268 Snowblower: Fixer up!
 

I looked back through my started threads..... can't see where I ever had a thread on this. Back in August, I made a trip to see my brother (sirlancelot). While I was out there I met up with Tim (Olds) and picked up a couple 268 snowblowers. (Thanks again Tim!) One for Lance, and one for me. Brought mine back home and put it in the shed. Well.... I'm like any other guy and didn't bother to get it out to work on it until after the snow is melting, but I guess better late than never, right? I had some plans that got canceled for today, so I thought why not work on it. Drug it out and down to the shop and dug in. Need some parts for it, and of course they are NLA. I've got my "feelers" out, but if nothing turns up, I'm sure I can fab an alternative.

Basically, all I did today was put the handles back on, hook up all the controls, and lubricate the trans parts. Took the blower housing off, and pulled the impeller and augers out so I can repair where it's cracked, and fix the impeller. Don't know what the last guy who ran it fed into it, but looks like chunks of ice. (No, it wasn't Tim, lol.) I'll fix the impeller and have it balanced. I balanced the impeller on my 450 blower after the same repair, and I couldn't believe how much smoother it ran. Worth it. Have to fix that cutting edge too! You think the wear edge is bad, you should see the back side. Going to take some time to fix it.

No, I haven't even looked at the engine. At the moment, it does not run, but I don't think there is anything major wrong with it. Even if there is, I'll find another engine for it. Figured I'd repair the chassis first. Engine is NBD.

Here's the pix, just so you can see what I'm seeing.

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Looks well cared for, just used a lot and had a piece or two of something pretty solid ingested in it along the way? How are you going to balance it? Driveshaft shop?:bigthink:

Nice!:beerchug:

It does appear to be well cared for. Although, I don't "care" for some of the care it got, lol. I'll try and get some pics of some of the repairs. Guy did a decent job, but could have done better I think. Letting that scrape edge wear out the housing like it did is one neglect.

On the impeller, all 4 blades look like that. Yes, I have a friend with a trans shop who builds drive lines. He has a balancer. He can do combine choppers too John! Actually, he was one of the first guys to balance a chopper!


Thank ya!

What are you doing working on a walk behind snow blower, isn't that what Cubs with cabs are for? :biggrin2: I look forward to seeing the end result :beerchug:

Lol. Yes, but I'm getting older and lazier. Cab and blower are in the shed, and I don't want to dig them out to put them on. If I can get one more tractor up and going that I have, then the blower and cab are getting mounted to stay on the 1811.

Nah, really, I wanted an IH walk behind. I don't know how much use it will get, but just like everything I have, it will get used. I'll probably use it for the "hard to reach" areas, or just out here at my house just so I can say I used it.


As a note, I now have a 268 blower and a 526 tiller. I just need to find a push mower, and I think I'll have one of each of the walk behind equipment. I've lost count how many implements I have now. Tiller is still at Lance's. I have to get it home. He found it for me. I have such an awesome bro! I have two tractors I picked up for him here, so I guess it's fair, lol. :beerchug:

Years ago I was researching choppers and found some shop in the Midwest area that was doing it. Called and talked to the guy, nice fellow. Claimed to be one of the first to do such. Never sent mine, just lived with it no more than I was using it--it wasn't horrible but it could have used some help. The only shop I knew of here that built drivelines couldn't balance my chopper.

So what HP engine is on that machine? I'll guess 8 at the most. I assume you'll tune it up and get it running. Just wondering how hard those older air cooled ROPE START machines are to crank in freezing weather. I actually had a NOS Briggs 110V starter kit. Don't ask how it wound up this far south. Had everybody here scratching their head WHY such a thing existed. Took a Yankee to educate us on that one!

Yeah, Brian claims to be one of, if not the first to balance a chopper. He's in Terre Haute, Indiana. All-Tran Transmission.

Anywho, yes, 8hp motor. Yeah, when I get done with the chassis stuff, I'll dive into the engine. At the moment, either need to clean out, or find another fuel tank. This one is full of rust. May have a hole in it.... I dunno. Didn't really look. It will get all tuned up and running good. :biggrin2:

I'm sure that ol' 8hp isn't going to be pleasant to start. They did offer an electric start on them. I figure it won't be any harder than any other rope start motor is. All the load disengages, so it's not like you have to roll anything along with starting is, except a jackshaft. :beerchug:

I have a bit of interest in a walk behind blower....
-doesn't take up a lot of space in the garage.
-Wouldn't need to put a thrower on the 147 (has a blade now)
-Wouldn't need to run the 147 at WOT.
-Wouldn't need to buy another cub because once the blade is on the 147 it ain't coming off.
-It would help when the snow gets deep and it doesn't want to be pushed anymore.

