47 front mounted snowthrower question

[chipsndust]

Should I be able to turn the auger by hand with the snow thrower not attached to the tractor?

I may be having a senior moment, but it seems like the drive train should spin. I can't see anything preventing it from turning. Chain looks good, no debri stuck anywhere.

Is something wrong with my snowthrower, or is it me?

 

[castiman]

hi wayne, this might be a stupid question but it sounds like one of your shear pins is broke your whole shaft and gear should rotate. did you get your cab yet.

 

[pilot-werx]

I have never tried spinning it from the auger but I always do using the input shaft to make sure nothing is binding. You may have a tough time overcoming the reduction gear when trying to spin the auger alone.....

 

[Labrat]

Try pushing down on one of the auger ends with your foot. It doesn't turn easily by hand.
and be sure the driveshaft is straight.

 

[Dutch445]

it should spin by hand, even if you were to just reach in and try
to move the impellar a little bit.
if not, maybe the chain is bound up, the adjustment
bolts are easy to get to if you wanted to loosen up the
chain and see if anything starts to move back there.

if shear bolts were broken, the auger flightings would spin
on their shafts, but the shafts wouldn't turn into the
gearcase.

 

[Labrat]

Mine usually binds a little after sitting all summer but once you spin it the first time it's better depending on chain tension. It appears the sprockets are not perfectly centered on the hub. If I tension the chain with 3/8 inch slack it will bind at 180 degrees so i have to find the sweet spot and use 1/2 inch of slack

 

[chipsndust]

Thanks for the all responses; I was pretty sure the shaft should turn freely.

I figured out what the problem was. The large gear had shifted toward the back on the impeller shaft. This caused the two gears to be out of alignment and the chain was binding on the large gear. The woodruff key was still there, but it was backed out.

I lined everything up, adjusted tension on the chain, and tightened everything. Turns really smooth now.

BTW, I remember some posts in the past about noise with these snowthrowers. It made me wonder if this alignment could have been the problem.

Thanks again, and happy snowblowing!

Castiman: No cab yet, I expect a call from the dealer any day now!

 

[OtterBrookStables]

Thanks for the all responses; I was pretty sure the shaft should turn freely.

I figured out what the problem was. The large gear had shifted toward the back on the impeller shaft. This caused the two gears to be out of alignment and the chain was binding on the large gear. The woodruff key was still there, but it was backed out.

I lined everything up, adjusted tension on the chain, and tightened everything. Turns really smooth now.

BTW, I remember some posts in the past about noise with these snowthrowers. It made me wonder if this alignment could have been the problem.

Thanks again, and happy snowblowing!

Castiman: No cab yet, I expect a call from the dealer any day now!

I have two of these blowers. That alignment and the chain tension are critical - if you don't pay attention to them constantly, either one will destroy your chain and make a heck of a racket doing so. We check ours prior to each storm and give them a quick spray of lube. We don't have any trouble at all with those practices in place.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I would say that it would take a pretty strong guy to turn the auger by hand. You would also be turning the impeller and and imput shaft since they all tie into the differential. I know I can't but my blower is a little wider than yours

 

[trlong]

I have two of these blowers. That alignment and the chain tension are critical - if you don't pay attention to them constantly, either one will destroy your chain and make a heck of a racket doing so. We check ours prior to each storm and give them a quick spray of lube. We don't have any trouble at all with those practices in place.

Re: chain tension critical - Would you suggest Labrat's 1/2" slack recommendation? I've had to rebuild the entire drive, except the large shaft to the auger. Long story with large sprocket skewed and bent, woodruf key gone, small shaft and sprocket bent, eccentric locking collars loose, entire small shaft housing bent... I got it all back together, yesterday, except for mounting on the blower and adjusting the chain tension. BTW: It was our February 21st, 17" of heavy slushy snow that did me in. The dealer had never seen so many blowers damaged during one storm.

 

[coollx]

FWIW, I've never been able to turn mine by the auger even if I step on it forcefully. I think it's the gear reduction that prevents it from turning.

 

[dmay]

I think step one before using any PTO powered implement should be to turn it by hand. No better way to check the shear pins, slip clutches, driveline mechanicals are not broken, binding or frozen. Now some implements only give you a bit of a turn, others can spin freely but in every case, know your equipment and check your equipment before turning on your tractor and engaging the PTO.

My 54" QH snowblower auger turns by hand. I perform this check before every use. Tells me immediately my shear bolts, auger, impeller, chain/grear and driveshaft are not broken, binding or frozen. All good to go, ready to turn on tractor and engage PTO.

When I had large equipment I would do the same thing. Hay baler, grab flywheel and turn. Mower/conditioner and snowblower, grab auger and turn. Bale wagon, sickle bar mower grab driveshaft and turn. Truly the best and safest way to test your equipment prior to engaging PTO.

 

[trlong]

Re: chain tension critical - Would you suggest Labrat's 1/2" slack recommendation? I've had to rebuild the entire drive, except the large shaft to the auger. Long story with large sprocket skewed and bent, woodruf key gone, small shaft and sprocket bent, eccentric locking collars loose, entire small shaft housing bent... I got it all back together, yesterday, except for mounting on the blower and adjusting the chain tension. BTW: It was our February 21st, 17" of heavy slushy snow that did me in. The dealer had never seen so many blowers damaged during one storm.

I stopped by the J.D. dealership today and the mechanic said 1/2" depression (at center of the chain, between the two sockets). So, that's what I'll adjust to. Hope this works.

 

[coollx]

FWIW, I've never been able to turn mine by the auger even if I step on it forcefully. I think it's the gear reduction that prevents it from turning.

I was mistaken when I stated the above last week. I checked my snowblower over the weekend, which is off the tractor for the summer, and sure enough the auger turns freely by hand.