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

Hi All,

My snowblower quit working correctly and I was hoping someone could give me some help.  The impeller turn just fine when engaged, but the auger does not turn.  The shaft turns, but just rotates in the gear box.  Sometimes it catches, and works for a few seconds, but then quits once it gets any snow in there.

I am in the process of taking things apart.  I am somewhat inexperienced mechanically, but competant for small repairs.  So I am trying to pull the auger and gearbox out of the machine.  I have disconnected the auger shaft at each side, but how do I loosen the impeller shaft to pull out the gearbox?

All help appreciated!  Thanks.

   A few posters have made the mistake of not noticing rake movement when turning the impellers.  Just as a head check -  the impeller moves at a much high rate compared to the rakes.  Turn the impeller and hold onto a rake to see if it moves.  With that out of the way you probaby have a sheared pin or key which holds on the worm gear.  NOTE: for gearbox fans: the worm is the drive part on the auger drive shaft.   A worm gear is gear driven by the worm.  The worm gear is not a helical gear.  A spur gear has teeth straight across 90 to the flat sides.  A spur type gear with the teeth which go at a diagonal is a helical gear.  If a helical gear has concave teeth then it's called a worm gear (different than a worm, the spiral gear on the end of the auger drive shaft).  These terms have been bugging me and that's the way a gear guy explained it to me today. 

  The housing will come off by removing the two bolts at top fron of the tractor section.  You probably have a chute control rod to the back of chute which will have to come off.  It depends on the model but I think the 1028 will have that rod.  Pull off the belt and seperate the two.  Then remove the pulley and key to slide out the assembly.  You may have a sheared pin or key in the gearbox.

Thanks for the helpful replies.

I am sure there is an issue in/with the gear box.  I have watched the impeller and shaft go around and around with no movement in the rake.

There are times when I am able to spin the rake with no resistance at all and then there are times it seems to "catch" and is again tied to the impeller shaft.  Something is going on in there....

So, to remove the pulley/shaft....I have removed a small piece of housing which gives access to the pulley area, but it seems awfully hard to work in there... can anyone talk me through the pulley/shaft removal process?  Do I need any special tools? 

Both of you seem pretty knowledgable about this machine - I am generally someone who does things himself when at all possible, but am I biting off more than I can chew or is this project doable with some patience and time?

Thanks for your help!
Jason

Snowman and I mentioned that you have to seperate the blower housing from the tractor section.   The procedure is not complicated and what I mentioned in the prior post.  The intake housing comes off very easily.  It's just a couple of bolts that hold it on.  They are on the top front of the tractor section.  That will allow the front part to seperate from the tractor, the section with the handles and wheels.  It won't fully seperate because the crank is attached to the chute - not positive because you did not post  your model and serial number as Snowman asked.  The reason is 1028 is a generic name and there are several styles of 1028.  Posting the factory model number and serial number will allow knowing just which model you have.  I'm guessing you have a newer model and not an old style but it's just a gues without knowing the factory number.

Once the bucket is seperated the rest is straight forwardk.  You have to take of the belt cover.  On seperating the bucket the belt will have to come off.  It will be loose to easy. Then you have access to the big pulley which must come off.  When you look at it you can see what to do.   After it's off, you have to unscrew the side flanges on the bucket which hold on the auger axle. 

You can get the owner, parts and service manuals at the Ariens site which describes the process.  You'll need your factory model and serial numbers.

Trouts,

Thanks for the walk through.

Sorry I didn't post my model number - it is 924116.  I will check out the Ariens website.

Plan on working on the machine tomorrow. 

Thanks again,
Jason

I've yet to be accused of being a genius, but did you check the shear pins?