BUT

The winters aren't bad enough yet in the 6 years I've lived in this house to necessitate a thrower/blower. So...I'll probably never buy one. :biggrin2:

Daniel, there is nothing wrong with owning something you don't need very often. I have a generator too.... I hope I don't have to use it, but sometimes I do, and it's nice to have! :beerchug:

I'm seriously considering that myself, you could find just about anything, or build something with spare parts lol.

That's a nice looking walk behind tho. Going to get chains get it when you get it back in shape? Congrats on your new "walk behind" adventure! Best of luck amigo!

Trent

I don't know if I'll get chains, or upgrade the tires, or maybe both....? Hadn't decided.

Yeah, I'm getting to the point that a dedicated winter tractor is best. I do have plenty I could fix up, and I have two cabs, sooooooo.......:bigthink:

Looks like an Ariens built machine. Ariens still sell parts for my 524 and 1032. Really beefy machines. Could be wrong but I know they made blowers for John Deere and the like for awhile.

Might wanna do some impeller mods if it clogs or throwing distance isn't what you want. A good coat of paint would go along way.

Definitely some differences but still look similar. 1960's Ariens 8-24 sno-thro they did make a lot of changes going into the 70's

You are correct! They are Ariens built machines. Already scouring for parts from them for what I need..... trying to identify the machine closest to mine. I came up with one very similar to yours. You are also correct, they made blowers for Deere too. Actually, they made blowers for several manufacturers.

I'm going to repair the impeller, add some braces and balance it. Probably won't do anymore than that.

Paint???? Not on the impeller blades, or the inside of the housing and chute. Nothing is more slick than polished metal. NOTHING. Polish the impeller, the housing and the chute, and that pig will blow I guarantee it. When season is over, coat it in used motor oil and put it away. It may slightly surface rust, but it will shine up in minutes. :ThumbsUp:
Nope... no paint in the blower housing on my blowers, or on my moldboard plows! :beerchug:


The one you posted a pic of is the same as an older 269 snowblower. It's like the one my brother got. Mine is around a 77/78 we think. don't have the clutches on the blower drive like you. Mine has it on the control panel. Similar..... but a bit older. I'm thinking mine is more like a Ariens 924 series.

Good to see a repair thread out of you Jon.:biggrin2: No, really.:beerchug:
Sounds like a good project.:popcorn:

Thanks Todd!

I thought things were slow here..... I don't usually start repair threads. Just another job for me. It's what I do, lol. This one is kind of a rare bird though. Don't see many threads on the walk behind equipment. I think it's cool!

I went down and worked on it some more this evening. I haven't had time to upload the pics, but I'll update the thread soon. I kind of want to finish what I started today, so I can post before and after pics together. :biggrin2:

J just remember....

Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!!

That's what I tell the wife anyways!!! : - )

Words full of wisdom!:beerchug:

This don't necessarily apply to stepmother...:biggrin2:

https://www.gilsonsnowblowers.com/snowvintage.html

Cool looking blower. Hope the repairs go smoothly!:beerchug:

Right...I have limited storage space so I try not to acquire things I won't use. Yeah I know, build a shed.... :BlahBlah:

I agree Randy! That's why I have more things than I have room to store! Have to rent a shed to put them all in. :angry:

Unfortunately, my wife also lives by the same philosophy...... and we have too much crap that is just piled up. We have a crib, baby toys, pack and play, a million car seats... and we don't have any babies, and NOT going to have anymore!! (Yes, quite sure on that one.) She keeps telling me it's "in case" she needs it babysitting. I told her I would be happy to buy all that sh!t again when (***IF***) she ever needs it again!


It's all still here...... :bash2:



Thanks Steve.... but that never happens, lol. :RollEyes2:

So, I'll give an update.

