Love the mower and snowblower, until last night. While clearing plow hump at the end of the driveway, blower stopped. Blinked fast orange, indicating overload. Pulled the batteries, tried again. Blower runs for 5 seconds, then overload light flashes. Same regardless of 1 or 2 batteries or position of the batteries. Batteries are fully charged. This happens under no load, I am not trying to snowblow anything.
Contacted support, found out the hard way I need a receipt for warranty service. I received this blower from my Dad who is not physically capable anymore, and no receipt. Was given an option as a one time exception to bring to Home Depot and get it repaired, with the issue being the potential repair time is 6-8 *weeks* Hard to accept that.
In perusing the site, it seems this is an issue that is reasonably common (not saying a high number!). I am an EE, and design circuits and PCBs for a living. I have asked tech support for info on how to directly diagnose and fix the issue (no response yet). I am hopeful they might consider telling me, yeah, it's usually part "x," here we'll send you one to put on the board. Or something to that effect.
Vs. possibly waiting for most of snow season to pass without the blower!
Just putting this out there for any customer support people or champions to consider letting me do this. I hereby waive all rights to my warranty, which apparently is relatively useless without a receipt anyway (my bad for not recognizing that verbiage).
Thanks.
Contacted support, found out the hard way I need a receipt for warranty service. I received this blower from my Dad who is not physically capable anymore, and no receipt. Was given an option as a one time exception to bring to Home Depot and get it repaired, with the issue being the potential repair time is 6-8 *weeks* Hard to accept that.
In perusing the site, it seems this is an issue that is reasonably common (not saying a high number!). I am an EE, and design circuits and PCBs for a living. I have asked tech support for info on how to directly diagnose and fix the issue (no response yet). I am hopeful they might consider telling me, yeah, it's usually part "x," here we'll send you one to put on the board. Or something to that effect.
Vs. possibly waiting for most of snow season to pass without the blower!
Just putting this out there for any customer support people or champions to consider letting me do this. I hereby waive all rights to my warranty, which apparently is relatively useless without a receipt anyway (my bad for not recognizing that verbiage).
Thanks.
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1,304 Points
Posted 3 months ago
Oregon Mike, Champion
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41,010 Points
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1,304 Points
He's not a guy to register things, or to save receipts. I registered it under my name, and it registered fine, so I assumed I was good to go. Thanks.
Oregon Mike, Champion
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40,990 Points
You can still get a copy of the receipt from HD or wherever he bought it.
Oh, asking out of ignorance. Did you select the "received as gift" option for the receipt when registering? I've done that a couple of times and have been wondering how it would work if I needed to make a warranty claim.
Oh, asking out of ignorance. Did you select the "received as gift" option for the receipt when registering? I've done that a couple of times and have been wondering how it would work if I needed to make a warranty claim.
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1,304 Points
It's not clear whether I selected gift or no receipt from my account. It says "no" in the receipt received field. I did put down the date I got it from him, and the place as "Relative." I assume I chose "other" and filled that in. I just spoke with him. He believes he bought it in the fall of 2016, which would put me over the assumed 2 years HD keeps receipts. The warranty also seems to state no transferring of it is possible.
Basically it comes down to I don't have a receipt and I can't get one. If others have the got as gift selection without receipt, it would seem that might be an issue for them as well.
I'm not looking to paint anything badly here. I am glad they offered me a one time exception. I am just worried about giving it to a Home Depot service black hole and not getting it back until snow season is over! Of course, they could theoretically have it done in a few days as well.
Basically it comes down to I don't have a receipt and I can't get one. If others have the got as gift selection without receipt, it would seem that might be an issue for them as well.
I'm not looking to paint anything badly here. I am glad they offered me a one time exception. I am just worried about giving it to a Home Depot service black hole and not getting it back until snow season is over! Of course, they could theoretically have it done in a few days as well.
szwoopp, Champion
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75,844 Points
If your repair reaches 4 weeks you should contact Ego CS and they will get involved and expedite the repair process with HD.
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4,362 Points
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1,304 Points
It did make it through 90% of it, then gave the problem. I have been otherwise really impressed with it. Did the whole drive and 4 neighbor's sidewalks earlier in the day with really heavy snow.
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6,432 Points
Turn down the Variable-Auger-Speed Adjustment on the snowblower...I've found with it set to high in heavier wet snow...it will cause your snowblower to blink yellow rather quickly...ALSO, let the snowblower cool off for a while with the batteries removed
(Edited)
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1,304 Points
Any speed caused the issue. Cooled off overnight, same in the morning, but see the current state below.....
