Snow Blower Question (Southerners Need Not Read This)

[Old Moparz]

A few years ago I purchased a brand new Husqvarna snow blower to replace an old Ariens I had bought used that was probably from the 1970's. The first year I used the Husqvarna it worked fine, but we didn't get a lot of snow. The following winter it got more use, but there was one time the corkscrew shaped auger hit some ice & wrapped itself around the shaft. I couldn't believe what I was looking at, but that's what happened. The shear pin didn't shear & was stronger than the flimsy POS auger.

It was just out of warranty, but the dealer got Husqvarna to make good on it so I was content. What I wasn't content with, was that they only replaced the damaged auger (with a much beefier one) & not the other one which was also flimsy. I didn't make a big deal out of it at the time because I needed the damn thing & didn't want to be without the snow blower in case there was another storm. I have a long driveway & large turnaround area that I need to keep clear & way too much to shovel.

So the second auger held up until this winter, when it too, wrapped itself around the shaft to sacrifice itself in hopes of saving the $1.19 shear pin from being destroyed. I pried the thing back into a usable shape, & as soon as I think the snow storms are done, I'll try to badger the dealer into getting this one replaced too. I won't hold my breath since it's now a lot further out of warranty, but it can't hurt.

Curious, anyone ever have this kind of crap happen?  

[learical1]

Snowblowers have augers?

[resq302]

The Honda HS55 snowblower with track drive that I inherited from my grandmother when she passed is was made around 1985-1987 according to the serial number.  I too, had to straighten out the one auger part however, the sheer pin finally snapped when I saw it was loose and tried to tighten it this year.  Granted, the steel augers are pretty thick metal but still the pin should have sheered.  Same in your case Bob.  I would call up Husqvarna and complain.  Maybe they will send you another one.  Tell them that their sheer pin did not fail causing damage to the rest of the unit.

[resq302]

Snowblowers have augers?

Yes, its the spiral shaped thing that breaks up and pulls in the snow to be thrown out the chute.  (the chute is the thing that is curved where the snow exits)   

[Richard Cranium]

Q: Why was Frosty The Snowman smiling?
A: He heard the snowblower was coming to town.

[694spdRT]

Here is my snowblower setup. Built in 1986 and the auger is still going strong. It has 18hp, 48" cut, and went through drifts taller than the hood yesterday. 

[daves68]

Should have kept the Ariens- Best snow removal equipment around.

[Old Moparz]

Should have kept the Ariens- Best snow removal equipment around.

I agree, it was a better machine than the Husqvarna I have now. It still ran great when I gave it to a friend for parts, but I bought it used for $75 & didn't want to dump a lot of money into it. I did something stupid with it & learned a lesson. I had broken a shear pin & didn't have another one, so I used a regular bolt to finish up & planned to change it before the next storm. Well, I forgot & the snowblower ate a brick that was in the driveway that had been used as a wheel chock behind a trailer I had sold. The main shaft inside broke & the part alone was around $275 to buy. I couldn't see investing more into a 30+ year old machine.

[bull]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

[Old Moparz]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

True, but it melted before lunchtime, didn't it?

[LaOtto70Charger]

I had the gear wear out on my Ariens.  It's and 1980 and I inherited it from my grandparents.  Turns out the wrong shear pins where used and the shear joint was at the wrong spot in the auger.  That stripped out the gear in the gearbox.  I did the gear change out though and its been running fine for three years now.

[bull]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

True, but it melted before lunchtime, didn't it?

Actually, no, it didn't. And now Texas and Oklahoma are getting it. The Superbowl contendors are feeling right at home down there in Dallas.

[694spdRT]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

True, but it melted before lunchtime, didn't it?

Actually, no, it didn't. And now Texas and Oklahoma are getting it. The Superbowl contendors are feeling right at home down there in Dallas.

If you own a snowblower down there I bet you are everybody's best friend this week. 

[vancamp]

we had 8 inches in south arkansas a few weeks ago and calling for more tommorow freezing weather all the way to the florida state line

[PocketThunder]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

True, but it melted before lunchtime, didn't it?

Actually, no, it didn't. And now Texas and Oklahoma are getting it. The Superbowl contendors are feeling right at home down there in Dallas.

I think they brought the Green Bay weather with them.   However it was nice and cozy inside the boom boom room!



Khyron, I got dibbs on the brunette at 1 o'clock.

[694spdRT]

So those in the south need not read this? Didn't Atlanta get like 9 inches of snow recently?

