3pt Snowblower shaft play

[Jay4200]

I've been going through my new-to-me Econor 6' 3pt snowblower - it has 4 seasons of use on it. I had to rebuild the tensioner assembly because the adjuster bolt was rusted and seized solid. I made a new adjuster using a sacrificed 8" carriage bolt (pic attached - nifty, eh?). At any rate, I notice that if I twist the auger shaft coming out of the transmission, there is a slight bit of play. It not even enough to see or hear, like shaft play of a fraction of a mm, but I can *feel* the slightest bit of lash when I go back and forth. Is this normal, or should the transmission be absolutely as tight as a drum?

All in all, the blower seems to be in really nice shape, other than a little rust from sitting outside for 5 years. I am a little concerned, however, because the auger chain was completely unadjusted with the tensioner frozen up when I got it - I'm sure that running with slack in the chain beats on everything more than usual, and I can rest assured that it was run that way for a while.

Lastly, I need to lube the chain with something that won't attract sand - what do you think is better for an auger chain - Fluid Film or Motorcycle chain lube?

Thanks - JayC

 

[oldnslo]

What do you mean by "back and forth" to check shaft play? Twisting it like in normal operation or pushing it in and pulling it out like raising and lower the 3PH?

Twisting it I would expect some play due to gear lash etc.

Push / pull: This would concern me a little more especially if this model has a gear box with tapered bearings. If gear box has ball bearings I would not be concerned about the small amount of play you describe.

Roy

 

[Jay4200]

What do you mean by "back and forth" to check shaft play? Twisting it like in normal operation or pushing it in and pulling it out like raising and lower the 3PH?

Twisting it I would expect some play due to gear lash etc.

Push / pull: This would concern me a little more especially if this model has a gear box with tapered bearings. If gear box has ball bearings I would not be concerned about the small amount of play you describe.

Roy

Twisting - what could be considered 'gear lash' is specifically what I am referring to. I don't know that 45 degree gears should have lash. Should they?

JayC

 

[rut3556]

>>what do you think is better for an auger chain - Fluid Film or Motorcycle chain lube?<<

I use motorcycle chain lube on mine, and it works great.... very viscous & tacky. However, if you're worried about attracting sand it may not work for you. But then again, if it works for a m/c why wouldn't it work on a snow blower?

 

[rbargeron]

,,,,,, I don't know that 45 degree gears should have lash. Should they?.....

I think a small amount of lash is normal Straight-cut miter gears have less clearance than straight spur gears - but not zero (unless it's an extremely expensive silent gearbox ).

 

[Jay4200]

>>what do you think is better for an auger chain - Fluid Film or Motorcycle chain lube?<<

I use motorcycle chain lube on mine, and it works great.... very viscous & tacky. However, if you're worried about attracting sand it may not work for you. But then again, if it works for a m/c why wouldn't it work on a snow blower?

MC chain lube typically goes on tacky, but then dries hard with no sticky residue - at least the stuff I use on my dirtbikes is like that. It would be a good solution, but is expensive. I would've used MC lube already, but my &**$% son evidently used up all of mine on his bike last fall, and NATURALLY didn't replace it (since all of mine has *magically* disappeared). I also need to drive lube under the chain rollers, and the MC stuff isn't the greatest for that.

JayC

 

[Jay4200]

I think a small amount of lash is normal Straight-cut miter gears have less clearance than straight spur gears - but not zero (unless it's an extremely expensive silent gearbox ).

Straight-cut, miter, spur...? I understand every language except Greek. (It's all Greek to me) Can't imagine it has an extremely expensive gearbox. Well, it'll be extremely expensive if I have to replace it...

Thanks. Sounds like everything is OK. I love it when a plan comes together...

JayC

 

[rbargeron]

Straight-cut, miter, spur...? I understand every language except Greek............

I like your adjuster - the idler sprocket gets beat up on these things - the chain gets slightly bent and starts chewing on the idler. Agri-supply has them for short money.

more about gears:
miter = shafts at 90 degrees, centerlines intersect, teeth are radial.
bevel like miter but angle is not always 90.
spur = shafts are parallel, teeth are lined up with centerline
helical = shafts are parallel, teeth are inclined
spiral bevel= teeth are curved, shaft centerlines intersect
hypoid teeth curved, centerlines at 90 degrees but not in the same plane - like the ring and pinion gears in the differential of a front engine, rear drive car.
really expensive gearbox like when the Navy wants one for a submarine that can't be detected when running.