47" snowblower failure... looking for B2650 options

[BCWoodtick]

Good morning, I'm having a major issue with my 47" front quick attach snowblower. It appears the right auger shaft is not engaging inside the gear box? Due to the age of this blower I'm wondering if it is worth trying to repair or look at moving to a larger snowblower for the kubota B2650?
I do get a lot of snow living in southern British Columbia and using the fel on the Kubota is a pain and am concerned I will tear into the lawn around the house?
I do have the front hydraulics for the Kabuta but looking at front snowblowers they require to much gpm? That leaves me looking at a 3 point, any suggestions on sizing or brands?
Thanks in advance

 

[zzvyb6]

Have you checked the shear pin on that side ? It's out at the end of the shaft and connects the 2 flat plates near the side bearing. Since the main shaft is one piece, the only other possible condition is that it's broken. I just got a 47 operating on the front of my F-935 and my right side shear pin was snafu also. Check for extra pins stored on the left side of the main case near the chute base.

 

[BCWoodtick]

Yes unfortunately the shear pin is in and I usually change a lot during the year. With the shear pin in I can turn that auger by hand and there is no engagement inside the gear box.
I have priced out the gear box and will be at least $600 but am thinking that the shaft on that auger will be shot as well?? Then if i change the right hand side with new gear box the left hand side is probably worn and would probably fail if not replaced at same time?
Also thinking if change all that the 2nd stage auger is pretty beat from all the rocks over the years so will that hurt the new gear box as it will be way out of balance?
So the dilemma is do I spend $1500-2000 or more on a full rebuild? Or upgrade to one for the B2650 instead of running the John Deer 425? Will probably cost more but would be larger and would save the JD GT425 for summer lawn work?

 

[Everhard]

Having a blower on the front is great as you're not twisted around while blowing snow. So in that respect you might like fixing what you have.
Flip side you should be able to find a used blower for the B2650 that will be bigger and cheaper than doing a full rebuild on that front blower if your estimation is correct. For example I found an old 5' blower (I'm guessing late 80's vintage, maybe earlier 90's at best) that I paid $600 for, I spent less then $50 replacing a couple bearings and I painted it. Those things are so simple there's really not much to go wrong with them.
I think even buying a new blower shouldn't be more or close to what you're guessing a full rebuild on the old blower will cost.
Personally I just picked up a used jd318 to cut my lawn with (I've been using my Kioti with a rear finishing deck till now, works fine but the 318 will cut as quick or quicker and will cut closer to objects and is easier to maneuver.) and I could have got it with a front snow blower for not a lot more money but aside from the fact that I already have a blower on the Kioti I'd rather the bigger tractor handle snow blowing especially for when there's a lot of snow to blow, it's easier for the big tractor and saves the other one for lawn work. Downside I'm blowing backwards. Oh well!

E.

 

[bailbud]

might just be a key under / in the gear that holds the gear to the shaft

 

[BCWoodtick]

Update, well finally bought a great puller and managed to pull the 47" Deere snowblower apart and it is definitely a broken shaft for the auger.
The one side pulled right out but having trouble getting the other side out of the gear box?
Wondering if I need to open the gear box up or not?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, unfortunately I'm not a mechanic but trying to see if it is worth fixing on the cheap.

 

[leonz]

I would pass on opening up the gearbox for the following reason; It is a shaft drive worm gear that spins the spur gear that rotates the cross augers.

if yours is like mine the cross shaft is a one piece shaft that passes through the spur gear and is secured by a piece of key stock and a keyway cut into the shaft in the center.

What you can check for is slop/backlash by spinning the drive shaft and listening to the spur gear to see if there is any grinding.

If the shear pins were broken they did their job and saved the gearbox and the worm gear on the end of the shaft.

If you have a heat gun or a bernz-o-matic fat boy torch with the yellow bottle you can heat the stub of the auger up and it will expand and slide off.

After that;

1. use emery paper to smooth both shaft ends to a shiny bright with 120 sand paper and then 200 emery sand paper.
you should be able to buy a small roll of both grades of emery paper.

2. I would coat the inside of both cross auger stubs with a never sieze compound and you will be able to get it off with zero issues if you need to.

3. coat the shaft ends and push the never sieze in the shear pin holes before you put the new shear pins in.

I do not think your gear box is damaged as you would have heard it snap a gear tooth or hear the worm gear end of the shaft grinding.

I would purchase a spray can of never sieze and it will be less messy to use. Just be sure to keep it indoors in a warm place so it flows better after you shake the can and rattle ball will mix it up well.

If I had to replace my augers and the gear box it would be almost $2,000.00USD for the three pieces if you include sales tax, freight, my gas and time.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Good morning, I'm having a major issue with my 47" front quick attach snowblower. It appears the right auger shaft is not engaging inside the gear box? Due to the age of this blower I'm wondering if it is worth trying to repair or look at moving to a larger snowblower for the kubota B2650?
I do get a lot of snow living in southern British Columbia and using the fel on the Kubota is a pain and am concerned I will tear into the lawn around the house?
I do have the front hydraulics for the Kabuta but looking at front snowblowers they require to much gpm? That leaves me looking at a 3 point, any suggestions on sizing or brands?
Thanks in advance

Find an exploded parts diagram. Identify the parts that may have failed. Get quots on those parts.

 

[BCWoodtick]

The only part that I can tell so far that failed is the auger shaft and after removing gear box, fan and augers the left side popped right out. Definitely broken auger shaft, the right side turns well and sounds fine inside the gear box but will not slide out of the gear box? I will try and find a schematic for it...
Wondering how it is held in as I would have thought could just slide it out?? Bearings holding it in? Or like you say a key way but how do you access it without opening?
Thanks

 

[PILOON]

Suspect you have no choice but to split the gear box.
The good news is the auger shaft is but one long cold rolled shaft with a keyway centered in the gearbox.

If your augers are serviceable replacing the shaft should prove economical enough to replace.
Having once 'blown' a similar blower I am familiar with the construction. (my gear box shattered)
Basically you need a suitable length of shafting, a machined keyway cut and 2 seals for the gearbox.
I doubt if a machine shop would be all that costly to cut the keyway and probably they could supply the shafting as well.
For the new seals a supplier such as General Bearing would have that.(just bring along the old ones)
While at it I'd also replace the bearings at both ends of the auger shaft as they are not costly at all.

Good luck, have fun.