Snow Blower Shear Pin Sizes & OEM Part Numbers by Brand

Snow-blower shear pins (shear bolts) are sacrificial fasteners: they're designed to snap when the auger jams, protecting the gearbox and drive train from a much more expensive failure. The catch is that the right pin is a specific grade and size — substitute a hardware-store grade-5 bolt and it won't shear when it should. Below are the OEM part numbers and dimensions by brand, cross-referenced from manufacturer parts catalogs and authorized-retailer fitment listings.

Where these numbers come from: There is no manufacturer torque table for shear pins — the useful data is OEM part numbers and their fitment. “Medium” confidence here means a brand-owned parts catalog (troybilt.com, cubcadet.com, deere.com, ariens.com) is the direct source; everything else is a parts-house cross-reference. Never substitute a standard grade-5/grade-8 bolt — that defeats the shear-protection design and can destroy the gearbox.

Ariens

Ariens uses TWO distinct shear-bolt diameters depending on series tier -- a genuine differentiating fact, not just a part-number difference. Compact/Classic/Sno-Tek/Crossover (smaller two-stage models) use 1/4" bolts; Deluxe/Platinum/Professional (larger two-stage models) use 5/16" bolts. These are NOT interchangeable.

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
shear bolt, Classic/Compact/Sno-Tek/Crossover series	53200500 (kit of 3, includes bolt 03204300 + nut 06500812)	1/4" x 1-7/16"	Compact, Classic, Sno-Tek, Crossover two-stage snow blowers	medium
shear bolt, older ST-series two-stage (e.g. ST524/ST624/ST724)	532005 (1-7/16" length) / 510016 (1-5/8" length)	1/4"-20 thread, length varies by exact model/generation (1-7/16" or 1-5/8")	ST524, ST624, ST724 and similar legacy Ariens two-stage models; this same pin is also cross-referenced for co-branded John Deere 524D/724D units (see John Deere entry) -- evidence these were built on a shared Ariens platform.	medium
shear bolt kit, Deluxe/Platinum/Professional series	52100100 (kit of 3, includes bolt 00659100 + nut 06500826)	5/16" diameter (exact length not independently confirmed in this pass; Ariens' own product page did not list dimensions -- only the retailer/reseller listings did)	Deluxe, Platinum, Professional two-stage snow blowers; also sold under legacy name "Shear Bolt Kit PRE-2008 DELUXE PROFESSIONAL"	medium
shear bolt, heavy-duty Professional models	07002026	.375-16 x 2.220" (3/8" diameter)	Listed on Ariens' own parts site as a distinct, larger shear bolt from the 52100100 kit -- likely for the largest Professional 28/32-series machines. Not independently confirmed which specific models require this vs. the 5/16" kit; flagged as a gap for follow-up.	medium
safety note	—	—	all	—

Craftsman / MTD / Troy-Bilt / Cub Cadet (shared platform)

MTD manufactures snow blowers sold under the Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, Yard-Man, Bolens, White, and Huskee nameplates. For two-stage models made 2005-or-later with a 3/4" auger shaft, a single shear-pin kit fits across ALL of these brands -- a clear differentiating fact for content ("the same pin fits your Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, and Cub Cadet").

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
shear pin + cotter pin kit, 2005+ two-stage, 3/4" auger shaft	738-04124 (also stamped 738-04124A); companion cotter pin 714-04040	1/4" x 1-1/2"	All MTD-built two-stage snow blowers 2005-or-later across MTD, Craftsman, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Bolens, Yard Machines, Yard-Man, Yardworks, and White brands with a 3/4" auger shaft. Cited by name: Cub Cadet/Troy-Bilt Storm 2410, 2660; Craftsman 24", 26" snow throwers.	high
shear pin, alternate/older part number cross-reference	710-0890	not independently confirmed in this pass	Older Troy-Bilt/Cub Cadet/MTD two-stage models (pre-2005 or different shaft diameter) -- treated by aftermarket sellers as a distinct SKU from 738-04124, implying it is NOT a straight substitute; verify shaft diameter/model year before ordering.	low
shear pin, another cross-referenced SKU seen in the same family	738-04155 / 738-05273	not independently confirmed in this pass	Also cross-referenced to Troy-Bilt/Cub Cadet/Craftsman/MTD two-stage models by multiple aftermarket sellers; exact model-year/shaft-diameter split between this and 738-04124 not confirmed -- flagged as a gap.	low
safety note -- do not substitute grade 5/8 hardware	—	—	all	medium

Toro

MAJOR differentiating content angle for Tier 2: Toro's two-stage "Power Max" series does NOT use true shear pins on the auger. The bolts attaching the auger to the auger shaft on these models are plain attachment bolts, not sacrificial shear hardware -- the drivetrain instead relies on a deliberately strong gearbox plus engine-stall / belt-slip behavior to absorb an obstruction impact. This has been true across Toro's two-stage line for a long time ("going all the way back to the barrel auger days" per one source) and is a frequent point of confusion for owners used to other brands.

Toro Power Max two-stage models don’t use sacrificial shear pins — the auger-to-shaft bolts are structural, not breakable.

