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

I'm in WAY too deep on my latest project/mess - I wish I had never even seen this darned thing...

I have another older Sears 5/22 snowblower (model 536.918200) that is giving me grief with just about everything on it. The engine runs good now (another LONG story) but the impeller shaft has about an INCH PLUS of play fore & aft in the auger gearcase. Well, after heating, beating & air chiselling all day (and with only 2 hours sleep all day long), I finally have the auger assembly separated from the machine. I need to get at least one of the auger "rakes" off so I can inspect the auger gearcase. I have already heated & beated on both of the rakes but they haven't budged. Can anyone suggest any other methods of removal? Hydraulic press perhaps?

Thanks!
Marty

MAJORXLR8N:

Any chance that you could post some pics of the offender?  Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

bbwb

Man I feel your pain!  Your story is mirroring mine almost exactly.  The rake on the left side of mine was also rusted solid to the shaft,as well as having a bend in the shaft further sealing the rake to the shaft.   The right side slid right off.    (my whole ordeal started when I sucked up a piece of concrete on the neighbors sidewalk, and bent the auger shaft)

I opened the gearbox and removed the shaft with the left side rake still stuck, along with the left side of the gearbox sandwiched between the rake and the gear.   I work for IT at the local school district here and went to the auto shop class at the high school  to see what they could do to get the rake off.  They had a press but it would not budge.  What finally worked was a long lengthwise cut with a grinder along the rake to relieve the pressure, and then with lots of penetrating oil and the press it came free.  But in that process the left side of the gearbox which was in between got broken.  I found and ordered the gearcase halves, got the shaft straightened out, and reassembled and am back in action.   

I was hoping to not cut the auger tube, but it may be the only way left to get the auger off the shaft. I would hate to reassemble it all & leave the frozen auger, as I'll have another mess onhand if something jams in that left auger. With all the new parts coming, that auger must be freed. I'll try to post a pic tomorrow...

Thanks Guys!
Marty

We didn't have to cut the auger tube all the way along the length.  Made a cut probably that came within about 2-3 inches of each end.    Tried to cut just enough to get through the tube but not damage the shaft.  That relieved some pressure and let the penetrating oil get where it needed to be.

JD-

    That was a pretty clever idea, to cut lube slots in the auger tube.  Hey marty, you're using something hardcore for penetrating oil(like Kroil) right??  Kroil is phenomanal stuff for times like this.

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   WE GOT IT OFF!!!! Thank God...

What a fight this da**ed thing was...

JDavidson, I ended up doing just as you did - I cut a straight line (well, sort of ) leaving about 2 inches on each end of the auger tube.

Terrapin - I actually have a freon based penetrating oil that I get from a buddy who builds/repairs winches for US Armed Forces ships & aircraft - the stuff usually works REAL WELL, but it hasn't helped ease this task!!

I even bought a new high speed cutoff wheel for this & wonder how I did without it all these years!

After making the cut in the auger tube, I loaded it up with my "magic juice" mentioned above. Then I grabbed the torch & heated it until most of it was glowing orange. I quickly wedged two 2x4's in the augers, grabbed the one on the stuck rake, crossed my fingers & began to exert some good effort on the wood. It gave some - I thought it just slipped, but the shear bolt holes no longer lined up! HMMM. I spun it some more but it started to get tight. More magic juice. Turn some more - its moving real easy now. I then got it stuck on the shaft end - the end got "mushroomed" due to hammering the Bejeezus out it. Cutoff wheel to the rescue - ground it down & we FINALLY got the whole thing off.

Parts should arrive next week, so I'll spend a little time welding up the cut section, sandblasting the augers & repainting them for a nice new look. This baby is going to be like NEW MONEY by the time I get done with it.

Thank you ALL for your suggestions, help, a listening to my rants on this project. It has been a bear. I hope it gets easier from here on in...

Regards!
Marty

Here's my formidable, but losing opponent...

It certainly won a few battles, but eventually LOST THE WAR!

Heres one reason why the impeller shaft was "going for a walk":

The other reasons for the excessive shaft play were that the shaft collar retaining roll pin was busted, the shaft collar steel shim was ground down, and the worm gear keyway was cocked & about 30 seconds more of running time away from shearing. Someone really beat up this poor old boy by hitting a lot of debris. I can't believe the worm gear was actually ok! Everything else took the punishment!

Marty

Some progress pics. The auger gearcase's internals are all new except the worm gear. It rotates like butter. Today we install the assembly & hopefully button up "the auger tragedy"...

Marty

Marty

Great job, you'd make a fine surgeon, can't even see the cuts you made to the auger. Hurry up and button it up and get it out the door, snow forecast so potential buyers will be knocking down your door. Went to 2 Home Depots yesterday, not a single unit on the floors. No time for ebay, as soon as it starts to snow bring it to a busy intersection with a large 4 sale sign, somebody will buy it.

Cheers

Will  

Thanks Will for the kind words! Much appreciated!!

NOW GUYS & GALS - Are you ready for the unvailing? SHES ALL DONE!!! Thanks to ALL, especially JDavidson for the auger case assistance! You all were probably getting tired of my posting on this, so thanks for letting me share!

Marty