True, but it melted before lunchtime, didn't it?

Actually, no, it didn't. And now Texas and Oklahoma are getting it. The Superbowl contendors are feeling right at home down there in Dallas.

I think they brought the Green Bay weather with them.   However it was nice and cozy inside the boom boom room!



Khyron, I got dibbs on the brunette at 1 o'clock.

I was wondering where the Steel Curtain ended up. 

[400/6/PAC]

Thats a whole lot of boom boom.

[skip68]

Since the economy is so bad out here, I am looking for work out your way Bob.  I will come out there and blow your snow for the winter.  I need a round trip bus ticket, at least 1 hot meal per day, a bed and $.79 per hour worked.  I don't have any proof of my work, but once I blow your snow you will be happy.  Let me know because I got a guy in Maine that will pay me $.89 per hour.  Chuck...

[Old Moparz]

Since the economy is so bad out here, I am looking for work out your way Bob.  I will come out there and blow your snow for the winter.  I need a round trip bus ticket, at least 1 hot meal per day, a bed and $.79 per hour worked.  I don't have any proof of my work, but once I blow your snow you will be happy.  Let me know because I got a guy in Maine that will pay me $.89 per hour.  Chuck...

Can you swap out bent augers on snow blowers, too? 

[skip68]

What's an auger   Is it that thing that hooks to the other thing ?   Sounds like a video game to me.  I can give it a shot but I won't kiss on the lips.  NO SIR...

[Old Moparz]

What's an auger   Is it that thing that hooks to the other thing ?   Sounds like a video game to me.  I can give it a shot but I won't kiss on the lips.  NO SIR...

[Bobs69]

What's an auger  Is it that thing that hooks to the other thing ?   Sounds like a video game to me.  I can give it a shot but I won't kiss on the lips.  NO SIR...

hahaha.  I had bought a used blower from a co-worker, the motor ran good and still does on another body.  The damed sheer pins refused to break, I bent the auger once, possibly twice.  I broke the f'ing gear box twice.  If I had of known how easy it was to take apart I would have fixed it myself and would have replaced more parts and probably did a better job then the shop.    Broke the aluminum casing around the worm gear every time.  It was a 2 piece and had grease in it but no plug to add oil.  I also noticed that some models had a support bar from the box to the frame for support.  Not mine. 

So is that aluminum casing broke and not holding things together?  The gear inside is only made of brass.  I was once told you've got to get an OLD MACHINE if you want one that is steal. 

The first time I broke mine I ran a 2X4 thru it.  I couldn't very well be angry since I left it there and didn't clean up.  But the second time I cursed.

Anyhow if you are still reading I solved this problem by buying a SIMPLICITY Pro series blower.  It has angle iron for handle bars and is just built heavy.  AND IT HAS A CAST IRON GEAR BOX!   Strangely enough I think it still has a brass worm gear, I think.  But the aluminun halfs were pricey.  I bet the old ARIENS had the tuff gear box too. 
Mine has hand warmers and a discharge chute that is operated by the press of a button.   I like the idea of the Honda with the tracks, but I seen one at the dealer and it had an aluminum gear box.  Maybe I'm putting to much importance on the cast iron box?

[Bobs69]

http://www.priceit.in/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Simplicity-Snowblower-1.jpg


I use to be pre-occupied with building one with a 2cycle motorcyle engine on it.  Something that would make the neighbours say what the hell is he doing!

But check this baby out.    http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/12/21/v8-engine-snowblower/

[Old Moparz]

The first time I broke mine I ran a 2X4 thru it.  I couldn't very well be angry since I left it there and didn't clean up.  But the second time I cursed.

Anyhow if you are still reading I solved this problem by buying a SIMPLICITY Pro series blower.  It has angle iron for handle bars and is just built heavy.  AND IT HAS A CAST IRON GEAR BOX!   Strangely enough I think it still has a brass worm gear, I think.  But the aluminun halfs were pricey.  I bet the old ARIENS had the tuff gear box too. 
Mine has hand warmers and a discharge chute that is operated by the press of a button.   I like the idea of the Honda with the tracks, but I seen one at the dealer and it had an aluminum gear box.  Maybe I'm putting to much importance on the cast iron box?

You ran a 2x4 through it? Now I don't feel so bad about the brick that mine ate. 

