Snowblower gear lube.

[J-Mech]

Oh, Tom is right about not mixing the two different greases. I'd disassemble them both, clean them up and relube. No, I do not use a gun to put the grease in. I fill the box then reassemble. If I feel it needs more, I can always pump in some more wheel bearing grease through the zerk, then pull the zerk and add oil with an oil can. But as long as it isn't leaking, no need to add more.

FWIW, if the blower hasn't been heavily used, or doesn’t look like it is leaking... I don't think I'd mess with it, but it's not a bad idea if you think you need to. You have to take the entire blower apart to access both boxes. It's a moderate job that will take several hours.

[jerkin]

J-Mech, thanks for the advice. I figured I'd go ahead and just pull both boxes and clean them out, maybe put a grease fitting on the bottom of the auger box while I had it apart but man are those things stuck to that center shaft, lol. I thought once I unbolted the auger at both ends and the bracket that holds the gear box to the top of the housing it would just slide off the shaft, no way! I'm going to go dig up a parts diagram and make sure I'm not missing anything, doesn't seem to be anything else holding the shaft into the boxes.

If I get it apart I'm going to hit the inside of the housing and chute up with a wire wheel and get some paint on it. Not sure how well it will work with all the rust.

[J-Mech]

Augers, impeller and auger box come out as an assembly. The augers are held on the shaft with a sheer bolt.

Don't paint the housing. Just shine it up. Snowblowers are like plows. Nice and shiny bare metal is the best. Snow sticks to painted surfaces.

[jerkin]

So the shaft the impeller is on doesn't come out of the auger box without splitting it? Wouldn't have guessed that. From what you're saying the whole unit (augers, gearbox and shaft) should still pull out once I unbolted the augers from the sides but the shaft would stay in the auger box until disassembly. Something is stuck good, must be where the shaft goes into the main gear box with the pulley on it. I unbolted that box from the rear of the snowblower housing but it won't come off either, lol. Hope that shaft isn't screwed up. I sprayed everything with penetrating oil, give it a try later.

[J-Mech]

You better look at a parts book. I'm not where I can post a pic.

The driveshaft from the impeller to the auger drive is attached to the impeller with a spirol pin. No, the shaft does not come out of the box unless you split it. The impeller is on a spline drive off the box on back where the pulley is. Impeller or main box should just slide apart. If they don't, the impeller is stuck on. You have two choices at this point. Leave it alone and run it, or get ready to fight the impeller. I've seen guys have to heat, beat and even cut them off. Good luck. Mine slid right off when I had to take it apart.

[cubs-n-bxrs]

Originally Posted by Shrewcub

Ive done what J-mech said and had no problems. What brand 0# grease have you seen? Just curious.

Travis you can purchase 0 weight grease in tube form from Napa. It's made by Lubriplate. About 5-6$ for a tube. I just bought a tube the other day. It's what I lube up my suspension on my Skidoo with it. It's extreme pressure white lithium grease.

[Shrewcub]

Originally Posted by cubs-n-bxrs

Travis you can purchase 0 weight grease in tube form from Napa. It's made by Lubriplate. About 5-6$ for a tube. I just bought a tube the other day. It's what I lube up my suspension on my Skidoo with it. It's extreme pressure white lithium grease.

Kelly I'll check next time I'm in there. I know I've looked before, but we have really pathetic parts stores here!

[jerkin]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

You better look at a parts book. I'm not where I can post a pic.

After looking at the parts diagrams and a bunch of pictures on another thread I think I see how it goes now. The shaft coming out of the auger box is pinned to the impeller. The back of the impeller is splined to accept the splined shaft coming out of the main drive gearbox. Basically the impeller acts as a coupler for the two shafts. When I unbolt the main gearbox (with the pulley) on the back of the unit it should slide right out of the impeller. It does not so it's got to be frozen. Really don't want to get into all that, lol. Not much room between the gearbox and the housing to even try to heat up that shaft. You guys are great. Thanks.

[jerkin]

Stuck parts fear me, lol.



Man, that was a PITA, nothing the old gas hatchet couldn't fix though. Wasn't too bad after J-Mech explained how it came apart. I was thinking that shaft should pull right out of the auger box, glad I didn't pry on that too hard. Helps when you know where to apply heat and pressure, lol. I'll grease the snot out of that shaft with some waterproof marine grease when I put it back together.

[J-Mech]

Looks like you got a leaker. Probably good you decided to take it apart.


Make sure you mix some grease and anti-seize and put on the splines when you put it back together. Prevent them from getting stuck again..... maybe.