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
auger-to-shaft attachment bolts (NOT shear pins)	—	not applicable -- these are structural attachment bolts, not a sacrificial/breakable design	Power Max two-stage series (e.g. 726 OE, 826 OXE/OAE, and the broader Power Max line) and other modern Toro two-stage snow blowers.	medium
Anti-Clog System (ACS)	—	—	Power Max series	medium
safety note	—	—	Power Max / no-shear-pin models	low

Husqvarna

Husqvarna's OEM shear-bolt-and-nut kits are shared across their ST-series two-stage models (e.g. 570XP, 575XP, 576XP), per the retailer fitment listing that names those models against a single kit part number -- suggesting (not fully confirmed) a shared-platform pin across at least those three models.

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
shear bolt & nut kit (6-pack), 2-stage	580790401 (kit); individual bolt cross-referenced as 588077501 / 588077502; also 539976978, 595086601 seen bundled in the same multi-brand-compatible kit listing	Two dimension variants reported across listings: 1/4" x 1-9/16" (per one detailed spec) and 1/4"-20 x 1-3/4" / 1/4"-20 x 1-13/16" (per others) -- these do not all agree, likely reflecting different Husqvarna model years/series bundled under similar-looking part numbers. Confirm exact length against the specific model before ordering.	570XP, 575XP, 576XP and other 2-stage Husqvarna snow blowers/throwers.	low
shear pin, clevis-style	532132673	not independently confirmed in this pass	Referenced as a "pin clevis shear" -- likely a different application (e.g. attachment linkage) rather than the auger shear pin; flagged so it isn't conflated with the auger pin above.	low
safety note	—	—	all	—

John Deere

John Deere's two-stage snow blowers (524D, 724D and similar D-series) appear to have been built on a shared Ariens platform, per Stens' fitment listing that cross-references the identical shear pin against both John Deere 524D/724D and Ariens ST524/ST624/ST724 -- a useful differentiating fact (John Deere didn't design these in-house). Larger John Deere tractor-mounted snowblower attachments (e.g. quick-hitch 54" models for compact tractors like the 1025R) use different, tractor-specific shear hardware.

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
shear pin, 524D/724D walk-behind two-stage (shared with Ariens ST524/ST624/ST724)	AM123342	1/4" outer diameter x 1-7/16" length	John Deere 524D, 724D (and cross-referenced Ariens ST524/ST624/ST724, evidence of shared-platform manufacturing)	medium
shear pin, larger John Deere walk-behind models	AM122156	2" length, 5/16"-18 thread	Larger John Deere two-stage walk-behind snow blowers (specific models not confirmed in this pass).	low
shear pin, E91142	E91142	2-1/4" (57.20mm) length, 0.78" (19.80mm) diameter, 0.2" (5.16mm) hole/pin diameter	Not confirmed which specific John Deere models use this part -- listed on Deere's own parts store (shop.deere.com) but the model-fitment data wasn't captured in this pass.	medium
shear bolt, quick-hitch 54" tractor-mount snowblower (e.g. 1025R compact tractor)	19H1914 (bolt), M40333 (nylock nut)	not independently confirmed in this pass	John Deere 54" quick-hitch snowblower attachment for compact utility tractors (e.g. 1025R) -- a different product category (3-point/quick-hitch mounted) than the walk-behind 524D/724D, with its own distinct hardware.	low
safety note	—	—	all	—

Simplicity (and Snapper, shared platform)

Simplicity and Snapper snow blowers/throwers share the same OEM shear pin part numbers across brands (both owned by Briggs & Stratton), evidenced by retailers listing 703063 (Simplicity) as directly cross-compatible with 1668344SM / 1686806YP (Snapper) and Murray-branded units.

Part / Component	OEM Part Number	Dimensions	Fits	Confidence
shear pin with cotter pin	703063 (Simplicity); cross-referenced as 1668344SM and 1686806YP (Snapper); also cross-referenced to Murray 703063 branding and Snapper 7015257/7015257YP/80003919	1/4" x 1.750" (also described elsewhere in the same family as 1/4" x 1-5/8" -- likely reflecting two closely related but distinct part numbers bundled together by resellers; verify exact length against the specific model).	Simplicity and Snapper snow throwers/blowers (shared Briggs & Stratton-owned brand platform); also cross-sold as fitting Murray-branded units.	medium
safety note	—	—	all	low

Why does a snow blower use a shear pin instead of a solid bolt?

Shear pins are a deliberately weak, sacrificial link between the auger and its drive shaft. When the auger jams on ice, gravel, or a buried object, the pin snaps before the load reaches the gearbox — a $2 pin replacement instead of a stripped gearbox or bent auger shaft.

Can I substitute a grade-5 or grade-8 bolt for a shear pin?

No. A grade-5/8 bolt is stronger than the OEM shear pin and won’t snap when it should, so the jam load transfers straight into the gearbox — the exact failure the shear pin exists to prevent. Always replace with the OEM part number for your model.

Does every snow blower brand use the same shear pin?

No — pin diameter, length, and thread vary by brand and often by series within a brand (e.g. Ariens uses 1/4" pins on compact models and 5/16" on Deluxe/Platinum). Match the OEM part number for your exact model rather than assuming a pin from a similar-looking machine will fit.

Does Toro use shear pins?

Toro’s Power Max two-stage line does not use sacrificial shear pins on the auger — the bolts are structural, and the gearbox plus engine-stall/belt-slip behavior absorbs the jam instead. Don’t hunt for a "Toro shear pin part number" on these models; there isn’t one.

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