47" Plastic impeller

[Labrat]

My father-in-law has an X700 with a 47" snowblower with the plastic impeller. last night I stopped by his place and while he was blowing snow I could hear the impeller rattling whenever there was no load on it. I checked it out and found the impeller will chuck back and forth about 1/4".

The set screws to the shaft and the shear bolt are all tight. My thought is whatever couples the plastic to the steel is failing but I wanted to ask before I tear it apart.

My 2210 is a 2003 and it has the steel impeller so I'm not familiar with the design of the plastic.

Thanks

 

[beenthere]

So you know the impeller is moving separate from the shaft?

 

[Labrat]

Yes I was able to hold the shaft and move the impeller separately.

This may be self inflicted. I noticed he would forget the RIO then remember when it wouldn't blow snow then engage the pto with a load of snow in the blower.

 

[beenthere]

The RIO has no business being connected when blowing snow.. can't back over anyone with the mower.
I thought there was an automatic disconnect.. of the RIO when the snowblower was attached.

If the "rattler" noise bothers the FIL, then put on a new impeller.

 

[Labrat]

I was thinking about disabling it for the winter. He doesn't even hear the noise, actually I did when I was at his house last night. I was worried that the impeller is getting ready to fail but wanted to make sure that play wasn't normal before I order a new one.

 

[Labrat]

Found my answer. It appears this is normal.

 

[Dutch445]

and when it does go, they can still get you the steel for a replacement. a little pricey
but they never had that problem, they just bend when abused!

 

[Labrat]

Yeah I will talk him into the steel one once his fails.

Amazing how much smoother and quieter his snow blower is compared to mine, and I have both updated pto shafts with the CV joints.

 

[beenthere]

Labrat
What do you think makes his smoother and quieter than yours? Different model? plastic impeller ? Just curious.

 

[Labrat]

I think it's the angle of the mid pto shaft where it goes under the front axle. I originally had the pto shaft without the double Cardan joint. I cut the U joint off and replaced it with a CV joint out of front wheel drive vehicle and supported the pto shaft with a pillow block carrier bearing. I eventually got a decent price on both shafts with the double Cardan joints and used them for the past 3 seasons. I'm now planning on going back to shaft with the cv joint because I feel it's much smoother.