In hindsight, I probably should've kept the old Ariens & fixed it, but to put what would have been around $400 parts & labor into a $75 machine didn't make sense at the time. Doing it myself wasn't very appealing either, I had never taken one apart & would have been doing so in an unheated garage cursing the whole time.   

We aren't supposed to get hit with any big storms so I think I'll be taking it in this week to see if Husqvarna will make good on it. 

[Bobs69]

Well a chunk of 2X4.  Was using a bunch as kindling and was too slow and lazy about picking them up.  Boy did I ever swear the second time!

[1BAD68]

Here's my snow removal tools..
1974 Ariens that refuses to die. As long as it can move forward it will eat as much snow as you can feed it.
1983 John Deere 318 with snowblower. I changed the auger sprocket to a smaller one and now it'll throw snow about 50 feet.
1996 John Deere 455 23hp diesel with a 48" bucket loader. This will run all winter on 1 tank of fuel, can't beat a diesel for fuel efficiency.
1968 Charger. Does not like winter or snow and gets grumpy if disturbed before April.

[resq302]

nice arsenal you got there   I could use that Deere with the bucket 

[Old Moparz]

Here's my snow removal tools..
1974 Ariens that refuses to die. As long as it can move forward it will eat as much snow as you can feed it.
1983 John Deere 318 with snowblower. I changed the auger sprocket to a smaller one and now it'll throw snow about 50 feet.
1996 John Deere 455 23hp diesel with a 48" bucket loader. This will run all winter on 1 tank of fuel, can't beat a diesel for fuel efficiency.
1968 Charger. Does not like winter or snow and gets grumpy if disturbed before April.

Wow, that's what the Ariens I had looked like, but I don't recall the model I had. Should have fixed it I guess. 

[jb666]

Should have kept the Ariens- Best snow removal equipment around.

Agreed. I'm on the opposite side.. I sold my Husky to buy an Ariens. 13HP. Handwarmers, massive machine and I tell ya, the thing is an ANIMAL. I DID, however, break a set of sheer pins this past storm.. My brother in law "dropped" his shovel and never bothered to look for it. This thing found it, swallowed it up and twisted it into a pretzel. Took a while to fix that one....

[1969chargerrtse]

You should of kept the Ariens.  Those things last forever and are super strong.  My neighbor had a little bend in his slow speed auger, I couldn't believe how strong the steel was.  We pry ed and pry ed and couldn't bend a small tip piece back.  My 7 horse Ariens did a great job with the 2 feet of snow we got constantly.

[Old Moparz]

Yes, I am digging up an old topic. 

So I am going snow blower shopping this weekend because of the POS Husqvarna that f****d me over this last snow storm. I don't leave old gas in it & I run the last tankful until it's dry so old gas isn't the issue.

The replacement auger I initially posted about got bent like the original.
The other side that was also replaced, also got bent.
The beginning of last snow season it needed a carb.
The end of last season the electric starter died but I was able to use the pull cord.

Now it won't start at all so I am done with it as well as the Husqvarna brand.   

One thing I am going to make sure of is that the new machine I get has augers that are not made by Fisher Price. 

[will]

When Indian Point closes you can have my craftsman, hasn't let me down in 10 years. I'm not staying in New York.

[BrianShaughnessy]

I pulled the newish Toro 1028 PowerMax out of the shed on Sunday.
All I did in spring was fill it with new 93 octane and spray it down with a new can of WD40.
I plugged it in with the cord,  hit the primer 3 times... hit the button and it started right up. 

I was ready to use it this afternoon when I got home but my neighbor did my driveway whle I was at work.

[J.Bond]

Walk behind, or 3 point, any brand, do not stand up to digesting, wood, metal objects, bricks?, rope and freshly delivered news paper bundle's, period.  Finally got the 3 point on the tractor yesterday morning, due to the wack of snow the night before. I do not know why, but snow blowers have an unique habit of finding everything you have forgotten to put away, and the things you did not know just recently arrived....By the time I made the end of the lane way, I spot a news paper bundle, have not seen a local paper for months, not by the mail box...dead center of the driveway. Another half hour and it would have been undetectable, until , you know, all hell blows out of the shute......80Hp....things get airborne....

Good luck on finding a replacement, had a JD walk behind, years ago, spent more, unit was indeed built better, but still had inherent carb issue's. Most brand name's are usually built by one or two major manufacture's, so most of the hardware is the same from brand to brand. Look at the drive's on units, and you will see a difference.

[flyinlow]

is the auger rusted to the shaft? preventing the shear pin from working?

use a lighter shear pin