01-12-2016, 08:42 PM
Just a sort of vent. Last winter was snow and cold, and cold and snow, like we hadn't seen in 20 or 30 years. I used, and repaired, my snowblower more than in the prior 10 or 15 years combined. I replaced belts, the engine recoil starter, an idler pulley and spring, and a couple more things I've forgotten. So I figured this year, when it finally snowed I'd be ready to go. The snow blower figured otherwise.
We got 4 or 5 inches of snow today, and more is on tap for tonight and tomorrow, so I went out mid afternoon to clean the driveway. First the thing won't start, then it sort of starts, but stalls, starts but stalls. OK, I take off the carb. cover and find that the throttle isn't moving freely. A couple of shots of Triflow lube and all is well. Put the cover back on and it starts right up. OK, engage the auger/blower pulley and a couple of seconds later blue smoke starts pouring out of it. I take a look under that cover and the idler pulley looks frozen. Geez, I just replaced it last winter. I foolishly grabbed it with my bare hand to see if would rotate; it was so hot I seared a streak down my thumb. I didn't feel it for a couple of seconds because my hand was cold. Then I really felt it. At least there was plenty of snow to cool it off in! Ok, after the air cleared I got the idler off and took it down to the basement and got the bearing moving again. You'd think they would put sealed bearings in these things. Must have been designed by an engineer because we all now know that they have no common sense. Got it loose, put some lube in it and put it back on the machine and .........
... all was well and got the driveway cleaned with no further breakdown or personal injury. I did loose a sheet metal screw from the carb cover, though, and I sure hope it doesn't end up in one of the car tires. That could be tomorrow's maintenance project.
I'm better now.
Hope your day went well.
John
We got 4 or 5 inches of snow today, and more is on tap for tonight and tomorrow, so I went out mid afternoon to clean the driveway. First the thing won't start, then it sort of starts, but stalls, starts but stalls. OK, I take off the carb. cover and find that the throttle isn't moving freely. A couple of shots of Triflow lube and all is well. Put the cover back on and it starts right up. OK, engage the auger/blower pulley and a couple of seconds later blue smoke starts pouring out of it. I take a look under that cover and the idler pulley looks frozen. Geez, I just replaced it last winter. I foolishly grabbed it with my bare hand to see if would rotate; it was so hot I seared a streak down my thumb. I didn't feel it for a couple of seconds because my hand was cold. Then I really felt it. At least there was plenty of snow to cool it off in! Ok, after the air cleared I got the idler off and took it down to the basement and got the bearing moving again. You'd think they would put sealed bearings in these things. Must have been designed by an engineer because we all now know that they have no common sense. Got it loose, put some lube in it and put it back on the machine and .........
... all was well and got the driveway cleaned with no further breakdown or personal injury. I did loose a sheet metal screw from the carb cover, though, and I sure hope it doesn't end up in one of the car tires. That could be tomorrow's maintenance project.
I'm better now.
Hope your day went well.
John
