Best Penetrating Fluid?

lilranch2001 · May 25, 2014

Fluid Film for my money, never seen anything work as well!

pmsmechanic · May 25, 2014

I had a look at your pictures and here is what I would do. Obviously you've used your favourite penetrating liquid so I don't need to tell you more there. Next I would make 4 wedges that I would either tap under or use a bar to pry each fan blade and put between the blade and the back of the fan housing. Try to get more or less equal tension on each blade. Next take a ball pien hammer and start tapping the fan between the fins and against the shaft. You don't have to tap very hard. The idea is to just create a vibration in between the shaft and the fan to let the penetrating oil do it's thing. Since you probably don't have to worry about snow for a while you can take your time doing this. Tapping a couple of times a day should get it off within a few days. Just keep using penetrating fluid, tapping and tightening the wedges. As a last resort you could take a good brass drift and take some frustration out on the end of the shaft. Good luck.

HillStreet · May 25, 2014

pmsmechanic said:
I had a look at your pictures and here is what I would do. Obviously you've used your favourite penetrating liquid so I don't need to tell you more there. Next I would make 4 wedges that I would either tap under or use a bar to pry each fan blade and put between the blade and the back of the fan housing. Try to get more or less equal tension on each blade. Next take a ball pien hammer and start tapping the fan between the fins and against the shaft. You don't have to tap very hard. The idea is to just create a vibration in between the shaft and the fan to let the penetrating oil do it's thing. Since you probably don't have to worry about snow for a while you can take your time doing this. Tapping a couple of times a day should get it off within a few days. Just keep using penetrating fluid, tapping and tightening the wedges. As a last resort you could take a good brass drift and take some frustration out on the end of the shaft. Good luck.

Thank you. Sounds like a plan. I have the gearbox mounting bolts off now to give me access room to the shaft, and I'll leave them off. There will be sufficient resistance between the gearbox and blower housing to wedge the fan against the other side of the blower housing.

Once I get the wedges in I will stand the blower up on the auger end so penetrating fluid will soak between the shaft and fan. Right now it is horizontal and does not soak into where it should. I have been using Liquid Wrench penetrating oil but think I'll switch to Kroil or Gibbs as recommended by others.

You're right, I have plenty of time before the snow flies but I'll get after it next week. Been kinda laid up this past week after a surgery-- doctors orders no lifting or bending.

pmsmechanic · May 25, 2014

I just reread the thread and realized that RedNeckRacin also posted a good idea. I've used his method a lot with very good results. Just welding a nut onto a broken off bolt is enough heat to melt the wax and loosen the bolt at the same time. If you want to try wax then I would tip the shaft up a bit and just warm the fan up enough to melt wax. A small propane soldering torch is enough to do the job and you are far enough away from the seal that you don't have to worry about it. Just get the fan warm around the shaft and touch a candle to the shaft. Melted wax goes in better than anything else I've seen. Admittedly I haven't seen everything. Best of wishes on your health.

deerseeker001 · May 25, 2014

I have to agree used it on SL gluers for 32 years.Shafts would freeze in place but the Kr oil oil and it would break free this stuff you could actually see it be sucked in.

BuilderML said:
K roil is the best !!!

HillStreet · May 30, 2014

UPDATE: Brought the snowblower to the Kubota dealer yesterday, tired of fooling with it. Should have it back in 2 weeks or so.

whitepine2 · May 30, 2014

HillStreet said:
UPDATE: Brought the snowblower to the Kubota dealer yesterday, tired of fooling with it. Should have it back in 2 weeks or so.

AW that's no fun you gotta keep trying it's the challenge.

HillStreet · May 30, 2014

whitepine2 said:
AW that's no fun you gotta keep trying it's the challenge.

I have a reputation of never quitting and have the scars to prove it. But this thing beat me. The dealer said he'll tell me what he did to get it off, that is if he does get it off. Then I'll share.

whitepine2 · May 31, 2014

HillStreet said:
I have a reputation of never quitting and have the scars to prove it. But this thing beat me. The dealer said he'll tell me what he did to get it off, that is if he does get it off. Then I'll share.

It will be interesting as to who came the closet to what they do.

flusher · Jun 1, 2014

HillStreet said:
I will keep trying to separate my SB51 snowblower fan from the gearbox shaft. I think if I stand the blower up on the auger end I can spray the penetrating oil so it drips into the coupling better, then soak it over a period of days.

What is a real good penetrating fluid to use? I have some Liquid Wrench but it's not doing the job so far.

Is the shaft keyed? If so, see if you can remove the key. This won't work for a Woodruff key, but sometimes the shaft has a key slot running all the way to the end and you can get a bite on the key with a long nose pliers or vice grips.

For stuck pulleys, fans, etc, I generally start by using my air chisel with a blunt bit. Hammer on the end of the shaft with the chisel while pulling on the puller or fan toward you. Sometimes this is all it takes.

Kroil is good, but expensive. ATF/acetone works pretty well. I generally use a little preheat before dousing with that mixture. I've had spotty luck with PB Blaster.

Good luck.