade really affect how the machine moves?
Yes, and it is the most common complaint. A single stage machine has no drive wheels. The snow blower rubber blade touching the pavement is what pulls it forward, and a worn one turns a self propelling machine into one you have to push.
Should I replace all the blades at once?
If your auger carries several blades, yes. One new blade against three worn ones leaves the auger unbalanced and you feel it through the handlebar. It is also false economy, because the others are only weeks behind.
Can I use this on a two stage snow blower?
No. Two stage machines do not have rubber blades. They use steel auger flighting that never touches the ground, plus adjustable skid shoes and a scraper bar.
Is stock 302110078 the same as the short or small blade?
No. The short, small and long curved blades are separate part numbers in the same family and they are not interchangeable. Order by stock number, not by how the photograph looks.
Do I need new bolts as well?
If the originals use nylon insert locknuts, yes. The nylon deforms on first use and a reused locknut will not hold torque on a part that vibrates as hard as an auger.
Can I run the machine with one blade missing?
No. The auger will be badly out of balance, which damages the bearings and the gearbox far faster than the cost of the blade you saved.
How long should a rubber blade last?
Anywhere from one season to four, decided almost entirely by surface. Smooth asphalt is kind to rubber. Rough concrete, road salt and intersection sand are not.
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