OP
StrangeRanger
Gold Member
If you don't want to know how to replace the gearbox on this blower, skip this post now 
Stumper, again, sorry to hear about your misfortune. According to Meteor there is no problem. I was told they sold over 600 of these blowers last year and only 4 gearboxes. Well, I've got 2 of those 4 gearboxes so in my mind something is wrong. I hate to say it but I also think you'll be VERY hard pressed to get any kind of warranty deal. That seems very hard to do when you're talking about a piece of "ground/snow engaging equipment". But I wish you the best.
Removing/replacing the gearbox the FIRST time is always hardest b/c when it's assembled at the factory they obviously do not use any kind of anti-seize and the parts tend to stick/rust together. Yer gonna need some patience, blocks of wood, pry bar and probably a big hammer
I left the blower attached to the tractor b/c it helps hold things steady.
First is obviously disconnect the PTO from the tractor. Tie or sling it up to keep it off the ground but keep it moveable.
Now on the blower end remove the 1/4" bolt that goes through the PTO and blower input shaft. Then remove the little grub screw the "holds" the alignment key. Now the fun part. Use a pry bar/block of wood/mallet etc to get the PTO shaft off the blower input shaft. I hope yours comes off nicely. My first one was a bear. You may want to freely apply some WD-40 or similar ahead of time to help loosen up any rusty - sticky items. Let it soak a while and your life will hopefully be easier Be gentle, but firm.
Now you've got the PTO off the blower the next step is to remove the chain drive. You must do this now so you don't damage it when yanking on the gearbox.
Remove the 3 bolts holding the cover on over the chain drive shaft.
Loosen the chain tensioner, lift the tensioner all the way up to allow full slack in the chain.
Remove the 1" #2 shear bolt that connects the chain drive shaft and sproket.
Remove the 3 bolts holding the chain drive shaft bearing. Be careful with this area, you don't want to damage the bearing or get it dirty. The chain drive shaft is now still in place, but free to move when you need it to.
Whether you want to remove the auger is up to you. Yes, it adds some steps to the process, but will make your life easier and probably actually save you time. Otherwise you have to fit and fight the fan over/around the auger. I've done it both ways and it's much easier to remove the auger.
To remove the auger simply remove the 4 bolts on each end holding the bearing assemblies. Again, be careful to be nice to your bearings and keep them clean and undamaged. The bearing plates will swivel a bit to enable you to finagle the auger out. Looking at the back of the tractor pull the left side down and out a bit first. The bolts on the right side are a bear b/c the chain sprocket is in the way and keeps them just barely sticking in their mounting holes. But w/ patience and gentle coaxing you can get them out. Then push the right side forward and slip the chain over the auger and off. Be sure when reassembling you make sure your zerks are located properly. Note the position before you take it apart. Also remember to coax/swivel/wiggle when putting the right side back in to get the bolts back in their holes. Obviously put the chain back on too and put the right side back in first.
The next part depends on where you gearbox or shaft broke. I'm betting your fan shaft broke and you can check this by trying to remove the fan w/out removing the 5/16 bolt that holds the fan on. With some decent pulling it may slide right out of the gear box. If not, remove the 5/16 bolt and lock washer and start pulling, prying, yanking, swearing etc. It will come, but it's gonna take a while w/ lots of pulling and wiggling.
Once the fan is off simply remove the 4 bolts that hold the gearbox mounted to the blower. Now push or pull or otherwise nudge the gearbox out. Gently though b/c your chain drive shaft is still attached and you don't want to damage its bearing. Once the gearbox is basically all the way out you can slide the chain drive shaft off the gearbox shaft. It's splined and there's no screws or anything on it. It just pulls off.
Re-assembly is just the reverse. But be sure to add plenty of never-seize where you need it when re-assembling. Also, once you get the chain drive shaft and gearbox back in I'd suggest re-assembling the chain drive shaft bearing right way so it doesn't get damaged.
If your fan shaft did indeed break and the rest of the gearbox is in good shape still AND you can find one replacing the fan shaft is about half the cost of a gearbox. There's really nothing to the gearbox once you open it up. But if you do buy a new gearbox be sure to add gear oil before use. The gearbox does NOT ship w/ oil in it.
