Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I just bought the blower last weekend and have been getting it ready for the snow.  I repainted some of the engine cover and shroud assembly and today disassembled and cleaned the carb.  It is a manual pull start.  I got it running this afternoon but cant get it to not blow black smoke when it first starts, which of course indicates a rich mixture.  The idle mixture screw has a nice tip and the o-ring is in good condition but I seem to get little to no response from it while backing it out several turns.
  Shear pins or bolts, there is a long bolt  w/ nut at each end of the drum auger.  Are these a shear bolt? How would I go about removing the drum type auger so I can sand and paint it? does the shaft have to be completely pulled form the gear housing to remove each drum?  Is there an advantage/disadvantage to the big drum auger as compared to thin blades made to day?
Packo
N.E. Ohio

>>I got it running this afternoon but cant get it to not blow black smoke when it first starts.

The needle setting is 1 turn from lightly closed. I generally do not get much response from opening the idle mix. The high speed is 1 and ½ and generally will fine tune within one eighth away from that on either side. It is not unexpected to get some black smoke especially if you are starting with choke or prime but that should clear up within seconds.

If you are starting on the first pull then it will barely smoke. If it is starting with more pulls say from weak spark or low compression then more gas will be around for extra smoke. Most engines I have do not start on the first pull without prime and or choke.

>>Shear pins or bolts, there is a long bolt w/ nut at each end of the drum auger. Are these a shear bolt?

Some say yes, some say no. The few dealers I have asked say yes. Toro's current advertising literature says there is no need for shear devices. Physically the bolts used do not look like other shear bolts but the dealers say they are. I should try breaking a few alongside some MTD shear bolts to see what happens.

>>How would I go about removing the drum type auger so I can sand and paint it? does the

>> The auger gearbox, impeller, and augers come out as a unit and can be disassembled while out of the housing.

I would also like to know what is the deal with the drum auger as compared to the "normal" auger we see today.   How can it pick up as much snow?  Looks like it would pack it down more than bring it back to the impeller.  I don't think any company makes drum augers anymore, so why did Toro make them at one time?

Someone said to me the Toro barrel augers were to prevent overloading. Not so sure about that.
There are always a few snowblowers hanging around the house and I use them all to see what they are like. It's nice to get a comparison. There are a couple of driveways for clearing here, a 1000 feet of sidewalk and large grass fields next door for a test area. From using Toro's on the same day and conditions with other snowblowers, usually MTD and Ariens machines, I don't see any difference in snow collection with the different auger designs.
The older Toro's are great at burrowing parallel to sidewalk plow buildup.

Thanks for all the info.  We are expecting some snow over the next few days so I will see if the carb needs further adjustment with a load on the engine.  I just came from a friends and his ST724 Ariens smokes a lot more then mine.
I'm wondering if the drum design was changed due to the cost of mfg.  A narrow "blade"  is a lot cheaper then the drum with flange welded to it.

I have a nice single stage Ariens SS322e but with my sloped driveway it was too much of a workout to push it uphill.  It's going on Craigs list today.
Packo
N.E. Ohio

TROUTS2,  Does the auger housing have to be split from the motor mount to remove the auger assembly?
PACKO

      Yes.  The auger gearcase drive shaft extends outside the back of the housing.  On that side there is a large drive pulley and an  auger shaft support bearing.  Both have to be removed to get the auger assembly out.   The housing comes apart easily.   The pulley and bearing can be troublesome if they are rust frozen. 

Thanks again for the info. I used the machine for the first time today and found that it turns a lot easier with one wheel unlocked but its hard to keep it running straight ahead.  I also found  that Toro says the drum auger is designed to meter the amount of snow to prevent clogging and increase the performance.  To read go to ebay item 110315121122 and scroll down.
Packo