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

I don't remember under which tread someone was asking about using a Honda clone on a snowblower.  And any issues there might be with it not being set up for cold weather.
I'm getting ready to re-power my Ariens 1032 (924084) with an 11HP Greyhound clone.  I've made some modification to it for cold weather based on some on the shields that come on
Honda snowblower engines.  Though they might be helpful to anyone thinking about doing the same thing.






      

shryp - Yes, I would think that you should just be able to just use the red to get power for lights.  By the way I made my engine swap yesterday and
I also have the problem with the blower belt not disengaging so to speak. The belt is plenty loose it slides right around the engine pulley when the engine isn't running.
I know what the problem is and have tried 4 or 5things but haven't come up with a solution yet.  Actually it's two problems.
One is that because the engine/crank sits higher the distance between the pulleys is greater. Which changes the angle that the belt comes to and leaves the pulley.
The angle is steeper, the arc that the belt makes over the pulley is tighter.
The other issue is that the vertical center of the crank is not in line with the vertical center of the drive and impeller pulleys.
Which makes the angle of thebelt even steeper on one side. 
An exaggerated way to put it would be that the belt now comes at the pulley from the bottom instead of from the side of the pulley.
The arc over the pulley is simple to small or to tight.  Centering the vertical center of the pulleys would probably fix it. 
But you can't do that without making a mounting plate for the engine so it can be moved to the left or right. 
As you know the holes you have to drill for the engine base are right on the corner of the bend in the tractor housing.
 Moving the engine left or right takes the engine base off into space. That's why you'd
have to make a mounting plate out of probably 3/16" plate.
 Bolt the engine to the plate and then bolt the plate to the blower.  I don't like that the
blower keeps spinning, but guess I may just have to live with it until I can figure something else out, or make a plate.
  I kind of like solving problems like this. We'll see.  If I figure something out I'll let you know.
 Who knows, maybe once the belt gets broken in a little, gets a little glaze or shine on the sides it will start slipping the way it supposed to.

Hirschallan - Well my work space is kind of heated, sometimes.  I have a small propane fired Ceramic infrared heater that mounts on the tank.  It helps raise the
temperature a little.  I live in Michigan and last week I used my infrared thermometer and took the temperature of various things in my shop. Walls, workbenches,
tools.  All read about the same temperature  17°.  It think I've had it up to about 45°.  Felt like summer time.  I wish it was heated, cause your right it.  It would
make it a whole lot more enjoyable.

New Yorker -  Thanks for the info about your HS 928TAS light. 50 watts would be plenty you can run a car headlight with 50 watts.
 It's not like you need to be able to see 20 or 30 yards out in front of you.
 I guess if I really want to know what the 'current" output is on an 11hp engine with a 12V starter system I'll have to call Honda
The new engine came with a new air filter so I took that out.  And I happened to have an old air filter element and cover from another Honda.  So I took the old filter and pulled all of the
paper element out of it through the bottom hole. Then just used the empty cage in the air cleaner box. That way the top cover has the center support that the filter
provides when you tighten down the wing nut.
Using SS bolts and nuts on your skids is a good idea. I used them to hold on my cutting edge as well. I love stainless anything.  I do always cringe a little
though when I buy stainless hardware.  It's so expensive.  I always keep my eyes open for stainless nuts, bolts etc. at garage and estate sales.
I had to laugh, I have some 3M Conspicuity tape on my blower as well.  I have a set of hole punches and I use the 3/4" one to punch out circles of
the tape. Then I just stick them on where ever.  I've got a few on the sides of the bucket and the chute.  That tape really lights up.