5 Best Husqvarna Snow Blower Drift Cutters For Beginners That Bust Through Tall Drifts

That wall of snow the town plow leaves at the end of your driveway isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a solid, compacted barrier between you and the rest of the world. Trying to ram a snow blower through it often leads to the machine riding up and over, or worse, bogging down completely. This is where drift cutters, one of the most underrated snow blower accessories, prove their worth for anyone managing a small property. They’re a simple, brilliant solution that turns a frustrating chore into a manageable one.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Understanding Drift Cutters for Your Husqvarna

Drift cutters are essentially tall metal bars that you bolt onto the sides of your snow blower’s auger housing. Their job is simple but critical: to slice into snow drifts that are taller than the machine’s intake. They knock the high snow down into the augers, allowing the machine to process it in manageable bites.

Think of it this way. Without them, your snow blower is like a shovel trying to eat a wall. With them, it’s like a knife that slices the wall into pieces the shovel can actually handle. This prevents the front of your snow blower from "climbing" up the drift, which is both inefficient and can be a bit dangerous.

This simple addition transforms your machine’s capability. Instead of taking multiple, shallow passes or ramming into a tall drift, you can make a single, clean pass. It saves time, fuel, and wear and tear on your engine and transmission, which is a big deal when you have paths to the barn or chicken coop to clear before your morning coffee.

Husqvarna 581895101: For 200/300 Series Blowers

If you own a modern Husqvarna 200 or 300 series snow blower, this is your go-to kit. It’s an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part, which means it was designed by Husqvarna specifically for these machines. There’s no guesswork involved.

The benefit of sticking with an OEM part like the 581895101 is the guaranteed fit. The bolt holes will line up perfectly with the pre-drilled holes on your auger housing. The powder-coated finish will match your machine, and the kit includes the correct bolts and nuts. For a beginner, this eliminates the frustration of trying to make a universal part work.

This kit is built for the typical conditions these machines face. The steel is strong enough to handle deep, wind-blown powder and moderately compacted drifts without bending. It’s the standard, reliable choice that gets the job done without any fuss.

Husqvarna 532429995: A Versatile OEM Option

This part number is one you’ll see often because it fits a huge range of snow blowers. Beyond just Husqvarna, it’s compatible with many Poulan, Poulan Pro, and even some Craftsman models made by the same parent company. This makes it a fantastic option if you bought your machine used and aren’t 100% certain of its lineage.

The 532429995 kit is another OEM-quality product, so you can expect solid construction and a proper fit, provided it’s listed for your model. It’s a workhorse part, designed to meet the specs for dozens of different snow blowers. This versatility is its greatest strength.

However, "versatile" doesn’t mean "universal." The biggest mistake a beginner can make is buying this part without confirming it fits their specific model number. Always cross-reference your machine’s model number with the part’s compatibility list. Taking five minutes to check the manual or look online saves you the headache of a return.

Husqvarna 596288001: Heavy-Duty Steel Design

When you’re dealing with more than just fluffy powder, you need something tougher. The 596288001 kit is built with a heavier gauge of steel than the standard options. This is the kit for the person who consistently faces deep, wet, or compacted snow.

Think about the end-of-driveway plow pile, which is often a mix of snow, slush, and chunks of ice. A standard drift cutter might flex or bend when it hits a hidden ice block. This heavy-duty set is designed to resist that kind of punishment, slicing through dense material without deforming.

This is an investment in durability. If you live in an area that gets lake-effect snow or heavy, coastal storms, the extra cost for a heavy-duty kit is easily justified. It’s the difference between clearing the path and having to stop to bend a piece of metal back into shape.

Husqvarna 585474301: Ideal for Tall, Icy Drifts

Some snow isn’t just deep; it’s hard. When a drift has a frozen, crusty layer from melting and refreezing, it can feel like you’re trying to blow through concrete. The 585474301 kit is engineered for this exact scenario, often featuring a more aggressive angle or a sharper leading edge.

The design of these cutters is focused on fracturing that hard top crust before it reaches the augers. This prevents the violent jarring and shuddering that happens when your auger smacks into a solid sheet of ice. By breaking it up first, it allows the machine to process the snow smoothly, which is much easier on your shear pins and gearbox.

This is a specialized tool for a specific problem. If your main challenge is light, powdery drifts, this might be overkill. But if you frequently deal with icy, wind-scoured drifts that your current setup just bounces off of, this kit can be a complete game-changer.

Husqvarna 532192215: Fits Older ST Model Series

Just because your snow blower has a few seasons on it doesn’t mean it can’t be upgraded. Many of us run older, reliable machines, and this kit is designed for them. The 532192215 is specifically made to fit many of the legacy Husqvarna ST series models.

Buying used equipment is a smart way to manage costs on a hobby farm, but finding parts can sometimes be a challenge. This kit ensures that a perfectly good, older snow blower isn’t left behind. It allows you to add modern functionality to a machine that still has years of life left in it.

Before you buy, it’s absolutely crucial to verify your model number. On older machines, the sticker might be faded or worn. Look carefully on the main housing for a plate or sticker with the "ST" model designation and check it against the part’s compatibility chart. This ensures your trusty old blower gets the upgrade it deserves.

Matching the Right Kit to Your Snow Blower Model

The single most important step is matching the drift cutter kit to your snow blower’s model number. Guessing is a recipe for frustration. The model number is almost always on a silver or white sticker located on the main body of the snow blower, typically on the auger housing or down near the wheels.

Once you find that number, your job gets easy. You can either consult your owner’s manual or use that number to search for parts on the Husqvarna website or other parts suppliers. The system will tell you exactly which drift cutter part number is designed for your machine. Don’t assume parts are interchangeable, even if they look similar.

Here’s a simple habit to adopt: take a clear photo of your model number sticker with your phone. This way, whether you’re at the store or ordering online, you always have the exact information you need. It’s a two-second task that prevents ordering the wrong part.

Simple Installation Tips for Your New Drift Cutters

Don’t be intimidated by installing these yourself. It’s one of the easiest upgrades you can do, and it typically takes less than 15 minutes with basic tools. The auger housing on compatible models comes with pre-drilled and threaded holes right from the factory.

First, for safety, park the snow blower on a flat surface, turn it off, and remove the ignition key. You’ll usually need a simple socket wrench or a pair of adjustable wrenches. The kit will come with two drift cutter bars and the necessary bolts and nuts.

Simply line up the bar with the holes on the side of the auger housing and thread the bolts in by hand. Once they’re started, tighten them down with your wrench until they are snug. There’s no need to apply excessive force; you just want them to be secure. If you find yourself needing to drill a hole, you have the wrong kit for your model.

Ultimately, adding a set of drift cutters is a small, affordable upgrade that pays huge dividends in performance and time saved. It allows your machine to work smarter, not harder, by efficiently breaking down the very drifts that used to stop it in its tracks. For a hobby farmer who can’t afford to be snowed in, it’s one of the best investments you can make for your winter toolkit.