Snowblower Rehab

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So this is my 6 foot snowblower.  It came with the tractor (Massey Ferguson 240) when I bought it a few years ago.  Must be all of 30 years old and, judging by all the bangs and bends, has had a rough past life.  It has been ok for the driveway but had a regular tendency to break shear bolts for no apparent reason.  I figured the auger bearings were shot so this past fall decided to replace them.  Then I noticed all the cracks and corrosion on the lower end around the main cutting angle.  This turned out to be a major rebuild.  If I would have known I would be posting about this rebuild I would have taken some close ups of some of the welds.  But then again, maybe its better that I didn’t.After cutting off the old bearings, removed the auger and started straightening the supports for the spiral.  Out of 16 supports, 14 were bent or had cracked welds.  The spiral sprung like crazy when some of the welds were cut.  A few hours with a heating tip, 4 pound hammer and a 10 pound bucking sledge got it sort of back in shape.  It will never be perfect.The corrosion on the bottom end destroyed the sheet metal (1/8) around the center and popped some welds holding the main cutting angle.  The angle was worn thin in places so I decided to replace with new.  Original was 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 5/16 I think, it was hard to measure with all the wear.  That oddball size was not available so I went with 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 3/8.  A bit heavier but not by much.  Since this thing is quite old I figured the paint would contain lead.  I coughed up the cash and had the whole unit sandblasted so I wouldn’t have to breathe any of that crap.Use of magnet to hold straightedge when marking steel.  Only have two hands!Test fit of new sheet metal.To be continuedPaul
Reply:Replacement main angle tacked in place.  Note cutout around center to match original angle.Is this bent?  Used the big persuader and got it sort of back into shape; this one will never be perfect either.   When changing the oil in the gearbox a bunch of needle bearings fell out of the U joint so it had to be replaced.  Then noticed that someone had replaced the seals but installed them backwards so they too had to go.  No pictures of that part.Decided that anything that turned or guarded anything that turned would get a coat of safety yellow.  Everything else would be red.  Starting to come together now.Just a couple morePaulLast edited by NorOnt; 03-12-2014 at 09:59 PM.
Reply:Glad you posted I've never seen inside of snow blower before.  Good post good job
Reply:On the tractor and ready for snow.  Just in time too!Probably because of the bearing replacement but it hasn’t broken a shear bolt yet this season and we have had more snow than many years previous.Paul
Reply:Very nice man.....only thing is its mounted on the wrong side of the tractor!! Lol  any way you could fab up some brackets and shafts to put it on the front?Miller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Very nice restoration.
Reply:Thanks for posting.  Nice rebuild.   Bob
Reply:What a bang up job!
Reply:Nice job bringing it back to life.I could sure use one on my tractor with the winter we have this year.Hobart Handler 175Lincoln 225Rockwell 15-017 Drill Press
Reply:Very Nice re-build!  It should serve you well for a long time.  Shop/garage is too clean!  Thanks for posting the rework.Everlast PowerPro 256, Everlast W300 Cooler, Everlast Cart 250Millermatic 211, Spoolgun 100, Miller HD CartJackson W60 Truesight Digital Auto Darkening, Victor 315 Torch sitting on a Harper 830-86 cart
Reply:Thanks for all the positive comments guys! Originally Posted by chevydylVery nice man.....only thing is its mounted on the wrong side of the tractor!! Lol  any way you could fab up some brackets and shafts to put it on the front?