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20 Dec 09 - 09:23 AM (#2792718) Subject: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: 3refs We got our first real dumpings here recently and I thought it was time to take the blower out of summer storage. It takes a good 3 hrs, from start to finish, to blow out my property, so the blower is important! I've got a 3 year old Toro that's on the large size. I oiled and greased every moving part on the outside of the machine. Then I took off a cover plate and decided it must need some goop inside too! All went well and the thing ran like a Swiss clock until I put it in gear and nothing happened. 7 forward speeds and 2 in the other direction and the thing never moved an inch! The moral of the story is; Find out which of those parts on the inside is the clutch and don't put any goop on it! |
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20 Dec 09 - 09:41 AM (#2792726) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: gnu Oh crap! No more of that for me... by chance, I had two and I sold em both and bought a Honda with hydrostatic. |
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20 Dec 09 - 10:09 AM (#2792741) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Little Hawk The smart thing to do (I think) is have the people who sold it to you service it every year in the early fall. This is assuming you bought it from someone who supplies that kind of service. I have mine serviced by a small motors guy every year, and it runs great. I don't mess around with it myself, because I'd probably screw it up if I did. ;-) The moral of the story is: have a professional do it! |
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20 Dec 09 - 10:22 AM (#2792746) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: gnu I learned from a pro. A semi-retired aquaintance. Bought a case of beer and popped into his shop on a Saturday just before closing time. When he was about to close, I asked him if he wanted to quaff a few. I watched him service two blowers. I left 6 beers with him but I left with a lot more. |
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20 Dec 09 - 10:58 AM (#2792777) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Phot Pour Coka Cola over the clutch, it will degrease it, honest! Most major rally teams use this trick, so if it works with rally cars, it shoud work with a snow blower! Wassail!! Chris |
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20 Dec 09 - 11:37 AM (#2792808) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Little Hawk Coca Cola is good for all kinds of mechanical jobs that require something with powerful corrosive abilities. Just don't DRINK the damned stuff! ;-) |
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20 Dec 09 - 12:28 PM (#2792844) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Ed T I normally get my maintainance done off season each year....in the late summer, when there is little rush. The pro shops are normally quite expensive and want to do a total maintainance. There are often technical folks in a neighbourhood who work on blowers, mowers, small engines etc in their garages. Most of the maintainance is simple stuff, as blowers are not high tech. There are actually few manufacturers, and these folks know what goes wrong from experience. You often find these folks through friends and neighbours. I am cautious about taking anything to anyone without references from someone I know. Kijiji listings can be useful, but alot of folks that list there are low level scammers....and some don't know what tehy are doing Before you tackle any job on your own, read the manuals and talk to folks on what to avoid, like unfortunately you encountered. Even web tip areas can give some good tips....like the one below http://ezinearticles.com/?Ten-Steps-in-Servicing-Your-Snow-Blower&id=3208427 |
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20 Dec 09 - 12:37 PM (#2792858) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Ed T Maybe the Coke will work? But, would diet be better, as there is no gummy sugar? Some folks use brake or carborator cleaner to remove grease, as they evaporate quickly. |
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20 Dec 09 - 12:38 PM (#2792861) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Ed T If you use Coke, avoid the stuff with rum or egg nog....as they are around alot this time of year. |
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20 Dec 09 - 06:54 PM (#2793181) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: Sandy Mc Lean On most snow blowers there is a steel wheel and pulley that is turned by a drive belt from the engine. Your clutch is really an idler pulley that tensions the drive belt (controlled from the handlebars). The steel wheel and a smaller rubber wheel on the axle at right angles to it is your transmission . If the rubber or steel wheel becomes contaminated with oil or grease clean it in two steps. First use varsol or kerosene to clean the steel wheel surface of the heavier contamination. Then use rubbing alcohol to clean the rubber wheel and also to remove any remaining varsol from the steel wheel. If the drive belt is contaminated clean it with alcohol. If that doesn't work fan belt dressing from Canadian Tire may help. There is also an adjustment on the cable to the clutch idler pulley that may have to be tensioned. It is a rather dirty job on most machines to change drive belts or that rubber wheel but it will have to be done if the other things don't work. The drive chains must be well lubricated and they are in very close proximity to the transmission wheels and that is often where the problem lies. I use heavy (summer grade) chainsaw oil on these chains because it has adhesion properties that keep it from spattering around and hitting the transmission wheels. |
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22 Dec 09 - 06:50 AM (#2794189) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: 3refs Sandy, your absolutely right! Although, a hot 50/50 solution of water and Sunlight dish detergent worked like a charm! The wife asked if I used my gold plated Anniversary Edition gear wrenches from Canadian Tire. Once again, I had to remind her that they were reserved for my new Harley! Chances are, they'll never get out of the Oak box they came in! |
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22 Dec 09 - 07:18 AM (#2794206) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: gnu Gold plated? Oooo... fancy! |
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22 Dec 09 - 08:45 AM (#2794237) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: GUEST,number 6 I have had a Sears Craftsman for 4 seasons now ... still runs like a charm .... the only maintenance I do is change the oil annually and use nothing but high octane gas. biLL |
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22 Dec 09 - 01:58 PM (#2794424) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: gnu sIx... better get it serviced. All machines wear and trying to get one running again in mid-winter is... you know. |
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22 Dec 09 - 02:14 PM (#2794436) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: GUEST,number 6 come on gnu ..... we're not going to get any snow this year ok .... snapping back into reality here. Actually thinking of getting new bigger one anyway .... prices are starting to drop on them already. biLL |
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22 Dec 09 - 04:59 PM (#2794571) Subject: RE: BS: Maintaining snow-blower From: gnu Fact is you are right, sIx.... I am 51% certain (forecast this back in early fall) we won't get a lot of snow this winter. BUT, it only takes ONE Nor'easter to fuck you over bad if your blower won't blow. As for a new one... go for it when they try to sell them dirt cheap in the coming weaks. You can easily flog yours in early fall for a good price. It's an investment for the future. No sense in keeping any money in the bank when they pay shit for interest. If you have the receipt for the old one, you can prove to the buyer that it is only four years old. Might even get a good price first Nor'easter! |