Replacing auger shear bolts - B2782

[skywaterbanjo]

I've had my B2782 snowblower for a year now and I absolutely love having it for all the snow we have had. I seem to go thru shear bolts pretty quickly but they are doing their job (rocks, sticks, etc.).

I get a bit frustrated trying to put in new shear bolts on the auger specifically, locating the broken one still in the shaft.

How do you guys get the broken bolt out? I've been trying to line up the hole with the old bolt and then tapping a new bolt in to knock out the broken one. Sometimes I can find the old one quickly, sometimes it takes a while for me to find the old one. I use the bolt orientation on the unbroken side for reference but I still get frustrated.

Just wondering if anyone has any tricks I am missing.

Thanks and happy new year!

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Once the shear is broke the auger turns freely. I just turn it until I find the rest of the bolt and then tap it out with a small nailset punch. Having said that, I'm on my 3rd season with the original painted shear bolts.

 

[skywaterbanjo]

Once the shear is broke the auger turns freely. I just turn it until I find the rest of the bolt and then tap it out with a small nailset punch. Having said that, I'm on my 3rd season with the original painted shear bolts.

I do the same but use a new bolt instead of the punch. Maybe I'll try that.

Based on my limited 2 years worth of experience, that is impressive. I plow gravel driveways, pasture for the animals, and pathways through the woods.

Do you have a paved driveway?

 

[AJL]

I've had the same issues and also use the nail set technique that was mentioned. I find if you put the point in you can use it the line the holes up. I agree it is a pain, and using the new bolt does not work for some reason.

 

[Ductape]

I find that if I wrap the end of a punch in a paper towel, stick it in the hole, and rotate the auger it will 'wipe' the grease enough to easily find where the sheared bolt is. Then use the punch to drive out the rest of the shear. A decent flashlight shining in thew hole helps too.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Do you have a paved driveway?

Yes. I'm surprised I haven't picked up a rock or other debris from the goodies that the street plow leaves in the end though. :confused2:

 

[AJL]

I must have soft bolts or hard snow because I've sheared bolts without any dog toys, chunks of wood, etc. getting in there...had to change a impeller fan blade bolt tonight and no objects to be found....:confused2:

 

[Searay45DB]

I must have soft bolts or hard snow because I've sheared bolts without any dog toys, chunks of wood, etc. getting in there...had to change a impeller fan blade bolt tonight and no objects to be found....:confused2:

If it makes you feel any better, last week I hit a rock that my wife decided to put in the walkway for some reason that I will never know. All the sheer bolts snapped, but the auger is more of a piece of modern art, the fan blade is shot as Kubota has one of the blades extend farther and the shaft is damaged. So I got that going for me...

I find that based on how aggressive I get blowing the snow, weight and height I can pretty much predict when I will break. I also use grade 5 bolts and they seem to hold up better. Bottom line...go slow and you should not break.

Now, how the heck do I get the gear box off the shaft. It stops at the shear pin holes.

I think I am ready to write the service manual that does not exist for this.

 

[Toyboy]

Take a file and honing stone and clean up around the shear bolt holes. You may have some metal raised around the holes from shearing the bolts.

 

[PILOON]

I keep a dedicated punch in the tractor tool box.

It is the same size as the shear bolt, flat faced BUT I have added a slight taper to the end.
That greatly helps with that missalignment problem.