SB-200 Horizontal Auger Balancing Question

[DEWFPO]

As some of you know I was not happy with the performance of my SB200-72 (with the 9.6 motor package) with wet, heavy snow. The dealer swapped out that unit for a SB200-72 with the 8.0 motor package (higher speed fan but lower torque). I also paid the dealer to weld teeth onto the Horizontal auger to help it dig into the wet snow. My previous M-F tractor had no problem with wet snow and SB on it had serrations on the Horizontal auger.

The last couple of weeks I was able to try out the SB and it still stinks biting into the wet snow. It acts more like a plow than a snowblower going down hill. It cuts a nice curve in the pile of wet snow that mirrors the auger shape and then just pushes it forward like a plow. Going faster or slower doesn't seem to help one bit. I'm blowing on a paved, steep driveway so the snow seems to want to just move downhill in front of the auger. I don't know why my tractor mounter blower never had a problem with this.

Anyway, the SB really shakes like heck now when it rotating off the ground. The faster it's rotating the worse the shaking. I know all SB's shake when off the ground but I've never experienced one that shakes this badly. I'm sure the single center mounted boom of the Toolcat amplifies the problem. I know they are not balanced when they are manufactured and the teeth that are welded on (even thought they are evenly spaced) make the matters worse.

It wobbles when it is bone dry (no snow) or packed with snow so it has to be the auger causing the problem. I used to be able to lever the auger running and just lift the SB up and move the TC but now I have to keep turning it on and off every single time I lift it because it shakes the heck out of me and the Toolcat.

Does anyone know of a procedure to "Balance" a rotating Horizontal auger? Without a procedure, trying to balance a rotating mass is like shooting into the air and hoping the bullet hits something..... a waste of time.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks, DEWPFO

 

[Spudgunner]

First, I run into the exact snow blowing/pushing issues that you are seeing with my blower (SB200-72 (9.6)). I notice that if I let the snow sit for awhile on the ground (multiple hours) and then run the blower through it the problem is often greatly lessened.

With regard to balancing the augers...good luck. Perhaps a place that balances truck crankshafts could balance your auger.

The front-mounted snow blower on my little Kubota has the exact same problems as my BC blower in regard to the pushing of "plates" of moist snow rather than ingesting the stuff. The auger on my Kubota blower is serrated as well.

The best solution I've found so far is to let the moist snow loose this funky structure that it seems to have when it is fresh...and then run the blower through it. Not always an option, I realize.

 

[timm9]

DEWFPO,

Your post regarding 'balancing' your Auger brought a question to mind; When the TC is not running, and you 'grab' the Auger and shake it, is there any movement or play in the Auger?

If there is you may have a loose connection between the 'drive block' and the shaft of the Auger Motor. At the end of the last season, we were experiencing a very 'unbalnced' feel on both the SB200's. Long story short, after pulling the Augers we discovered that the bolt that holds the drive block to the shaft of the Auger Motor's were completely loose, and on one unit had actully broken off inside the motor shaft.

 

[DEWFPO]

DEWFPO,

Your post regarding 'balancing' your Auger brought a question to mind; When the TC is not running, and you 'grab' the Auger and shake it, is there any movement or play in the Auger?

If there is you may have a loose connection between the 'drive block' and the shaft of the Auger Motor. At the end of the last season, we were experiencing a very 'unbalnced' feel on both the SB200's. Long story short, after pulling the Augers we discovered that the bolt that holds the drive block to the shaft of the Auger Motor's were completely loose, and on one unit had actully broken off inside the motor shaft.

Timm, You appear to be right on target. I can grab the motor side of the auger and move it about 1/8 - 3/16" inch. Doing that generates the same clanging sound I am getting when I am running it.

Thanks for the tip!

DEWFPO

 

[timm9]

I might caution you not to 'over torque' the bolt holding the drive block to the shaft. The service manual says 26 to 28 lbs, which is not much. The bolt should be a grade 8, one of mine was not. I suspect the one that had broken off (was a grade 8) in the motor shaft was over torqued and lead to the break. Also, there is a slot & key inside the drive block along the motor shaft that was loose as well. I almost lost it on the ground when we pulled the Auger.

 

[DEWFPO]

I might caution you not to 'over torque' the bolt holding the drive block to the shaft. The service manual says 26 to 28 lbs, which is not much. The bolt should be a grade 8, one of mine was not. I suspect the one that had broken off (was a grade 8) in the motor shaft was over torqued and lead to the break. Also, there is a slot & key inside the drive block along the motor shaft that was loose as well. I almost lost it on the ground when we pulled the Auger.

I really appreciate the information timm9!

Thanks, DEWFPO