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

I CHANGED MY DRIVE BELT AND MY AUGER BELT THE OTHER DAY. I NOTICED THAT MY LOWER DRIVE BELT WAS WOBBLING. WITH THE ENGINE OFF I TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS LOOSE. IT WAS NOT.DOES ANYONE KNOW THE TOUQUE ON THAT NUT. ARIENS TOLD ME THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT WAY SENCE NEW.  IT WOBBLES ABOUT 1/8 " . I CANT BELIEVE IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.  HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THERE UNITS? SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT IT?  I KNOW IT CAUSES VIBRATION.
      I NOTICED TOO THAT THE FRICTION PLATE SUPPORT HAS NO LUBRICATION.  ANYONE KNOW WHY?  MY UNIT IS AN 924108

Note there are two 37's in the top drawing.  It's a drawing mistake.

The writeup is a bit hard to follow.

 

Nothing should wobble in there.  The lower pulley (below the crank drive pulley) towards the tractor section is the tractor drive pulley.  The pulley (14 on the first drawing) moves in and out when the cutch handle is pressed. 

 

It moves out by the force of the clutch and returned by a spring.  It should not free wobble.

 

14 is screwed on by 37 to 16 in the second drawing.  An arm (not shown) moved by the clutch handle catches 24 to move 16 in and out.  14 moves with 16.

 

The movement of 16 brings the drive plate up to the friction disk.  It’s doubtful 16 is bent.  Possibly your pulley could be bent or bearings so worn they do not hold 16 steady.  

 

I don’t see how you could get a big vibration in there unless 16 is somehow so loose it contacts then goes away from the friction disk at a high rate.  But that would engage and disengage the friction disk causing chugging of the wheel drive with rapid stop and go movements. 

 

You could get some weird vibration if the back auger drive bearing was worn and the auger drive shaft able to move around. 

There is no torque spec mentioned in the service manual for 37.  A good crank should be enough.  It just holds the pulley.  The force is on the pulley key.

 

>>  I NOTICED TOO THAT THE FRICTION PLATE SUPPORT HAS NO LUBRICATION.

   If you are refering to the assembly in the lower drawing it should get lub.  The hex shaft can be cleaned with carb fluid and get a film or light oil or grease that won't dry out i.e. no white lithium.

l have an older canadiana snow blower and its wobbles at least half an inch and l have no problems, and l see all kinds of units with wobblie pulleys all the time. should'nt be any concern as long as the pulleys tight.

Doug

Thanks for the info. when i enguage my drive unit,  I'm going to see if it is just my pully wobbleing. there is no grease fitting in there. I do not know how i'm going to lube it. I also noticed that If I put it in first to adjust the friction plate like Ariens says it works fine until i put it in 6 gear. When in 6th gear it enguages the drive with out squeeseing the handle. I had to back it off for it to stop

On your comments in the first post, one thing to keep in mind is the drive belt is always tensioned.  The clutch is pushed to meet the friction disk. It’s not a belt being tensioned to get drive.

 

>>If I put it in first to adjust the friction plate like Ariens says it works fine until i put it in 6 gear. When in 6th gear it engages the drive with out squeezing the handle. I had to back it off for it to stop

 

That can happen if the angle of the drive plate or friction disk is out of alignment.  If the friction disk then suspect the friction disk carrier or hex shaft bearings.  If the drive plate then the assembly associated with 16 on drawing 2. 

If my friction disk or plate is out of alignment then how do I check it? Is it hard to replace my friction drive disk bearings?

You can look through the belt cover area with a flashlight.  You could put a small white chalk mark to monitor when running.

Stand the machine on it's bucket, remove the bottom cover (4 bolts), look in there and poke around with a big screwdriver.  You advance the drive plate by holding down the drive clutch with tape.   See what's happening with 6th gear.   You can rotate the crank and see what moves where and by how much.