snow-thrower repair

[fatlazyless]

:( Hi, I got an old Toro heavy duty two stage sno-thrower a few years back at a summer yard sale, and it always work real good. Now, first time, it's got a problem: the auger makes a big steel on steel noise like it's rubbing or a bad bearing or something.

Anyone know if this is a big deal to fix?.

Who's a good sno-thro repair that is on the low-price side, somewhere near Meredith? Probably, way up north in Littleton or Groveton, the repair prices are much less, but maybe Meredith has some basement el-cheapo sno-thro repair guy somewhere?

[AC2717]

The augar housing has skids or little feet, one of each side, might have to adjust those as that is how the augar stays off the ground or in some cases from hitting the blade on the bottom of the housing,

Next check the blade to back sure it is tight to the augar housing, if it is loose if could be getting in the way of the augar when moving,

Next there are grease fittings near the shear pins on the augar axle, grease them up.

Next make sure the Shear pins are in good shape,

Next check the fluid levels in the gear housing in the middle of the augar it could just be low or broekn down because of its age.

Fourth, and kind of scarey, but every now and them a rosk or pebbles or sand will get stuck behind or under the part that throws the snow up into the chute and out. a quick fix on this is white lithium greese, sprayable of course, or if you do not mind the mess, axel greese is the best thing, completly cover the whole unit making sure to get behind the throw part.

and if not of these

then bring it to someone there is a good guy i think on 106 I am not sure I get their flyer every year because i bought something from there a long time ago i will see if I can find it

[wifi]

The Toro is like one of those Democrats, does nothing but complain when you try to put it to work ...

Good luck on finding something that will quiet it :)

[gtxrider]

I have an old TORO 5/24 that made an awful noise. A bit of WD40 on the auger shaft stopped the noise. I remove the cover over the belts and reached down in side and sprayed the shaft where it exits the bushing.

[SIKSUKR]

Les,look to see if there is a grease fitting on the auger shaft.My craftsman has one.If the shaft is held by bearings,same thing.Sometimes a little grease is all it takes.I'm sure your not as helpless as you sound in this post.Put your yankee blood to work and pull that thing apart!

[mcdude]

fatlazyless: PAY ATTENTION! Don't you remember? We just learned over on this other thread (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5387) that they repair snow-throwers over at the Wine'ing Butcher.
quote SAMIAM: Next time I pick up my weekly fix of grillmaster tips,I'm going to drop off my snowblower for a fall tune-up.<!-- / message -->

:)McD

[ITD]

The Toro is like one of those Democrats, does nothing but complain when you try to put it to work ...

Good luck on finding something that will quiet it :)

Whether you agree with it or not, that was funny.:laugh:

[fatlazyless]

It was working pretty good today, just made the metal on metal noise a couple times. Will look for a grease fitting and try the WD-40, too. I have some very expensive Evinrude blue marine grease, also from a yard sale, and will try that too.

There is a lot of snow out there, was really piling up this afternoon.

Also, what had been open water from Horse Isl to Governors was all like mushy slush, one big slushy for miles as the snow wasn't really melting in the water.

Someone from Buffalo NY told me about spraying Pam on the sno-thro discharge chute to help keep it from clogging up. Probably, Bob's Shurfine carries Pam spray for fry pans or something?

Do you know how to make your dishwasher into a snowthrower? Buy her a shovel....!

[GWC...]

It was working pretty good today, just made the metal on metal noise a couple times. Will look for a grease fitting and try the WD-40, too. I have some very expensive Evinrude blue marine grease, also from a yard sale, and will try that too.

Someone from Buffalo NY told me about spraying Pam on the sno-thro discharge chute to help keep it from clogging up.
WD 40 is a solvent; not a lubricant.

Some oil, grease, or silicon spray would be better.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Someone from Buffalo NY told me about spraying Pam on the sno-thro discharge chute to help keep it from clogging up. Probably, Bob's Shurfine carries Pam spray for fry pans or something?

Do you know how to make your dishwasher into a snowthrower? Buy her a shovel....!

With a comment like that, we don't have to wonder why you're living alone. :laugh:

[fatlazyless]

Yes, you got me good on that GH.

As the famous quote known as Lord Toro's Dictum, Wisconsin 1987 say's

"Women tend not to hang around, but here in the beautiful Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, a Toro sno-thro can last for 20 years."

[BroadHopper]

You have to be VERY politically correct.....................

[ghfromaltonbay]

You have to be VERY politically correct.....................

Broadhopper,

Actually, I laughed right out loud when I read Less's remark, it's one of the better ones I've heard lately. I'm tired of people trying to be politically correct. We need more of a sense of humor, and less thin skin. Right now I would prefer a nice 2 stage snowblower myself than a politically correct companion. My 80 foot driveway needs a snowblower, not hot air. I have a small 2 cycle snowblower which doesn't do much good with heavy snow that's more than 10 inches deep.:) Thank goodness we haven't had more than a few inches of snow here in northern NJ. I'd rather be enjoying the 2 feet of snow at the lake. Our city doesn't plow too well, my street wasn't done for more than 24 hours after the storm was over and they don't plow to the curbs, just one single pass down the center of the street -- and to think for this terrible service I pay > $6,000 property taxes.