If you have questions let me know.
Stumper, again, sorry to hear about your misfortune. According to Meteor there is no problem. I was told they sold over 600 of these blowers last year and only 4 gearboxes. Well, I've got 2 of those 4 gearboxes so in my mind something is wrong. I hate to say it but I also think you'll be VERY hard pressed to get any kind of warranty deal. That seems very hard to do when you're talking about a piece of "ground/snow engaging equipment". But I wish you the best.
Removing/replacing the gearbox the FIRST time is always hardest b/c when it's assembled at the factory they obviously do not use any kind of anti-seize and the parts tend to stick/rust together. Yer gonna need some patience, blocks of wood, pry bar and probably a big hammer
I left the blower attached to the tractor b/c it helps hold things steady.
First is obviously disconnect the PTO from the tractor. Tie or sling it up to keep it off the ground but keep it moveable.
Now on the blower end remove the 1/4" bolt that goes through the PTO and blower input shaft. Then remove the little grub screw the "holds" the alignment key. Now the fun part. Use a pry bar/block of wood/mallet etc to get the PTO shaft off the blower input shaft. I hope yours comes off nicely. My first one was a bear. You may want to freely apply some WD-40 or similar ahead of time to help loosen up any rusty - sticky items. Let it soak a while and your life will hopefully be easier
Be gentle, but firm. Now you've got the PTO off the blower the next step is to remove the chain drive. You must do this now so you don't damage it when yanking on the gearbox.
Remove the 3 bolts holding the cover on over the chain drive shaft.
Loosen the chain tensioner, lift the tensioner all the way up to allow full slack in the chain.
Remove the 1" #2 shear bolt that connects the chain drive shaft and sproket.
Remove the 3 bolts holding the chain drive shaft bearing. Be careful with this area, you don't want to damage the bearing or get it dirty. The chain drive shaft is now still in place, but free to move when you need it to.
Whether you want to remove the auger is up to you. Yes, it adds some steps to the process, but will make your life easier and probably actually save you time. Otherwise you have to fit and fight the fan over/around the auger. I've done it both ways and it's much easier to remove the auger.
To remove the auger simply remove the 4 bolts on each end holding the bearing assemblies. Again, be careful to be nice to your bearings and keep them clean and undamaged. The bearing plates will swivel a bit to enable you to finagle the auger out. Looking at the back of the tractor pull the left side down and out a bit first. The bolts on the right side are a bear b/c the chain sprocket is in the way and keeps them just barely sticking in their mounting holes. But w/ patience and gentle coaxing you can get them out. Then push the right side forward and slip the chain over the auger and off. Be sure when reassembling you make sure your zerks are located properly. Note the position before you take it apart. Also remember to coax/swivel/wiggle when putting the right side back in to get the bolts back in their holes. Obviously put the chain back on too and put the right side back in first.
The next part depends on where you gearbox or shaft broke. I'm betting your fan shaft broke and you can check this by trying to remove the fan w/out removing the 5/16 bolt that holds the fan on. With some decent pulling it may slide right out of the gear box. If not, remove the 5/16 bolt and lock washer and start pulling, prying, yanking, swearing etc. It will come, but it's gonna take a while w/ lots of pulling and wiggling.
Once the fan is off simply remove the 4 bolts that hold the gearbox mounted to the blower. Now push or pull or otherwise nudge the gearbox out. Gently though b/c your chain drive shaft is still attached and you don't want to damage its bearing. Once the gearbox is basically all the way out you can slide the chain drive shaft off the gearbox shaft. It's splined and there's no screws or anything on it. It just pulls off.
Re-assembly is just the reverse. But be sure to add plenty of never-seize where you need it when re-assembling. Also, once you get the chain drive shaft and gearbox back in I'd suggest re-assembling the chain drive shaft bearing right way so it doesn't get damaged.
If your fan shaft did indeed break and the rest of the gearbox is in good shape still AND you can find one replacing the fan shaft is about half the cost of a gearbox. There's really nothing to the gearbox once you open it up. But if you do buy a new gearbox be sure to add gear oil before use. The gearbox does NOT ship w/ oil in it.
If you have questions let me know.