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1,304 Points
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4,362 Points
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1,304 Points
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4,362 Points
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1,304 Points
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4,362 Points
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1,304 Points
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4,362 Points
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200 Points
Following. I had this occur about 20 minutes ago. Flashing light. Auger won't budge, nothing blocking it.
Blue Angel, Champion
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170,618 Points
You’ll have to give Ego Customer Service a call for troubleshooting advice. They’ll get you fixed up.
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200 Points
As it turns out, issue was unrelated to the equipment itself. Could not see it until I turned the unit on its side and had some decent light, and was surprised at the size and how tightly it was wedged. I had turned it on it's side to remove the belt cover, to see if the belt had been thrown. 
Oregon Mike, Champion
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40,540 Points
Wow, are those rocks?
szwoopp, Champion
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75,244 Points
Working now that the impediments have been removed ?
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200 Points
It was one rock ... thats how hard it was wedged.
Equipment is now humming and spinning as intended. If not for poking around on this site, I would have taken it back to HD and just looked like a dope.
Equipment is now humming and spinning as intended. If not for poking around on this site, I would have taken it back to HD and just looked like a dope.
David HD, Champion
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33,466 Points
We have a MacGyver in the midst ... thanks for sharing Cryptidon :-)
(Edited)
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1,304 Points
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110 Points
Did you ever resolve this? Three days ago I cleaned the end of driveway snow and it was very wet and boom flashing green and orange. It shuts after about 5 sec. i let mine sit for a couple of days and still same thing. If I slow motor speed to the lowest and pull and release the handle just before power shuts off it seems to then allow me to run for as long as I need. Almost like it warmed it up. Really weird. I called ego and they want me to take it to a repair shop that they authorize but will take 2-3 weeks. I wonder if anyone found a solution to this yet.
(Edited)
szwoopp, Champion
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75,244 Points
Chris I am having the same problem. Machine has been working great for 2 years. Now it runs for 5-7 seconds and then green and orange flashing on the machine. Batteries stay lit green. I am guessing some sort of overload switch was triggered and is not resetting properly.
Sounds like yours stopped working properly while doing some extra heavy work. So, that would go along with the overload theory.
Unlike Cryptidon's situation my auger spins just fine and like Chris and Michael it will run perfectly fine even throwing snow but stops after 5-7 seconds.
Off to HD for repair.
Good luck with yours.
Sounds like yours stopped working properly while doing some extra heavy work. So, that would go along with the overload theory.
Unlike Cryptidon's situation my auger spins just fine and like Chris and Michael it will run perfectly fine even throwing snow but stops after 5-7 seconds.
Off to HD for repair.
Good luck with yours.
(Edited)
szwoopp, Champion
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75,244 Points
Well I can now attest from personal experience that snow blowing in 7 second increments is still better than shoveling. Actually worked pretty well after doing some initial work with a shovel and then using the blower to go from center of the driveway to the edge. The machine worked great just like it has in the past. I just let it turn off as I walked back to the center of the driveway to do the next pass. So, even limping, I still love this machine.
more snow coming today so pushed back my trip to HD repair dept.
more snow coming today so pushed back my trip to HD repair dept.
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1,284 Points
You're nuts!
What I am finding, coming from a 2 stage propelled and prior a single stage gas where the paddles helped move you forward, is that while this Ego is a Beast, any snow >4" causes ME to nearly have a heart attack every time. It is a bear to push through anything more than ~3", and unfortunately all our snows this year have been that. And I even have the wheels on the front so this is without scraper bar friction.
This morning I think my heart rate was near 190. I hate snow and living in the Midwest!
Good luck to everyone in the coming deep freeze.
What I am finding, coming from a 2 stage propelled and prior a single stage gas where the paddles helped move you forward, is that while this Ego is a Beast, any snow >4" causes ME to nearly have a heart attack every time. It is a bear to push through anything more than ~3", and unfortunately all our snows this year have been that. And I even have the wheels on the front so this is without scraper bar friction.
This morning I think my heart rate was near 190. I hate snow and living in the Midwest!
Good luck to everyone in the coming deep freeze.
Blue Angel, Champion
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170,618 Points
Perhaps the wheels are adding resistance to getting through the snow? My Ego is extremely easy to push through everything except the plow pile, which takes some effort.
