How to Fix Stuff

[cats5365]

The blades shouldn't touch. If both blades are turning it 'might' not matter. But, if one of the shear pins breaks then it's possible that the fixed blade will be hit the free wheeling blade with the broken pin. Probably not good.

I don't know if it's the picture or not but the left side of the housing looks 'pushed' in somewhat. If so I wonder if something could be out of alignment with the shaft.

If you take the shear pins out of the left side one at a time and spin the auger, does it spin freely? Does it touch the other blade?

I think the bent side might be a trick of the angle where the red shoe matches the red scoop. I will look a little closer. It's getting dark now, but I can take another look tomorrow.

I wondered if someone might have inserted a shear pin at 180 degrees instead of matching it to the other blade. They kind of look like mastodon tusks on the left side or \/ on the left and //on the right. They were hitting each other when I was messing with them, but I didn't notice anything weird the one time I used the blower.

Is it possible to insert a replacement pin when the blade is out of sync with it's neighbor, or do they only go in one way?

 

[cats5365]

I live in NC so snow equipment isn’t my thing.

 

[hittman]

I think the bent side might be a trick of the angle where the red shoe matches the red scoop. I will look a little closer. It's getting dark now, but I can take another look tomorrow.

I wondered if someone might have inserted a shear pin at 180 degrees instead of matching it to the other blade. They kind of look like mastodon tusks on the left side or \/ on the left and //on the right. They were hitting each other when I was messing with them, but I didn't notice anything weird the one time I used the blower.

Is it possible to insert a replacement pin when the blade is out of sync with it's neighbor, or do they only go in one way?

I was kind of wondering that. I have never had a two stage snowblower but was wondering if the left side shouldn't look like the right side?

 

[MikeE3]

I wondered if someone might have inserted a shear pin at 180 degrees instead of matching it to the other blade. They kind of look like mastodon tusks on the left side or \/ on the left and //on the right. They were hitting each other when I was messing with them, but I didn't notice anything weird the one time I used the blower.

Yes, an auger can be spun 180 degrees and then the shear pin put it. It's angle doesn't matter as far as putting the shear pin in as long as the holes line up.

But that's a good catch that the left side looks like \/ and the right side //. That indicates to me one of the left side augers should be rotated 180 degrees.

What I don't know is should the left side match the 'angle/geometry of the right side ... left //, right //. of should the left side look like \\ and the right side //. I don't know if it matters with respect to 'sending' the snow toward the center where the 2nd stage auger is to shoot it up and out.

My 28" John Deere just had two large augers each with 2 'blades' with just one shear pin each. but the angle of the blades looks like this if it's any help left: \\ ... right: //

 

[ShowMeTwice]

@cats5365, I am not a snowblower expert.

But, from an eBay listing, here is a photo of a pair of augers for a Craftsman 9HP 28" snowblower. I do not know if they are for the exact model you have.

Maybe I'm not seeing your photo correctly but looking at your snowblower the auger on the right (in your photo) doesn't look like either one of the ones pictured above to me.

The eBay listing I linked above has a couple more (side view) photos.

I found a PDF manual. Don't know if it's the exact same model as yours but there is a diagram of the auger assembly on page 28.

Maybe that might help some??? IDK.

 

[puffon]

Snow blower auger question...

I recently got an old Craftsman 2-stage snow blower/thrower that seems to have been neglected over the years. I was able to use it a few weeks ago during a large snow dump, and there were a few issues that I noticed needed attention. Today was finally warm enough to do some driveway maintenance on the beast. This is my first snow machine, and I've learned a lot on YT, but this has me concerned/stumped.

It looks like some of the shear pins have different cotter pins, so I think replacements had been made in the past. I noticed that the auger blades on one side were hitting each other when I was moving them back and forth. The blades on the other side don't do this. I'll try uploading a photo--the blades on the left side are the ones I'm worried about.

Is there an easy way to fix this, or is it ok as is? You can kind of see them touching each other near the bottom back of the scoop.

2023-02-05_06-36-38 by cats5365, on Flickr

Might find your answer here:

https://c.searspartsdirect.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0090158.pdf

NVM...SMT beat me to it

 

[zoiDman]

...

Is it possible to insert a replacement pin when the blade is out of sync with it's neighbor, or do they only go in one way?

I probably have Less Experience with Snow Blowers than Bronze does. In fact, it has probably been 6 or 7 Years since I have felt the crunch of snow under my feet.

That said, OEM's usually design stuff like an Auger Blade Assembly so they can Only go together One Way. And Can't be put together 180 Degrees off.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but to me, looking at the right auger, it looks like one of the blades is missing.

When compared to these??? Yes/no/maybe???

