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

I have an old Noma Canadiana 2-stage snowblower (Briggs & Stratton 8hp Engine), not sure of the model or year offhand (I am currently at work and can get it when I go home).

In the meantime, my issue is with the "torque" of the Impeller.  To go back to what has recently happened:

• Last week, trash removal guys spilled my trash in my driveway.  One of the things spilled was a 4" bolt.  That bolt got picked up by my snowblower...  as soon as it went into the impeller and I heard the noise, I immediately shut off the snowblower.
• After (safely) successfully  removing the bolt from the impeller, I checked the Auger shear pins and both were intact with no breakage.  I tested out the auger and impeller while the snowblower was not picking up snow and everything was working perfectly fine.
• I finished blowing out the driveway and suffered no further issues.
• Saturday morning, I went to clear my driveway full of very light "lake effect" snow.  (It wasn't heavy/wet snow, nor was it packed down.)  After completing about half the driveway, the Auger and Impeller stopped rotating.
• Removed the belt cover and saw that the Auger belt had come off the pulleys. I put the belt back on and noticed it was a bit loose.  Since I had a spare belt, I decided it was best just to replace the belt.  The new belt was a little more "tight" but still seemed a bit loose.

Currently, the Auger and Impeller both rotate properly... the snowblower picks up snow and does blow it as it always has.  The problem is that the impeller doesn't seem to have enough "torque" when it attempts to throw the snow up the chute.  I have to be sure to move VERY slow (1st gear out of 6) and hope that the snow is light and fluffy in order to get the snow to be thrown.  Any time the snow is heavy or there is a lot of it picked up by the auger, the chute clogs or barely throws it 3".

The belt still seems a bit loose (my opinion, I am not sure how tight it should be).  Also, of note:  The auger still does not disengage when I let go of the clutch handle, but it was that way before all of this happened.  The auger shaft (that has the pulley on it , propelling the auger and impeller) seems to have some "play" up and down where it goes through what I would call the "firewall" of the snowblower into the belt area.  I have a feeling that this "play" is what is causing the loose belt and therefore the lack of torque, but I can't see any way of making that a tighter fit.

Anyone have any clue?  If you look on this diagram, page 1:  http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28962&stc=1&d=1265571638, the part that has the "play" in it is between 490 (retainer ball bering) and the impeller (493).

Thanks in advance...

Did you get the proper OEM belt or did you take the old one to an auto parts store and ask for one the same size?  Auto belts will burn faster as they are weaker.  You also might have the wrong size belt.

Was the new belt routed under the brake pad properly?

It is possible that the bolt broke something else like the pins holding the impeller to the shaft or the keyway holding the pulley to the shaft.

If it was working fine between getting the bolt out and the belt coming off it is probably a belt issue.

Your talk of play up and down sounds like the impeller bearing/bushing might need replaced.  That could cause some of your problems as it prevents things from lining up properly.

The odd part about your situation is you seem to be having too tight of a belt and too loose of a belt at the same time.  Too loose will slip when a load is applied and too tight will cause it to not stop when released.  You could just have something out of adjustment.  If this is an older blower the impeller bearing probably does need replaced.  Some better blowers use a ball bearing and some cheaper ones just use a bronze sleeve.

Here is the first of 4 videos in a series on replacing that bushing on an old Toro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0aNSn_2Bs

This is not an "incorrect belt" issue, I got the original OEM size and part number (I even compared the new one to the old one and it was the same color, width and size). 

 I did route the belt under the brake pad, however there is a brake "pully" that perhaps the belt goes inside of instead of outside (I don't think there is that much play in the belt though, so I am thinking that's not it either.)  I think the problem with the belt not stopping is due to the brake pad not "clinching" down hard enough, not the looseness or taughtness of the belt.

Nither the Auger nor the Impeller spin freely, and the pully seems to be snug on the shaft, so I don't believe it is a loose keyway or pin(s).

After watching the video I am fairly certain that my bushing needs to be replaced...  as soon as the guy in the video pulled on the auger belt/pully, that is EXACTLY what mine does.  I just hope that I can locate a replacement part for the bushing.  These Syracuse, NY snowstorms aren't getting any lighter!

The parts list your linked looks like it has the bearing part (491) number as
043846

I found a link on partstree.com that converts that to
MUR 420005MA

Most google searches for either number bring up throttle cables though.

Looks like the partstree link is selling it for $14.73

If you can get the old one off you can probably measure it and find a suitable replacement or have a bearing supply place find one.

You will probably get someone else reply here that knows those machines better as I have never had one.

The parts list that I provided a link for is not the snowblower I have, I was just using it as a reference to show where my "loose play" was on mine.  I think I have the original repair/parts manual for mine at home as I got the snowblower from my Uncle, the original owner and he took very good care of it.

I think you have 2 problems:

1. What Shryp said. Getting that bolt between the impeller and its housing could easily crack the bearing/bushing (equivalent of the #490 in your diagram). That'll cause the play you described which would result in belt slippage.
2. Whatever was wrong BEFORE this happened. Find and crack that manual open and carefully look at the belt routing, specifically check your idler pulley/arm. One thing about the idler that could cause this would be if the pivot rusted, or it has too weak of a spring, resulting in it not backing off completely.

This would cause the symptoms you and Shryp described, the belt is too loose to provide enough power to the impeller, and it's too tight from not totally disengaging when you release the control.

You'll have to separate the two halves (assuming Nomas come apart like that, I'm not familar with the brand) and it should be easy* to see all of it once it's apart.

*Famous Last Words