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1,284 Points
Could be, I was thinking the same. Next snow I will take them off and see. Thanks
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4,362 Points
I definitely think the wheels cause rolling resistance against the snow. Take the wheels off and let the rotating paddles help you move forward.
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1,304 Points
I resolved it by getting the situation resolved by an HD manager who was very good. Otherwise, the resolution was going to be not having the machine for multiple weeks, which was unacceptable. Kudos to HD.
szwoopp, Champion
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75,844 Points
Can you provide some detail to possibly help others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
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1,304 Points
Here's the story.
Got the overload. Contacted Ego. If I mentioned it before, this was a "gift" from my Dad who cannot snowblow anymore, and I had registered it as such, without receipt, under the impression that was ok.
When the time came for service, it took some effort for Ego to ok a "one time" repair. They told me the HD we selected was notified, and it could take 6-8 weeks. I went into HD, they had zero record of Ego contacting them. I left the machine with them.
HD called me the following morning saying the machine was operating fine, no overload. I went in to verify that, and it was working without the 5 second overload at that point. I said I'd like to leave it with them and talk to the repair guy the following morning.
In the morning, they tried it again, and it was showing overload as before. I went in to do paperwork to have it sent out for repair. A manager came in at that point (because I was complaining a bit about the 6-8 week timeframe) and he got on the phone a couple times, and found me a new replacement kit at another HD, which I went to pick up.
I went to pick it up, brought it home and one of the two batteries did not charge. AArgh. Called Ego, said what should I do. I was told I could send the battery in for replacement, but that was a couple week process, or I could just bring the whole kit back and get another. I did that. Been working ok since.
In the end, things to take away from this for me were:
1) Gifted, used, or any Ego product without a receipt is risky if you ever need repair. They may not honor the warranty. It is obvious when you read the terms, but the fact that the website allows you to register without a receipt is the problem. There should be some upfront statement about warranty repairs requiring a receipt when you register
2) If you do need repair and they can't offer an immediate exchange, be prepared to wait an excessive amount of time.
3) Complain a little at HD or wherever you bought it. They seem very accommodating.
4) HD was great about this
Got the overload. Contacted Ego. If I mentioned it before, this was a "gift" from my Dad who cannot snowblow anymore, and I had registered it as such, without receipt, under the impression that was ok.
When the time came for service, it took some effort for Ego to ok a "one time" repair. They told me the HD we selected was notified, and it could take 6-8 weeks. I went into HD, they had zero record of Ego contacting them. I left the machine with them.
HD called me the following morning saying the machine was operating fine, no overload. I went in to verify that, and it was working without the 5 second overload at that point. I said I'd like to leave it with them and talk to the repair guy the following morning.
In the morning, they tried it again, and it was showing overload as before. I went in to do paperwork to have it sent out for repair. A manager came in at that point (because I was complaining a bit about the 6-8 week timeframe) and he got on the phone a couple times, and found me a new replacement kit at another HD, which I went to pick up.
I went to pick it up, brought it home and one of the two batteries did not charge. AArgh. Called Ego, said what should I do. I was told I could send the battery in for replacement, but that was a couple week process, or I could just bring the whole kit back and get another. I did that. Been working ok since.
In the end, things to take away from this for me were:
1) Gifted, used, or any Ego product without a receipt is risky if you ever need repair. They may not honor the warranty. It is obvious when you read the terms, but the fact that the website allows you to register without a receipt is the problem. There should be some upfront statement about warranty repairs requiring a receipt when you register
2) If you do need repair and they can't offer an immediate exchange, be prepared to wait an excessive amount of time.
3) Complain a little at HD or wherever you bought it. They seem very accommodating.
4) HD was great about this
szwoopp, Champion
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75,844 Points
Thanks for all the details - good info to know.
Happy blowing!
Happy blowing!
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4,362 Points
If you don't upload the receipt when you register the Ego tool, you can always produce the receipt when you need warranty service. If you don't have the receipt you are out of luck, unless the seller has a copy of it.
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110 Points
So for me. I stored it inside my mud room for the day. Not sure if allowed things to dry. But now it seems to be working fine on first start up. Mind you my issue was the 5 seconds on then shut off. I know some couldn’t even get it to spin. And mine always has full power, just after 5 sec it would shut off.
Maybe things got really moist when I plowed the end of the driveway.