 

[Bronze]

I probably have Less Experience with Snow Blowers than Bronze does. In fact, it has probably been 6 or 7 Years since I have felt the crunch of snow under my feet.

That said, OEM's usually design stuff like an Auger Blade Assembly so they can Only go together One Way. And Can't be put together 180 Degrees off.

Well, I did live in Chicagoland for the first 38 years of my life but me and my shovel were my weapons of choice. I have spent the last 25 years in NC forgetting about those days.

 

[zoiDman]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but to me, looking at the right auger, it looks like one of the blades is missing.

View attachment 990000

When compared to these??? Yes/no/maybe???

View attachment 990001

Yeah... It looks like the L/H Auger (Right Hand in the Picture) is broken into Two Pieces.

 

[cats5365]

20230117_090032 by cats5365, on Flickr

Mine is a different model number, from 1995, Model 247.88190--

Download Craftsman 247.88190 Operator's Manual | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

The blades are 4 sections rather than connected like SMT's photo from ebay. They did wiggle a little bit, which is how I noticed the left sides hitting each other, where the right sides were different. I suspect that they should be \\ // so that they scoop the snow into the impeller housing.

If I hadn't taken on snow for some of the neighbors, I would probably still be using my trusty Snow King shovel. I only have a single drive, but everyone else has 2-car drives.

 

[zoiDman]

20230117_090032 by cats5365, on Flickr

Mine is a different model number, from 1995, Model 247.88190--

Download Craftsman 247.88190 Operator's Manual | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

The blades are 4 sections rather than connected like SMT's photo from ebay. They did wiggle a little bit, which is how I noticed the left sides hitting each other, where the right sides were different. I suspect that they should be \\ // so that they scoop the snow into the impeller housing.

If I hadn't taken on snow for some of the neighbors, I would probably still be using my trusty Snow King shovel. I only have a single drive, but everyone else has 2-car drives.

OK... If there are 4 Sections then it looks like the 2 on the Right in your Photo are Really Bent. Like they ran into a Garden Gnome from Hell or something.

And Yeah, they all should form a \\ // with the Blades on the Left being a Mirror Image of the Blades on the Right.

Yours might look very Similar to the Diagram below

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/manufacturer/mtd/craftsman-sears/31-snow-throwers/2006-models/31as6heg799-247-88190-2006/blower-housing-assembly

 

[somdcomputerguy]

Sure coulda used one of those for this..

Hope ya get it workin. edit/add: oh btw, the snow in this pic fell back in 2014.

 

[cats5365]

Sure coulda used one of those for this..

Hope ya get it workin. edit/add: oh btw, the snow in this pic fell back in 2014.

My old shovel and I have handled a lot of record-breaking snow storms over the decades, but for some reason, the shovel hasn't been working as well as it used to. Maybe the snow got heavier, or somethin' like that.

 

[zoiDman]

Snow blower auger question...

I recently got an old Craftsman 2-stage snow blower/thrower that seems to have been neglected over the years. I was able to use it a few weeks ago during a large snow dump, and there were a few issues that I noticed needed attention. Today was finally warm enough to do some driveway maintenance on the beast. This is my first snow machine, and I've learned a lot on YT, but this has me concerned/stumped.

It looks like some of the shear pins have different cotter pins, so I think replacements had been made in the past. I noticed that the auger blades on one side were hitting each other when I was moving them back and forth. The blades on the other side don't do this. I'll try uploading a photo--the blades on the left side are the ones I'm worried about.

Is there an easy way to fix this, or is it ok as is? You can kind of see them touching each other near the bottom back of the scoop.

2023-02-05_06-36-38 by cats5365, on Flickr

Just wondering if your Snow Blower is Up and Running ?

 

[cats5365]

Just wondering if your Snow Blower is Up and Running ?

I'm not sure yet. I spun the furthest left auger blade 180 degrees, and that seems to have set them so they don't hit each other when I wiggle them by hand. I also had to adjust the cables for the forward/reverse shifter because I only had one reverse gear and a really flubby cable. The gas tank was empty, so I couldn't do a test drive without refueling it. I bought some of the fancy can fuel that @Bronze & Co. were raving about for their chain saws and other small engines. I hate to waste such valuable liquid for dry runs down the driveway.

We are due for another show storm on Wednesday, so I planned to refuel it and try it then. If we have 6 inches or less, it won't be horrible to use the shovel, but it should be enough to give it a good test.

This machine seems to have been sorely neglected and abused, and every time I start messing with something, I notice something else needs attention and parts as well. I may resort to finding a professional to go over it after things warm up and I won't have to worry about more snow. My expertise has come from YT videos, and I think I'm not quite ready to take it apart like those guys do (especially since I have to work outside on the driveway).

