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

So I thought my Ariens 1024 Pro was pretty much ready for service. But I just noticed that, on one end of the auger shaft (the one that goes left-right across the bucket), there is quite a lot of play between the shaft and the round housing with the 3 bolts going into the bucket. Almost like the bronze bushing for the shaft at that end is either missing, or worn down to nothing. I can see the bushing at the other end of the shaft, which just has a little play. But I can't see a bushing at the loose end, for whatever reason.

So I'd like to remove the bolts at either end of the shaft and pull both bushings, and probably replace both of them. Assuming this is the correct method to remove those bushings. But all the bolts on this machine (which must have been stored outside at some point) have been a big pain, and a bunch have just twisted off. So I'm really nervous about trying to take these off.

I sprayed them with PB Blaster, then also doused them with Liquid Wrench. I have some Kroil spray coming as well, which I will also try. I really hope this  will be enough.

But even the question of *how* to loosen them seems tricky. If I just put a wrench on the bolt, all that torque transfers into the woodruff keys holding the gear to the shaft, inside the cast-iron gearbox. I don't want to damage anything. Is it best to have 2 people, one at each end of the shaft, trying to loosen both bolts at the same time? That way you aren't really loading up the gearbox as much. I also wondered about trying to put a board through the augers, and turn the impeller until the board is tight up against the bucket, to try and take up some of the torque through the shear bolts, which can easily be replaced.

I know people here have a lot of experience with these machines, so I figured I'd ask. Thank you!

Red October! Get yourself a jar of anti seize compound and dress those bolts before you reassemble them. . The stuff works like a charm!! Marc

Heh, believe me, everything is being liberally coated with anti-seize during reassembly :) If only Ariens and Tecumseh had done that when the machine was built initially, they could have saved me a lot of trouble.

The new bushings arrived. I bought them from eBay, from the seller with the quickest shipping (a storm is coming tomorrow). I think it said they were Oregon brand, they were compatible with the Ariens part #.

They turned out to be silvered-colored, not bronze, which struck me sort of odd. I presume it's fine, it's just not what I was expecting. They're still fairly light, similar to the bronze ones I removed, so they're not steel.

Anyways, I cleaned everything up, and greased the OD of the auger shaft, and ID of the bushings, with the snowmobile grease I have been using. The new bushings slipped right on, and significantly reduced the play in the shaft (especially at the end where the bushing was totally worn away). I put plenty of anti-seize on the shaft bolts.

I think we're ready for business again. I also sold my ST824 today, which worked out nicely.