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

   New to the stable is a wounded HS828.  The base, drive, gearbox, augers and controls are fine.  The bucket is in horrible shape.   I think the open part is not just from rust but from stones rubbing.  The edges are pointing out like stones and snow were forced out bending the edges away from the housing.  It seems the thing was used way after the tear started.  The bottom edge of the bucket is in bad shape also i.e. chewed off.  The guy must have used it in the weight forward position on a gravel drive or uneven cement stones. ??  Surprising is the bottom of the sides are in good shape. 

A new bucket lists at $860 so that's out.  I paid half of what the GX240 is worth.  How can the bucket be fixed?   Rivet a circular plate in there?  Cut out 1/2 inch back from the open parts say a long 2-3 inche wide section the length of the worn through part and have a piece welded in?  I can probably come up with an old bucket I could cut to make a filler strip.  What's the way to go about this?  I don't have a welder and don't know anything about welding or riveting.  The metal on either side of the tear is strong and could be welded.   Is there any new miracle product like improved fiberglass that would hold and wear?

Finished on the rightm facing the garage door, and waiting for service tomorow morning. 

The impeller hit on a few weld high spots high which were ground down.  New auger drive shaft support roller bearing, new rake support roller bearings, and new side skids, $56 bucks for the kit which came with nuts, bolts, a filler strip spacer and what I would consider industrial grade skids something like Ariens used to their 90's commercial machines.  

It should be very effective and keep up with the 1028 behind it.  Over the next few days there should be enough snow around to do some testing of the fearsome Honda reputation for traction and distance in average conditions.  If it can't keep up with the 1028 for throughput and distance I'll be surprised. 

His little brother HS624 was chasticized last storm and put away early for underperformance.  He's getting one more chance tomorrow morning.  It he does not gut the mustard he might get re-engined with a HF GX200.

What parts of the blower do you usually spray with the Amsoil Protectant?  I have a couple of cans of this also.  The smell reminds me of the days when cars use to be rust proofed with Zebart.