 

[Bronze]

I'm not sure yet. I spun the furthest left auger blade 180 degrees, and that seems to have set them so they don't hit each other when I wiggle them by hand. I also had to adjust the cables for the forward/reverse shifter because I only had one reverse gear and a really flubby cable. The gas tank was empty, so I couldn't do a test drive without refueling it. I bought some of the fancy can fuel that @Bronze & Co. were raving about for their chain saws and other small engines. I hate to waste such valuable liquid for dry runs down the driveway.

We are due for another show storm on Wednesday, so I planned to refuel it and try it then. If we have 6 inches or less, it won't be horrible to use the shovel, but it should be enough to give it a good test.

This machine seems to have been sorely neglected and abused, and every time I start messing with something, I notice something else needs attention and parts as well. I may resort to finding a professional to go over it after things warm up and I won't have to worry about more snow. My expertise has come from YT videos, and I think I'm not quite ready to take it apart like those guys do (especially since I have to work outside on the driveway).

Have you fired up the engine yet?

 

[cats5365]

Have you fired up the engine yet?

I used the blower a few weeks ago when we had about a foot of California cement. It has been parked since then. I had to wait for weather to warm up and melt the ice before I could start working on it more.

I did try to fire it up last weekend, but there was only a few minutes of gas left in the tank. The gas I used last month had been stabilized, but I wanted to see if the can fuel would work better and clean any dirty build-up out of the fuel system.

 

[Bronze]

I used the blower a few weeks ago when we had about a foot of California cement. It has been parked since then. I had to wait for weather to warm up and melt the ice before I could start working on it more.

I did try to fire it up last weekend, but there was only a few minutes of gas left in the tank. The gas I used last month had been stabilized, but I wanted to see if the can fuel would work better and clean any dirty build-up out of the fuel system.

I was curious because the #1 enemy of these small engines is old gas. People simply do not take care of their stuff. When they're done with it, it gets put up in the shed and forgotten. Months later they don't start because the gas has turned to turpentine and wrecked the fuel system. But you got yours started so it should be good. I only use the engineered fuel for storage. It's too expensive to run all the time and is cost ineffective. If I know I'm putting any of my equipment to sleep for awhile (generators, chainsaw, power washer, mower, etc) I will dump/siphon the gas out and run the engineered fuel thru it for a few minutes before putting it up. Good for a couple years tho I never go that long. If I know I'm going to use something frequently like my leaf blowers I just use regular pump gas year round. And I don't let my gas can sit around longer than 2 months (I use stabilizer which helps a little). I'll dump it in my truck and get fresh gas.

For the record, ethanol (olefins) in gasoline is only the second worst component in pump gas. The real enemy in pump gas are aromatics (benzene). Aromatics are what make key components in your fuel system (e.g., carburator diaphragms, fuel lines, etc.) become brittle and fail if left to sit too long. Engineered fuel has nearly zero olefins or aromatics. Engineered fuel is almost all paraffins (the stuff in fuel that does the work). Pump gas is mostly olefins and aromatics...aromatics being easily the worst of them all. So when you know your equipment is going to sit for awhile (even a month or more), I'd dump the gas in it and pour a half quart of the engineered fuel in it and run for a few minutes to circulate.

 

[zoiDman]

I'm not sure yet. I spun the furthest left auger blade 180 degrees, and that seems to have set them so they don't hit each other when I wiggle them by hand. I also had to adjust the cables for the forward/reverse shifter because I only had one reverse gear and a really flubby cable. The gas tank was empty, so I couldn't do a test drive without refueling it. I bought some of the fancy can fuel that @Bronze & Co. were raving about for their chain saws and other small engines. I hate to waste such valuable liquid for dry runs down the driveway.

We are due for another show storm on Wednesday, so I planned to refuel it and try it then. If we have 6 inches or less, it won't be horrible to use the shovel, but it should be enough to give it a good test.

This machine seems to have been sorely neglected and abused, and every time I start messing with something, I notice something else needs attention and parts as well. I may resort to finding a professional to go over it after things warm up and I won't have to worry about more snow. My expertise has come from YT videos, and I think I'm not quite ready to take it apart like those guys do (especially since I have to work outside on the driveway).

It sounds like maybe that Blower was previously owned by someone who Didn't Know much about snow blowers (like Me). But tried to Fix anyway it making things possible worse (a Very Young Me.)

I think your plan of getting by and then when the weather Warms to have someone look at it Makes Sense. I know from Experience that the Worst Possible Time to have someone look at your Air Conditioner in So-Cal is the middle of August. So I'll bet the same is true for Snow Blower while there is still Snow in the forecast.