Mowed the lawn for the last time this year yesterday. Decided to get the the snow thrower ready for the season. Last year I asked the forum and the local IH dealer what to use in the gearbox. This is what they recommended.
This stuff has the consistency of a thick butterscotch. After sitting in the shed all summer there is a puddle of fluid on the floor under the snow thrower gear box. I pulled the box and opened it up to see how it looked.
The box is still solid as a rock with no backlash or slop. I noticed that the gearbox does not have seals. The bearings have seals. Doesn't seam like a very good design to prevent leaks, but these boxes have lasted for 35 years with this design. They should last another 35 with TLC. I refilled the box and reassembled. If the lube runs out again I might replace the bearings next year.
As long as I was at it I thought I would take care of a sloppy chain drive pulley. You will notice the chain is hitting the on the right side bracket (Actually its the left bracket, the picture is upside down).
I never noticed this before but the sprocket bracket is aluminum. I guess there would be less sparks if you forgot to grease.
I replaced both bearings and pressed them in.
I picked up a couple of brass thrust washers to compensate for the wear. I put one on each side of the sprocket and one next to the knuckle yoke.
Finally I reassembled everything and greased the heck out of everything. Now I am ready for a 100 inches of snow this year.
Notice my IH red helper spring I installed a few years ago. Manually lifting the snow thrower for a couple of seasons made my right arm 2 sizes bigger than my left.
This stuff has the consistency of a thick butterscotch. After sitting in the shed all summer there is a puddle of fluid on the floor under the snow thrower gear box. I pulled the box and opened it up to see how it looked.
The box is still solid as a rock with no backlash or slop. I noticed that the gearbox does not have seals. The bearings have seals. Doesn't seam like a very good design to prevent leaks, but these boxes have lasted for 35 years with this design. They should last another 35 with TLC. I refilled the box and reassembled. If the lube runs out again I might replace the bearings next year.
As long as I was at it I thought I would take care of a sloppy chain drive pulley. You will notice the chain is hitting the on the right side bracket (Actually its the left bracket, the picture is upside down).
I never noticed this before but the sprocket bracket is aluminum. I guess there would be less sparks if you forgot to grease.
I replaced both bearings and pressed them in.
I picked up a couple of brass thrust washers to compensate for the wear. I put one on each side of the sprocket and one next to the knuckle yoke.
Finally I reassembled everything and greased the heck out of everything. Now I am ready for a 100 inches of snow this year.
Notice my IH red helper spring I installed a few years ago. Manually lifting the snow thrower for a couple of seasons made my right arm 2 sizes bigger than my left.
