Uftah! I need ideas how to drive out sheared auger pins ;-)

[CalG]

A small Kubota branded front blower with a central gearbox.
Early season blowing, there are always rocks! ;-(

Finding the darn left over center after the bolt head and nut have been ejected post shear failure just gets my goat.

It seems the replacement need is always at night, while it's snowing, under the yard light at the roof peak of the shop, and with 3/4 of the blowing yet to do.
Even with a hand held flash light, It's hard to see into the auger shaft fitting to even FIND the broken section. Grease, snow, and poor lighting.

Then, even as I think I've lined everything up in readiness of a punch and hammer blow, the auger turns it's self ever so slightly and all is lost. It's hard to manipulate the auger, hold a flashlight, get everything lined up, then put down the flash light, pick up the punch and hammer, and strike a useful blow.
This auger even has about 3/4 inch of "shuck" left to right that needs to be aligned, as well as the rotation alignment.

Maybe I should stop greasing the fitting ;-)

 

[camshawn]

I haven’t seen your snowblower so just a guess, can you use a paint pen to mark the shaft and “coupling “ so that you can line up the marks and at least be close? I did that with the shear bolt on the PTO shaft for my rotary mower.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Use a headlamp instead of a flashlight to free up one hand?

 

[CalG]

I haven’t seen your snowblower so just a guess, can you use a paint pen to mark the shaft and “coupling “ so that you can line up the marks and at least be close? I did that with the shear bolt on the PTO shaft for my rotary mower.

close is never good enough......
\horse shoes and hand granades...

 

[CalG]

Use a headlamp instead of a flashlight to free up one hand?

half the solution.. but a start!

 

[pmsmechanic]

I haven’t seen your snowblower so just a guess, can you use a paint pen to mark the shaft and “coupling “ so that you can line up the marks and at least be close? I did that with the shear bolt on the PTO shaft for my rotary mower.

This and then paint right around the shaft so that you have a good idea where the hole for the sheer pin is.

 

[Rustyiron]

Dem rocks just appear around here don't they Cal!
It's as if nature takes inventory and re stocks your driveway and lawns as you clean them up!
Have you tried a loose fitting punch or drift for the primary alignment? If you can work horizontally and have the space driving out this punch with the new shear bolt....
It's a miserable job in miserable conditions for sure.

 

[CalG]

Dem rocks just appear around here don't they Cal!
It's as if nature takes inventory and re stocks your driveway and lawns as you clean them up!
Have you tried a loose fitting punch or drift for the primary alignment? If you can work horizontally and have the space driving out this punch with the new shear bolt....
It's a miserable job in miserable conditions for sure.

What I'm considering doing is drilling a second hole through the auger sleeve and shaft JUST to push an alignment pin through. during normal operation, this hole would remain empty.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What I'm considering doing is drilling a second hole through the auger sleeve and shaft JUST to push an alignment pin through. during normal operation, this hole would remain empty.

It's a good idea but I don't know if I would go all the way through. Another hole weakens the shaft and if it breaks then you have more serious problems. A short hole through the yoke and part ways into the shaft would do what you want without weakening the shaft as much.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Could you weld a small tab to the inner shaft aligned with the hole and at the appropriate distance to remove the "shuck" or axial play? Many flashlights have clamps (or you could fabricate a clamp) that would allow mounting on the auger shroud, although Murphy says it will always cast a shadow where you want to see. On the subject of clamps, a couple of spring clamps on a short bar and clamped to the shroud and the auger flighting might allow you to securely position the augur.