Your Yard King Snowblower 8/27 Is a Beast: Here’s the Secret

Winter arrives with a promise of serene, snow-covered landscapes, but also the back-breaking reality of clearing driveways and walkways. For owners of the venerable Yard King Snowblower 8/27, the challenge isn’t just the snow, but keeping a classic piece of machinery in top fighting form. You own a powerful, no-nonsense machine from an era of robust manufacturing, but finding reliable information can feel like searching for a needle in a snowbank.

The core problem many owners face is simple: this snowblower is an older model, and that comes with a unique set of challenges. From sourcing discontinued parts to troubleshooting an engine that’s seen decades of service, the hurdles are real. This guide provides the expert-level solutions you need, transforming your potential frustration into confident mastery over your machine.

Understanding the Legacy of Your Yard King 8/27

Before diving into repairs, it’s essential to understand what you have. The “8/27” designation typically stands for an 8-horsepower engine with a 27-inch clearing width. These machines were often built by Murray for various brands, featuring heavy-gauge steel and powerful Tecumseh engines known for their durability and torque.

Unlike many modern snowblowers that incorporate significant amounts of plastic, your Yard King was built to last. This heavy-duty construction is its greatest asset, but it also means that when a part fails, a direct replacement isn’t always available at the local big-box store. Knowing that your machine is a rebranded Murray, often powered by a Tecumseh engine, is the first step in unlocking a wider world of available parts and knowledge.

The Heart of the Beast: The Tecumseh 8HP Engine

The Tecumseh 8-horsepower engine is a workhorse, but it has its quirks. The most common issues owners face are related to fuel and spark. An engine that won’t start, runs rough, or surges is almost always suffering from a carburetor problem, a faulty spark plug, or stale fuel. These engines were designed before the widespread use of ethanol in gasoline, which can wreak havoc on older fuel lines and carburetor components.

Furthermore, the vibration from years of service can cause critical connections to loosen. Structural integrity is paramount for these heavy machines; periodic checks can prevent catastrophic failures. Much like how a house can settle and cause stairs to separate from a wall, the constant stress on your snowblower’s frame requires diligent inspection.

Mastering the Most Common Yard King Failures

Facing a non-functional snowblower during a blizzard is a stressful experience. The key is to diagnose and address problems methodically. Most issues fall into one of three categories: engine problems, auger and drive system failures, or structural issues.

Problem 1: The Engine Won’t Start or Runs Poorly

This is the most frequent complaint. A no-start condition can almost always be traced back to fuel, spark, or compression. A rough-running or surging engine is typically a sign of fuel starvation due to a clogged carburetor.

Solution Steps:

1. Check the Fuel: Always start with fresh, stabilized gasoline. If the fuel in the tank is more than a month old, drain it and replace it. Old gas can gum up the carburetor jets, which are tiny passages essential for a proper fuel-air mixture.
2. Inspect the Spark Plug: Remove the spark plug and check its condition. If it’s oily, black, or has a damaged electrode, replace it. A cheap spark plug tester can confirm if you are getting a strong, blue spark. A weak, orange spark is not enough for reliable ignition.
3. Clean the Carburetor: This is the most critical step for reviving a stubborn engine. The main jet, located in the bolt that holds the carburetor bowl, has minuscule holes that clog easily. Carefully remove the carburetor, disassemble it, and clean all jets and passages with carburetor cleaner and compressed air.

Problem 2: The Auger Engages but Doesn’t Turn or Throw Snow

You pull the lever, the engine groans, but the auger blades remain stationary or spin weakly. This is a classic sign of a failure in the power transmission system, specifically designed to protect more expensive components from damage.

The Hidden Savior: Shear Pins:

The most common culprit is a broken shear pin (or shear bolt). These small pins are engineered to break when the auger hits a hard object like a rock, a thick branch, or a frozen newspaper. This sacrificial failure prevents catastrophic damage to the far more expensive auger gearbox.

Solution Steps:

1. Safety First: Turn off the engine and remove the key to prevent accidental starting.
2. Locate and Inspect: Examine the auger shaft. You will find holes where the shear pins are located. If a pin is broken, you will see a partial piece in the hole or it will be missing entirely, allowing the auger to spin freely on the shaft.
3. Replace, Don’t Improvise: Always replace a broken shear pin with an OEM equivalent. Never use a standard bolt. A hardened bolt will not break as intended, transferring the damaging force directly to the gearbox and potentially causing hundreds of dollars in damage.

