Problems with brand new Craftsman 30" Snowblower

Rushing new products to market (for an uncommonly large Winter) can result in parts supplies having to "catch-up".

Do you have a lawn and garden equipment supplier that stocks belts in your area?  These belts are typically a canvas jacketed lawn and garden type belt but they may also be a raw edged notched construction.  Measure the outside circumferance and the width at the top of the belt and then shop by dimensions.  Manufacturers use commonly available sizes because they are reasonably priced.  Typically you'll find a 3/8" top width and possibly 32 to 38 inches long.  Many many industrial manufacturers make these common sizes.  Industry part number may appear as  38380.  This indicates 3/8" top width, 38.0" outside diameter.  48380 would be 4/8" top width (1/2") and 38.0" long.  Goodyear reverses the first two numbers (84380), which indicates 1/2" top width and 38.0" long.  These belts usually come in 1" increments.  Usually belts can be changed with a 3/8" socket set and a bit of time.  Your owners manual should show you how.  Part number interchanges (part number printed on belt to industry standard numbers) are also available at better lawn and garden parts distributors.  I hope this helps you find the correct belt for your machine.     
     

unfortunately the service person took the belt. It is Sears part # 954-04201. It doesn't tell me the belt dimensions for the drive belt, only on the other belt on the snowblower.

Big news!

There's an alternate 954-04201 model number belt.

It is supposedly stocked in stores - too.

A lookup in Sears Parts Direct may be able to poll you local stores.

Believe it or not, there are NO snow-blower belts available, within a 25 mile radius, here in California.

Ope. Tahoe is over 200 miles away. They got snow to be "blown" (blowed?).

"There's an alternate 954-04201 model number belt."

They just added that on the site. They added an " A" to the model #. Hopefully the repair person will figure that out. I also ordered some from Sears.com last week. Maybe I will get some eventually. I payed for expedited shipping too.

Coloartist:  954-04201 is an MTD part number.  Call MTD distributors in your area and see if someone has your belt.  Occasionally larger home and garden stores sell MTD.

My guess is that Sears sold all of there bigger snowblowers with the snowstorms out East. Hopefully the other ones work. I told them they had one more week, and then I have to either have this working or give me a refund.Luckily we have had a below average year, but that is more snow then most people will see all year.

I'll check around for the MTD part # . Thanks

edit: mtd parts online says they have it in stock. I'll check around Denver. And what do you know. The part at MTD is now:

#954-04201A

MTD throws an "A" at the end of belt numbers all the time, I've never known why.

Also, being that MTD builds this snowthrower, as well as most of the other snowthrowers carried by big box retailers, you can also try a Lowe's or Home Depot, and their similarly sized Troy Built, Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, etc., is likely to use the same belt.

Alright. Problem has been solved. My local Sears dealer replaced my snowblower with a new one. I hadn't gone to see them, because I thought the home repair people could take care of it, but if they can't get parts there is nothing they can do.

Thanks for all the advice everybody. It seems like a waste to replace a whole snowblower for a $10.00 part, but at least I have one to use for the spring when we get the most snow.

Glad to hear your local Sears took care of you, Coloartist!  Thanks for the update!

Nice catch Adam. This is Adam at his best doing what he does best.

ouch wally!  But I know you want to see the customer served.  Good for you!

What? Me bringing up the competition?

I do it all the time. Especially with snowthrower parts. In the middle of a snow storm I can't think of anyone who wants to wait 3-7 days for a snowthrower belt if it's out of stock in the store. I also don't know anyone who wants to pay $6.99 shipping for one.

The way I look at it, what's someone going to appreciate more; me saying sorry and offering to order it, or me telling them they could save some time and money by checking elsewhere first? I find most people appreciate the honesty and will usually come back and see me.

In fairness though, I do live and work within 20 miles of two dealer stores, so I do recommend they try there first ;)

anyway great show and world class just as replacing the blower to get it taken care of.

Bravo!!!!  lemons into lemonaide that is quite sweet..

A little heads up.

When you sell anything that uses consumable parts like belts bags etc.

Suggest they take home a spare or at least get one ordered.

A broken belt like this causes real trouble.

I foolishly had the same thing happen a few years ago.

had to shovel out my 75 foot driveway so I could drive to town to get a belt.

STUPID ME!!! (But I am smarter now) I have spares of everything hanging on the shop wall)

An extra set of belts is cheap insurance.  I keep an extra set of belts for my machines.  V-belts take a real beating in use and cost a relatively small amount.  I've broken one in 27 years of home ownership, on a Sunday morning at -15 F.  With a replacement, I was running again in less than 1/2 hr.  Given the tons of snow the average snowblower belt moves in its lifetime, it's quite a bargain for the price.   

I tell everyone who buys a snowthrower that extra shear pins and a belt should be a must. I usually get accused of trying to "sell them all the extras" and then I explain how many times I've sent people home without the stuff, there is a big snowstorm, they suddenly need pins or a belt, and they show up late and the shelves are bare.

Or, if you're lucky, you've never needed that extra belt for 5 years. Then your belt breaks and you have one. That avoids going to the store to find out you need a Murray belt but all the ones the store carry are MTD belts.

"There's no conversion chart?!?!"

Not that I've ever seen...

Happens all the time.

WallyP:  There are interchange catalogs available from V-belt manufacturers.  They are usually sent only to belt resellers and belt distributors.  They give the OEM part number and a cross to an industry standard number.  You can then compare part numbers and see if they interchange.  Independent lawn and garden businesses and power transmission houses typically have these interchanges.  They are a fairly well-kept secret.  Power transmission houses don't usually bother selling lawn and garden belts.  By the time they mark them up and charge incoming freight, the belts costs as much as buying off the shelf locally.  They keep the interchanges around for "government" jobs.  In other words, for their employees use.           

I have a 30 inch craftsman snow blower the impeller broke I call sears they send me out a service guy he tells my wife it is to cold to work on it I called sears to complain and tell them what is broke so they send me the part and when I get it we call and they send a man out he tells me it is to big of job and will not put the part in call the local store and tells me I have to take it in and at least helps me load it the next day sears service call my wife and says they are sending a service man out and we have to go to the store and bring it home still broke and  the lady that talked to my wife was very rude I have called sears service several times and can not get anyone that will help I highly feel if looking for a snowblower to stay away from sears so you do not end up with this kind of service!!!

Sounds like the auger has to be removed, to get at the impeller.

A FUN job in freezing weather.

Is your snow blower storage area heated?

The snow needs to be completely out of the unit, before the service tech can start taking parts off of the unit.

Having the part is easily HALF the battle (see previous "belt" post).

Good luck with the service (maybe at the store).

Maybe, the store PMT could help the servicing along, depending on his experience with snow blowers.