Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Snowblower Reverse Problem, friction wheel, friction disc

Question
QUESTION: Hi I have a snowblower here that was given to me and after looking it over I found out it needed both belts replaced and the friction wheel was also bad. I replaced all these parts and now the snowblower will hardly move in reverse. It moves through all the forward speeds with no problems but when I use the reverse it won't move very well. I was wondering if maybe you could tell me what may be wrong. Also I tried adjusting the friction wheel to the way my owners manual suggested but it made no difference. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

ANSWER: What brand and model number do you have?  I'm betting it is still an adjustment.  Can you start the snowblower, move it to reverse, shut it off and see if the friction disc is far enough over to provide reverse?

Eric

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QUESTION: Hi the snow blower is a Noma Signature Series with a 10hp Tecumseh Snow King and has a 29" cut. The model is NS1029DEL. I tried doing what you had mentioned and the friction disc is close to the center of the friction plate. I think that someone may have put a different spring on the end of the traction cable. According to my owners manual the spring is supposed to have a circle at the end where it fastens to the arm that pushes the friction disc down to contact the plate and the one that is on my machine now just has a hook on the end and it is quite a bit longer. Right now my traction cable is adjusted to the max to make it shorter but it still has a fair bit of slack in it so I'm thinking that maybe it might be the spring issue. Would you think this may be my problem or should the friction disc be adjusted differntly.
Thanks

Answer
I still suspect the friction disc but the tenion spring may be contributing to the problem.  Almost all snowblowers with a friction disc require the disc to be on the opposite side of the drive disc to provide reverse.

Can you adjust the friction disc so it is on the opposite side of the drive disc?

Eric