Problem 3: The Drive Wheels Won’t Engage

If the engine is running and the auger spins, but the snowblower won’t move forward or backward, the issue lies with the friction disc drive system. This system uses a rubber-edged wheel (the friction disc) that presses against a metal plate (the drive plate) to transfer power to the wheels.

Solution Steps:

1. Inspect the Friction Disc: Over time, the rubber on the friction disc can become worn down, glazed, or contaminated with oil. Tip the snowblower forward onto its housing for access. If the rubber is cracked or worn thin, it must be replaced.
2. Adjust the Cable Tension: The cable running from the drive lever on the handlebar controls the engagement of the friction disc. If this cable has stretched over time, it may not be providing enough tension to press the disc firmly against the drive plate. Most models have an adjustment point to tighten the cable.

The Ultimate Yard King 8/27 Troubleshooting Guide

For quick reference in the garage, a clear troubleshooting table can save you valuable time and effort. This table outlines common symptoms, their likely causes, and the recommended solutions to get your machine back in service quickly.

Symptom	Most Likely Cause	Step-by-Step Solution
Engine will not start	Stale fuel, clogged carburetor, or faulty spark plug	Replace fuel, clean carburetor main jet, and install a new, correctly gapped spark plug.
Engine runs, but auger does not turn	Broken shear pins or stretched/broken auger belt	Inspect and replace shear pins with OEM parts. If pins are intact, inspect and replace the auger belt.
Snowblower does not move forward or reverse	Worn friction disc or improper cable adjustment	Inspect the friction disc wheel for wear or glazing and replace if necessary. Adjust drive cable tension.
Poor snow throwing distance	Stretched auger belt, clogged chute, or engine running at low RPM	Check auger belt tension. Ensure chute is clear of wet, heavy snow. Confirm engine is running at full throttle.
Machine pulls to one side	Improper tire pressure or a drive system issue	Ensure both tires are inflated to the same PSI. Check wheel and axle bolts for tightness.

Proactive Maintenance: The Key to Unstoppable Performance

The best repair is the one you never have to make. A disciplined maintenance schedule will not only prevent most common failures but will also significantly extend the life of your Yard King snowblower. Treat it not as an old machine, but as a classic piece of equipment worthy of preservation.

Pre-Season Checklist (Early Fall)

Before the first snowflake falls, a thorough inspection is crucial.

• Change the Oil: Start every season with fresh oil. An oil change is the single most effective thing you can do for engine longevity.
• Inspect Belts: Check the auger and drive belts for cracks, fraying, or glazing. Replace any belt that shows signs of wear to prevent a mid-storm failure.
• Check Shear Pins: Make sure the shear pins are intact and that you have several spares on hand.
• Lubricate Moving Parts: Grease the auger shaft and any other lubrication points as specified in your manual.

Post-Season Storage (Spring)

How you store your snowblower is just as important as how you maintain it.

• Run the Engine Dry: The most critical step is to empty the fuel system completely. Add fuel stabilizer to the tank, run the engine for a few minutes to circulate it, and then shut off the fuel valve and let the engine run until the carburetor is empty and it stalls. This prevents the fuel from turning to varnish and clogging the carburetor.
• Clean the Machine: Wash off any salt and grime to prevent rust and corrosion during the off-season.
• Store Indoors: If possible, store the snowblower in a shed or garage to protect it from the elements.

Sourcing Parts for a Classic Machine

One of the biggest anxieties for owners is finding parts. Since “Yard King” was a brand name used by Murray, which was later acquired by Briggs & Stratton, your search for parts should start there. Often, a part number for a Murray or Noma machine will be identical.

Online forums and parts diagrams are your best resources. Websites that provide exploded diagrams for your model number are invaluable for identifying the exact part number you need. Once you have that, searching online marketplaces and dedicated small engine part suppliers will often yield results. Sometimes, a high-quality upgrade, such as looking for a Buster and Punch alternative when replacing worn-out handle grips or controls, can provide a modern and more durable solution than the original part.

Your Yard King 8/27 is more than just an old snowblower; it is a testament to an era of durable, repairable, and powerful machinery. While it may require more attention than a modern machine, its all-metal construction and powerful engine give it a snow-clearing capability that many newer models lack. With the right knowledge and a proactive maintenance approach, you can ensure this winter beast remains a reliable powerhouse for years to come. The effort invested in understanding and caring for your machine will be repaid every time you clear your driveway with ease, leaving lesser machines stuck in the cold.