I’ll keep everyone posted if problem is legit gone for good.
Maybe things got really moist when I plowed the end of the driveway.
I’ll keep everyone posted if problem is legit gone for good.
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7,410 Points
Last season I bought a returned EGO snowblower for a few bucks thinking I could possibly get it to work. Problem was in the electronics and EGO won't sell the parts. Thing was like new so I stored it in my shed thinking some day I can piece it out (paddles/scraper bar/belt/motor...).
Anyway, while I had the beast open I could tell snow had gotten into the electrical compartment. Maybe they seal them up better today?
Anyway, while I had the beast open I could tell snow had gotten into the electrical compartment. Maybe they seal them up better today?
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1,304 Points
When I took mine apart looking for the same sort of thing, I saw water inside as well, but all the individual boards were sealed with a very thick epoxy/conformal coating, so being wet inside the compartment probably is ok.
szwoopp, Champion
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75,844 Points
yes, the parts and circuit boards are potted rather than the compartments being sealed
Blue Angel, Champion
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171,398 Points
Remember, opening a tool will void its warranty. ;-)
(Edited)
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1,304 Points
FYI, I took off the wheels I added to keep the scraper from getting stuck on uneven joints. Now the blower goes through snow like butter. Leave it to an electrical engineer to try to fix a mechanical problem. Making more work for myself. Guess I'll just deal with the joints.
Blue Angel, Champion
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171,398 Points
Lol! Thanks for sharing! :-D
szwoopp, Champion
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75,844 Points
Michael if you are dealing with concrete joints where you know their direction (unlike cracks) you can just twist the blower slightly to avoid the scraper bar catching the joints as you push forward.
This method works great for me on my concrete sidewalks
This method works great for me on my concrete sidewalks
(Edited)
Blue Angel, Champion
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171,398 Points
This technique works for me as well.
szwoopp, Champion
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75,936 Points
As reported above, my Snow blower stopped working about 2 weeks ago. Would run great for 7 seconds
then stop with blinking lights on the blower. The batteries remained
green. Actually used it twice in that condition.
Brought it into HD on 1/29, the day before the POLAR VORTEX. And even with Ego and most everything being shut down for 2 days, I was able to pick up my repaired blower last night.
They did tell me it would be 4-6 weeks if they had to send it out for repair, but the repair guy (yes it is a 1 man department) called Ego, got the parts, and got it fixed up and running in under 2 weeks.
I really think some of the bad and lengthy repair stories are a matter of the level of competence and motivation of your local HD repair guy/gal/department. My repair guy said he had not worked on many Egos (good to hear), but he seemed rather determined to fix it himself and not send it out for repair.
Supposed to snow on Sunday, so great timing. And no big snows while it was in for repair, only 1 snow of an inch or two.
Brought it into HD on 1/29, the day before the POLAR VORTEX. And even with Ego and most everything being shut down for 2 days, I was able to pick up my repaired blower last night.
They did tell me it would be 4-6 weeks if they had to send it out for repair, but the repair guy (yes it is a 1 man department) called Ego, got the parts, and got it fixed up and running in under 2 weeks.
I really think some of the bad and lengthy repair stories are a matter of the level of competence and motivation of your local HD repair guy/gal/department. My repair guy said he had not worked on many Egos (good to hear), but he seemed rather determined to fix it himself and not send it out for repair.
Supposed to snow on Sunday, so great timing. And no big snows while it was in for repair, only 1 snow of an inch or two.
(Edited)
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7,410 Points
@szwoopp
What did they replace?
What did they replace?
szwoopp, Champion
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75,936 Points
I did not get names of the parts. Ego just sent him a wiring harness with 3(?) components attached which he showed me. He said they prefer to just replace that whole group so there was no chance of a second repair needed. Ahhh - I should have snapped a picture for all you guys. Just didn't think of it at the time.
It ran great but would just turn off. So had to be some kind of overload switch.
Sorry, but I am not a mechanical type. one of the reasons I love the Ego tools. No gas mixing, carburetor clogs, endless pulling the rope to start, etc.
It ran great but would just turn off. So had to be some kind of overload switch.
Sorry, but I am not a mechanical type. one of the reasons I love the Ego tools. No gas mixing, carburetor clogs, endless pulling the rope to start, etc.
(Edited)
Blue Angel, Champion
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171,568 Points
Good to hear a warranty success story!
