Snowblower 3PTH Snowblower maintainance

[shvl73]

I have a 64" 3PTH snowblower, called a Blizzard made by RAD Technology in Canada & it works great.
My question to the experienced guys from a newbie is for lubing the auger chain, the manual calls for bar & chain oil, which is kind of messy to apply, pouring it on the chain & all over the ground.
I've been lubing the rotating chute with spray lithium, could I also use this on the chain? (I have been already) I lube it before every use & it's a lot easier to simply spray it on. Will I be causing premature wear?

 

[Deerlope]

I don't think that you can over lube the chain, but you can buy chain lube in a spray can. I get it that way to use on the ATV chain. It is really sticky and will hang in there.

 

[PineRidge]

We spray WD-40 on the snowblower so that the snow doesn't stick. Naturally the chain benefits from the lube as well. I really don't think that it is important which lube that you use as long as you use one to keep the chain from getting dry and rusting.

 

[Deerlope]

Please don't take this in bad humor, but my opinion of WD-40 is that the best place for that is in the can and on the store shelf. It attracts and retains moisture. Lockheed aircraft company was having a big problem with door latchs rusting and failing rapaidly, so them ask some of their mechanic's what they used for latch lube and most replyed WD-40.So they went to their lab and did some test and found that it attracts& retains moisture. I like the smell but thats all I like about it.

 

[PineRidge]

I have seen demos where a light fixture is sprayed and then plugged in and dropped in a full bucket of water without blowing fuses or any other ill effects.

I have always used it to displace water with electric tools and it hasn't let me down yet.

We all have different opinions but I'm a believer in the WD-40.

 

[snowman]

I've always used the bar & chain oil on the blower chains. Just get the blower running outside and pour the oil on. It's going to get all over; could put a pan or something underneath it to try and catch some of the excess, but you may not get much as the chain is moving and kind of splattering the oil all over.

 

[art]

The biggest thing is that it gets something! The bar and chain oil is for it's cling factor so it doesn't get thrown off the chain. Either will extend the life of the chain.

 

[DIYGuy]

Except that WD-40 insn't a lube, it's a solvent. It used to displace water and dissolve grease, it also functions as a penetrating oil, but then evaporates.

As a certified bicycle mechanic, I see at least 50 bikes a year that need a drivetrain replacement due to WD-40 being used as a lube.

Any lube will work on the blower chain, I lube mine with waterproof grease everytime it goes out.

DIYGuy (MarkS)