Not much progress to really show.... But I have the blower housing stripped down, and have started the welding repairs. In the pics below, I welded farther than the factory welds, but after much internal debate (with myself) I have decided to solid weld the mounting flanges, and the impeller housing to the auger housing. When you weld things together, sometimes there is no benefit to solid welding something together, as stitch welds will hold just fine. After looking at the stitch welds on the machine, the high stress areas were all broken out, and I think solid welding it will make it stronger. I honestly think it was a simple cost vs expected life that kept them from doing so at the factory. So, what welding I have done, there will be much, much more. Then..... I ran out of Argon/CO2. :bash2: So.... stopped me for a while. My lease on my Argon bottle is up, so this is going to be a costly refill.... like $200. That's more than I intended to spend on this whole project, so I moved on to some other repairs until I make some more "play moneys", lol.

Started taking the impeller off the driveshaft. Of coarse, it is rusted stuck on. After heating and air hammering it for maybe 15 min, I heated it up again, soaked it in Kroil and let it sit. Tomorrow, I'm hoping it will just fall off on it's own.... :RollEyes2:

Just as a note to you guys: When heating something to facilitate removal, you have to heat the part (in this case the tube on the impeller) but not heat the shaft it is on, as doing so causes it to also swell, and thus gains nothing. You have to quickly heat the tube, try to move it, and you may get one more chance at a heat before the shaft gets too hot and everything seizes again. Seen guys time and again just keep heating and beating, them not knowing they were causing themselves more harm than help. Once it's hot.... let it cool completely and start over again. Yes, that may take even a couple hours if it's a large piece, but that's just how it is. I'll try again tomorrow.

I did get the augers off the shaft, and plan to take the auger drive box apart to clean, lube and seal it up. I also think I may see about getting stainless shafts made to replace the ones that the blower and augers ride on. I hate that the shaft rusts and things get stuck. Never know when you might bend an impeller blade and have to take it all apart again. I don't want to deal with a stuck impeller again.

I called Maple hunter today to ask about making me a COMPLETE new set of decals for this machine. (Why do these projects always go from "just get it running" to "COMPLETE overhaul"????) I'm in the process of taking measurements and pics to send off to them so they can reproduce an entire set of decals for this machine. Hope they only charge for the making and not the designing. Hate to have to pay to be the guinea pig. :bigeyes:

I figure if I'm going to weld up the whole blower housing, then why not just sandblast it and paint it. Be easier to weld with the paint removed, and look better all painted than just painting what I burned off. Plus, it would be nice to own something really nice. All my equipment is mechanically good, but nothing pretty to look at. I've got it all apart.... why not paint it?? (Oh yeah.... because I don't have a paint booth. Why does Olds have to be so far away??)


Here's some pics, just so you guys know I can weld. Not my best work, but I'm not using the ESAB. Just the Lincoln. :biggrin2:
Yes, in the first pic there is weld over weld. That was an area where it had cracked. I doubled it up to help give it some strength, and make sure the crack got welded good. :beerchug:

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Oh, here is the lower auger housing after the cutting edge was removed. Told you guys it was bad. I'm going to cut it off, make a new piece, weld it in, then make a new cutting edge and bolt it on. I used to do a lot of trading with my local welding shop... and they just got a new waterjet. I'll have them make both pieces. Slotted holes and square holes will be easy for that machine to make. :biggrin2:

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You're not done yet? What's the hold up? :biggrin2:

Not to start any arguments on the claim of balancing straw choppers first but I was a youngster when Dad had his done up the road aways. Sioux Automation. I’m guessing 1970s.
It does make a huge difference how the combine feels.

You must mean one of these, comes in handy when that recoil gets stiff in the cold.

Good to see your progress Jon. :beerchug:

You are missing the starter gear. :biggrin2:

No, I'm not done yet, Sam. LOL!

Thanks Dave!