[gtxrider]

As Jimmy Buffett says "If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane!"

One of the guys I work with said his wife wants a new dish washer. He is going to look for an 18 year old girl to wash dishes. Only to happy to give the wife what she asked for!:rolleye2:

[KBoater]

What is the different between a snow thrower and snow blower?

Less has a snowthrower.

[fatlazyless]

What is the different between a snow thrower and snow blower?

Less has a snowthrower.

That's easy....when it works good, it's a sno-thro....when it works no good....it's a sno-blo.

Furthermore, my old Toro sno-thro will out-perform any Honda sno-blo, seven days /week, and twice on Saturdays!

[fatlazyless]

:coolsm:Plus, I just got a secret message from the inter-galactic dept of snow-thrower technology, postmarked from an obscure PO Box in Alexandria, Virginia?

PB Blaster, a spray on product available at auto parts stores is supposedly the best coating for a sno-thro, because it is a synthetic and not a veggie oil product. Even keeps the slushy snow from sticky to rusty bolts.

Now, knowing that, it will probably never snow again!

Hey, is that what gets used for cook'n breakfasts in Moultonboro?

[Chickie]

I purchased an Arien snowblower in the mid 60's and it kept plugging along every winter until about four years ago, when it finally gave up the ghost. Now all I have is a Wal-Mart snow shovel and this old body to do the snow throwing.

[TomC]

My Ariens is a 1968 model I bought at a yard sale for $200 in 1989.. thing just keeps going....

[loony]

Those old Ariens snowblowers are the best!

I had very old, circa 1970, Ariens with the wheel clutch like in a car- that kept going when you released it.
I was clearing my driveway once after a late winter heavy wet snowfall. I heard a tree cracking so I ran and the tree landed on the snowblower. The snow blower kept going and escaped from under the tree- heading for the street. I had to run around the fallen tree and got to it just in time. Luckily there were no kids in the area! I got a updated transmission out of the trash that has a deadmans clutch for the drive wheels, but it still uses a lever to engage the drive belt. Still going strong!

I later was given a mid '80s, safer Ariens that had drive wheel and auger/shut-off clutch (2 belts) with a 8 or 9Hp motor. It does not throw nearly as good as my old 7Hp model.

[dpg]

Les,look to see if there is a grease fitting on the auger shaft.My craftsman has one.If the shaft is held by bearings,same thing.Sometimes a little grease is all it takes.I'm sure your not as helpless as you sound in this post.Put your yankee blood to work and pull that thing apart!


Yes, my Toro has one. Personally I'd use what they recommend but that's me.;)

[Dave M]

I have a 1987 8hp 2 stage Toro that runs like a charm. All I do is regular maintenance. What I like about it compared to today's units its a one hand operation. I can shift on the fly from forward to reverse, a lot less work and effort. Good for going forward and back in tight spaces. I borrowed my neighbors Arien's when mine was getting serviced and you had to hold down the lever to switch from one speed and to another and reverse. Ugh.

Dave M

[VitaBene]

I tried a place over on 25 in Tamworth (right after the speed limit goes to 35) called Hans On which seems to be a play on his first name. He does good work and is reasonable, at least compared to MA standards. The labor rate is $40/hour. He worked on my snowmobiles this winter and seemed to only do what was needed, no padding. In case any onei s wondering, I never met him until 4 weeks ago thru a recommendation.

[fatlazyless]

For $225, I bought my old Toro 23" two-stage, snowthrower from Marc Richter Repair on Rt 25 in Moultonboro about 2 1/2 years ago, and it's the best 225 bucks I ever spent. I keep it chained & locked underneath the double-wide! Have never had to use him for a repair, but for me, that's the place to go for a repair, as well. :D

[Rattlesnake Guy]

One key variable I have observed when it comes to snow blowing results is:

An Ariens with a teenage snow blower operator with a girl friend does a much worse job of clearing the driveway than it did only a few years ago.:)

Next year they are both in College and I suspect the driveway will be less dependent on sun and rain for clearing. Maybe I can show RG how much fun it can be.

Seriously, it was good help while it lasted.

[mcdude]

.....and MUCH cheaper than college tuition!:look:

[Tallyho]

"An Ariens with a teenage snow blower operator with a girl friend does a much worse job of clearing the driveway than it did only a few years ago."

To quote from an old Statler Brothers song, "Life gets complicated when you get past sixteen".

[Weirs guy]

An Ariens with a teenage snow blower operator with a girl friend does a much worse job of clearing the driveway than it did only a few years ago.:)

Try adjusting the scraping blade to see if that helps. If not try handcuffing said teenager to the snowblower and hiding the key under a snowbank.
(And now you all know why the wife doesn't like to leave me home with the kids).