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

Trying to help someone out.  They have an Ariens with an auger that's rusted solid to the shaft.  Tried some PB and WD on the ends of the shaft and persuasive rapping with a heavy hammer.  Tried to get to the end of the shaft by removing the shaft end bearing (3 bolts with nuts, and one large bolt and some washers) but that only led to a pressed pin we couldn't readily budge.  Right now the machine is on it's side, and we're patiently waiting and reapplying PB hoping it'll work down the shaft. 

I see some have used a torch to free the parts, but we have only a propane model and I don't know how effective that will be. 

Is there anything else we can do?

Ah, the joys....

So the auger shaft just comes out of the gear case, no mess and no fuss?   Might revisit it, then.

No.  The auger shaft does not come out of the gearbox.  You remove the front housing from the blower.  Then you remove the T shaped gear box from the housing.  Then you remove the auger corkscews from the T shape.

If you wish to remove the auger shaft you have to take the gearbox apart and that is when you get to the oil.  If you are not stupid enough to leave a 5 quart jug full of oil open and right next you your work area you probably won't make a big mess :)

Oh, um, I always leave 5 quarts of used oil next to me in an open container when I'm working on something.  It fills the need for instant gratification for something, but I don't know what, yet.  But it will come in handy someday.

I'm not clear.... if we separate the tractor from the bucket,  and remove the belt pulley and some other things around it, and then the bolts (bushings?) on the outer edge of the bucket, the "T" shaped impeller and auger assembly will come out. 

What do we need to do to remove the seized auger and shaft assembly from the "T" so it can be put in a vise?

Are both sides seized or just one?  On mine only 1 side was seized so I used the jack stand method I mentioned earlier.  If yours is seized on both sides you would need to get some pipe or something to fit between the 2 and support it that way.

To remove them there is a roll pin on the outside edge.  Knock that roll pin out and then remove the one shear bolt that goes through the center of each auger.  With these 2 things removed it should slide right off.

One thing to try first is get 2 big pipe wrenches and remove the shear bolts and attempt to spin the augers in opposite directions.  If one side breaks free put that shear bolt back.  Don' try to hold it with the impeller because that can damage the gears.