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

My ariens model 924116 (1028) snowblower sheared the groove pin that holds the auger gear in place.  Although this is a fairly inexpensive fix, it appears that the original pin simply slipped out of the gear/shaft just far enough to hit the aluminum housing & shear off.  I was just moving snow when this happened - no rocks or boulders.  It seems that nothing but friction holds this groove pin in place & I am worried that this will happen again.   Does anyone have any suggestions?  Should I peen the ends a bit?

Given your other post I assume your inside the auger gearbox.

The groove pin should be a press fit and not slip. The collar will fit tightly up against it. There should be no slip. If you get an Ariens replacement part it should fit in there tightly and not slip. If it slips possibly there is something making the hole larger; hard to imagine. Are you sure you have the right part number and getting the right pin?

There would a zillion failures if those pins were loose by design. Most manufacturors gearboxes use the same collar and pin design. If you have a new part, it's not a press fit, and has slop I'd take the assembly to a dealer as ask him what's going on.

David

friiy wrote:

Friiy - do you want pic of the broken groove pin?  I say it slipped out because it is not sheared on both ends but nearly in half.  One piece was still in the auger shaft and I pushed it out easily with a screwdriver - certainly not a press fit.   The piece that sheared off floated around the gear box for a while & got a little chewed up, although both gears are still in really good shape with no burs or noticeable damage.

Max

trouts2 wrote:

David - will be picking up the replacement groove pin - will let you know how it goes.   I have the right part numbers - hoping this was just a fluke.

Max

trouts2 wrote:

David - the new groove pin was a nice snug press fit.  It was the grooved end that sheared off the other one - still not sure why.  All buttoned up & running like a top again, which is good since we measure snow in feet here instead of inches.  I live just east of Lake Ontario and my snow blower gets a good workout.  A couple of years ago, we got over 9 feet in just five days and my Ariens has never faultered until now.  Very rural area & all my neighbors use snow plows to move their snow and typically take twice as long as I do and end up with mountains of snow.  I like that I can direct the discharge wherever I want.  Thanks for your advice and insight.

Max

   It's weird how that could happen.  Possibly the collar sholder fit against the pin lifts the pin over the years by very small movement in the gearcase - that is very small.  Possibly that might be the value of the cast iron over the aluminum. 

BTW: I've got a 924116 in excellent shape.  The rod was broken so I put in a rod, rings, and re did the valves.  it gets 5% on a leakdown test.  I love the cast iron bore engines.

Ke