How many spare shear bolts for MF 2360 snowblower?

[mgstevens]

..Nothing happened after about half an hour I gave up, shook my head, and had a soul searching moment of why I continue to justify spending hundreds of dollars to save 10.

You sure that wasn't a hardened titanium or tungsten bolt?

I went to my local machine shop supplier for a single Grade 5 bolt, 5/16" X 2-1/2", which they have all set out grade-by-grade, so I'm pretty confident I got a grade 5 bolt.

I got it mostly to confirm the sizing with the one in the snowblower. But after reading about some of these experiences, I took the bolt out to the shop, clamped it in the vice and took an old hacksaw blade to it, careful to get the start right. And after some 30 seconds of average-pressure sawing, I had a nice groove going :cool2:. The pic below shows the cut and the blade.



I'm still going to get an OEM bolt set or two, but after this result, I'll have to try scoring a Grade 8 bolt and may try making a set down the road. Beyond the per-bolt savings of $8.75 there is also the when-you-need-it availability.

 

[Jaylegger]

You sure that wasn't a hardened titanium or tungsten bolt?

I went to my local machine shop supplier for a single Grade 5 bolt, 5/16" X 2-1/2", which they have all set out grade-by-grade, so I'm pretty confident I got a grade 5 bolt.

I got it mostly to confirm the sizing with the one in the snowblower. But after reading about some of these experiences, I took the bolt out to the shop, clamped it in the vice and took an old hacksaw blade to it, careful to get the start right. And after some 30 seconds of average-pressure sawing, I had a nice groove going :cool2:. The pic below shows the cut and the blade.

View attachment 630291

I'm still going to get an OEM bolt set or two, but after this result, I'll have to try scoring a Grade 8 bolt and may try making a set down the road. Beyond the per-bolt savings of $8.75 there is also the when-you-need-it availability.

I bought the bag of Grade 5 bolts from Fastenal. Under the circumstance described (and a couple others using everything I had on hand) ie reciprocating metal and ceramic blades) I could barely scratch the shaft.

 

[mgstevens]

.. I could barely scratch the shaft.

That's what she said.

40 years ago.

 

[RickB]

I bought the bag of Grade 5 bolts from Fastenal. Under the circumstance described (and a couple others using everything I had on hand) ie reciprocating metal and ceramic blades) I could barely scratch the shaft.

That makes no sense whatsoever. The cheapest, low rent metal cutting reciprocal saw blade will make at least half a cut on a grade 5 5/16th inch bolt. A good quality blade will cut it like a wooden dowel.

 

[lpakiz]

I’ll throw my 2 cents worth in here too. Any abrasive cutoff disc I’ve ever had will easily cut off a High Speed Tap, which is much, much harder than a grade 8 bolt.
I routinely (and easily) cut grade 8 bolts in my lathe with HHS tool bits. Ditto with a big box store hand hacksaw blade.
Something doesn’t add up here.