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

My manual says to apply 5W-50 motor oil to the friction disk drive hex shaft.Is this what I should use or are there other lubricants I can apply?

Either oil or grease will work provided it's applied properly.  My Simplicity manual said to use engine oil.  As previously stated, I just wiped on a thin coat of synthetic motor oil.  I assume grease is not usually recommended due to the possibility of too much being applied and gobs dropping off onto the friction disk as the friction wheel moves across the shaft accumulating grease.   I don't have any drive issues until snow falls onto the engine, melts and drips onto the drive mechanism below.  Even then, it would reduce forward thrust but not stop the wheels from turning unless up against an immovable object.  Additional pull on the drive cable would overcome that problem immediately.   I have since sealed the belt cover and will have to test it out next snow fall.