450 Restoration - Page 2

jimmy680 · #11 02-13-2012, 07:09 AM

Hello everyone,

I managed to make some progress with the 450 blower. I mounted the augers on the auger shaft and installed the assembly into the blower housing. I found it much easier to install with the drive box removed. It's just too bulky and heavy an assembly to hold onto while trying to align the drive splines. I messed up the paint on the inner blower side panels. The ends were toed in about a quarter to three eighths of an inch. The auger shaft scraped the paint enough to be noticeable. I lifted the auger assembly up and slipped it in at an angle. I'm glad I used Rustoleum as it will need a touch up.
After having it all together I check for smooth movement of the mechanism. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I found the blower / auger gear binding after a couple of revolutions. This did't occur prior to dis assembly so I knew I goof something up. I also noticed the augers were reversed. I had the left on the right and the right on the left. Woops. So I took it all apart. I opened up the auger gear box and flipped the shaft end for end. I installed the blower auger assembly with the augers correctly placed. A few spins by hand of the drive pulley showed no binding at all.
Now for one last item. For all you experts please pay particular attention to the last photo. It shows the rear of the blower housing. Down at the bottom is the frame is a horizontal member. A bracket bolts to this and in turn attaches to the lift assembly. Notice here it is not straight across but has a uniform shape to it. Is this supposed to be shaped this way or is it supposed to be straight across? From some pictures of similar blowers and the diagrams, I think it's supposed to be straight. What do you think?
Any way enjoy the pictures......

fleetlines · #12 02-13-2012, 09:00 AM

Really nice work.
I checked my blower but it's to different. It does appear to be bent out of shape to me though. Someone will chime in with a definitive answer.
Looking forward to the updates.
Curtis

Frank1541 · #13 02-13-2012, 09:06 AM

I checked my 450 and the bottom part is supposed to be straight. The previous owner of your unit must have run into something with the blower to bend it. That is the attachment point for a bracket that helps holds the pivot shaft. I am glad I am not the only one to put the augers on wrong the first time.

Methos · #14 02-13-2012, 10:23 AM

That looks great!

ACecil · #15 02-13-2012, 12:07 PM

Looks awesome! Thanks for the update pics.

jimmy680 · #16 02-14-2012, 09:46 PM

Here are two pics of my tractors. The 680 has the QA42b attached to it. The 1450 has the #2b tiller. When the 450 blower is finished, I'll install it on the 680 and use the QA42b on the 1450. Enjoy....

4SPEED · #17 02-14-2012, 11:56 PM

nice job, now if we only had some snow to use our attachments

fleetlines · #18 02-15-2012, 02:23 AM

Couple of sharp looking machines.
I'll be looking to go over a thrower late summer/early fall if at all possible.
Curtis

PaulS · #19 02-15-2012, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the pictorial on that 450. After winter my son and I are planning on redoing my 451. The paint on mine is pretty good but has some rust spots on it. How hard was the gear box to get apart. What sort of grease/lubricant did you use inside.

jimmy680 · #20 02-15-2012, 08:27 PM

Thanks for all the compliments. All that remains to be done is sanding and painting the drive gear cover. In the pictures you will notice it was cracked and gouged from the drive belt. I filled in the gouges with epoxy. After sanding it smooth I covered the interior and exterior with fiberglass cloth. The fiberglass will add strength to the ABS plastic.
By then winter will be over here in the east. Go figure.
Paul, the auger gearbox was easy to split. Just make sure that you mark the left and right ends of the auger shaft. That way you will reassemble it in it's original position. I reversed the reassembly and found the auger gearing was binding. I flipped it and the blower shaft and auger shaft turned as smooth as before.
As for gear lube, I ordered the CC gear lube. I had to replace the cork gasket and a oil seal so I added the gear lube with the order. I guess you could substitute any high quality gear lube.
Also carefully inspect the drive gearbox. During dis assembly I found the neck of the output side of the gearbox had cracked all the way around. I had to split it, knock out the seal and brass bushing so my welder could TIG it.