Lew, I'm liking that starter kit!!!! :drool2::drool2:
I think the flywheel already has a gear on it, doesn't it? From the parts book, it appears that way.... :bigthink:


Not much to report today. Dropped the blower housing and cutting edge off at a welding shop to have a repair piece and new cutting edge made. Rescue11 says that's cheating, but so easy for them to cut them out on the water jet. Then I just weld on the new part, and bolt on a new edge. :biggrin2:

They got my impeller off the shaft for me too..... why not? I was going in there anyway, lol. :BlahBlah::BlahBlah:

Also stopped by and checked on a lease price for my empty Argon bottle.... .it wasn't as bad as I thought, but I have another deal I just made and am going to spend the $100 elsewhere for this week. I'll have another thread on that later..... probably early next week. I'm pretty excited about it!!! :biggrin2:

Got my parts back from the welding shop today. Busy day, and busy evening. I just picked them up, dropped them off at my building and had to run home. Post pics tomorrow! They are NICE. Water jet machines do amazing work. I was impressed! :beerchug:

Looking good Jon! I like to see these kind of threads going and it looks like your doing a great job with lots of details. Not much going on in the forums lately cause I think it's too cold everywhere. Not many if any snowblowers down here so all I can do is:popcorn:.

Glad I sold that thing. Looks like way more work than I'd want to do.:biggrin2:

Thanks Todd!

Tim, it's not bad. That Crown Vic you did a while back was far worse. Only "bad" thing on this was the cutting edge and the area it bolts to. All the rest is just weld repair, paint and pretty. Well..... I haven't gotten to the engine yet I guess. One thing at a time.

I think the engine will be fine. It seems to have plenty of compression so once you get the spark figured out I'm sure it will fire right up.

I agree. That's why I hadn't worried about it at all. Motor feels nice and tight, good compression. I think it will be an easy fix. Gotta find a fuel tank, or clean that old one though..... nasty!

Looks good to me, pretty sure something more important will fail before those welds.:beerchug:

That's what I'm hoping! :beerchug:

So.... I remember why I don't do these threads very often..... It takes a lot of time to document the work, upload pics, and write the articles. WHEW! I'm tired today.


Well, after I ran some errands in town, looked at a guys car while I was in there, went back to the shop, took off an alternator on a Jeep, and pulled the transmission out of a 1 ton Dodge dually, I got a few minutes to work on the blower before it was time for supper. (That's not all I did today, that's just the highlights, lol.)

First things first. Here are the pics of the new repair edge for the lower housing and the new wear edge.

Wear edge has square holes, the weld on repair piece has the slotted holes. I had them made just longer than I needed, so I can cut them to length. Look how good that water jet cuts the square and slotted holes!! I was impressed!!

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I took the auger drive gearbox apart. Still up in the air on whether I'm going to replace the shafts with stainless, or have new ones made that are steel. Waiting on some info from Jeff to see if it will lose too much strength going to stainless or not. Good thing I took the gearbox apart. Needs new seals, and it was dry! Not bone dry.... the parts still had some oil on them. Gears look fantastic, and so do the bearings. It will just get cleaned up, new seals and gaskets installed (shafts) and go back together. Likely will get my "special mix" of grease/gear oil, but may just buy some JD corn head grease and put in it. To be decided.

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I then moved on to fixing the impeller. Loaded up the anvil I have at home and took it to the shop. Damn that thing is HEAVY! It was given to me by my granddad, and I think he got it from his dad, who didn't buy in new. I don't know how old it is, but it's O-L-D. Likely well over 100 years, but I could be wrong. It's about wore out. I've never seen an anvil as wore out as this one. BUT.... it still works! At least for what I use it for. It didn't take too long to have the impeller all ironed out. It now lays flat on the floor on both the back side, and sits on all 4 impeller blades when you flip it over. I have to do some welding to it, but at least it's straight now. Not sure if I will add anymore gussets or not. Probably should, as since they got bent once, they will bend easy again. No heat applied when straightening them. Just anvil and 3lb sledge. Took maybe 15 minutes to straighten them out.

Before:

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After:

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All in all I didn't work on it but maybe an hour today total. That's enough for one day. Almost at a stand still now. Need to get my pics rounded up of the decals and get an email sent to Maple Hunter to see if they can make them for me. Can't sandblast the housing until I have a replacement decal. Don't want to screw it up until I have a new matching one in hand. Also have to get more Argon gas for the welder. Bills come first.... oh, and that other thing I'm picking up Monday... pics to follow then. :biggrin2:

See ya guys. Thanks for the compliments and interest! :beerchug:

Our "metal engineer" wasn't in on his usual day so I have no info on whether stainless would be acceptable for the shafts.

Sorry

No problem Jeff. Waiting patiently. I have to get with Maple Hunter on some decals before I can sandblast the housing anyway. Plus, still haven't gotten any gas for the MIG. :angry: