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Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Greasing the auger shaft assembly

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Boyzfan


Joined: Nov 15, 2005
Points: 9

Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Original Message   Dec 18, 2005 12:26 am
In the owners manual for my Simplicity 1170 blower it calls for the auger shaft assembly to be greased every 10 hours. You also have to take the shear pins out and turn the auger shaft. It can be a real pain in the neck. It was 20 degrees here, but I did get it done. How many of you do this in the winter? Sometimes getting the pins out is a real battle. If anyone knows any secrets Im open to suggestions.
Replies: 1 - 13 of 13View as Outline
Majorxlr8n


Location: Freehold NJ
Joined: Aug 6, 2003
Points: 1092

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #1   Dec 18, 2005 1:21 am
If you're having difficulty in getting the shear bolts/pins out, then you are ingesting debris into the machine that is causing the auger rakes to jam, which in turn is partially shearing the bolts/pins. They should come right out! Its worth going thru the effort to lube those auger shafts periodically - I'm going on SIX HOURS to attempt to free up the auger rakes on a John Deere 10/32 that someone neglected for a LOT of years. If I let this go, then when something gets caught in the auger it will almost guarantee a gearbox failure (EXPENSIVE $$$). I know its a pain to tend to during the winter, but trust me - spending six hours in an unheated shed trying to free these rakes in 20 degree weather is NOT fun...

Marty

patsfan


Joined: Jan 19, 2003
Points: 495

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #2   Dec 18, 2005 5:38 pm
Isn't it possible to put some zerk ( grease ) fittings on the auger shaft housing ?  Then you can just pump the grease gun and force out the old grease with the new . 

formerly OT
jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #3   Dec 18, 2005 5:42 pm
Boyzfan

Yes!

But wait till your warranty runs out!

                                                   Fred

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
Majorxlr8n


Location: Freehold NJ
Joined: Aug 6, 2003
Points: 1092

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #4   Dec 19, 2005 2:42 am
YES! - You can add zerks. First, drill a hole in the center of auger rake tube. Then find a nut that has the same thread as the zerk fitting you will be using. Weld the nut to the rake tube, centering it over the new hole you just drilled. Screw in the zerk fitting.

Marty

Garandman


Location: South Boston, MA
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Points: 341

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #5   Dec 19, 2005 9:45 am
Majorxlr8n wrote:
If you're having difficulty in getting the shear bolts/pins out, then you are ingesting debris into the machine that is causing the auger rakes to jam, which in turn is partially shearing the bolts/pins. They should come right out! Its worth going thru the effort to lube those auger shafts periodically - I'm going on SIX HOURS to attempt to free up the auger rakes on a John Deere 10/32 that someone neglected for a LOT of years.

Here's what I had to do to get two off. Slice it with a Dremel tool down to the shaft, then heat it in a 40 ton hydraulic press!

Ariens come with Zerks on the rakes, but if you don't use them, or if you squirt grease in there but don't rotate them on the shaft.......

newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #6   Dec 19, 2005 11:45 am
I noticed the new Arien's machines have redesigned the auger rake assembly. On the older snowthros, the 2 auger rake shaft bearings used to be exposed on the outside of the chute housing. The 2 auger drive rake shafts could be seen rotating on the outside of the intake chute when in operation. 

The newer SnoThros have 3 bolts exposed on the outside of the chute housing with the entire bearing assembly and shafts on the inside, like Simplicity currently has.

Does this make for an easier assembly/disassembling process especially on a frozen rake?

Did this change  lower manufacturing costs or is this an improvement?

hirschallan


If it aint broke don't fix it !!


Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #7   Dec 19, 2005 6:40 pm
Garandman wrote:
Here's what I had to do to get two off. Slice it with a Dremel tool down to the shaft, then heat it in a 40 ton hydraulic press!

Ariens come with Zerks on the rakes, but if you don't use them, or if you squirt grease in there but don't rotate them on the shaft.......


Garandman,

I don't get the part with "HEAT IN A 40 TON HYDRAULIC PRESS" .Can you please explain?  Thanx Allan

Garandman


Location: South Boston, MA
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Points: 341

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #8   Dec 20, 2005 5:58 am
The shaft was split per above (you can remove the image when quoting by clicking it and hitting Delete).
Then put vertically in a 40 ton press.
Then the Rake was heated, so it expanded.
Then the press was able to push it off the shaft.
hirschallan


If it aint broke don't fix it !!


Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #9   Dec 20, 2005 10:50 am
Got Ya  THANKS

PCPC


Honda 1132 snow thrower, Simplicity 1060 snow thrower, RedMax EBZ8000 leaf blower, older Snapper self propelled mower, Echo weed wacker, 20 + year old 16" McCulloch Chain Saw, wheel barrel with a flat tire, and a rusty shovel!

Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Points: 26

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #10   Dec 22, 2005 10:31 pm
You shouldn't have to weld a nut to the auger, as zerk fittings are usually self tapping. I would drill the hole, just past (clear of) the inner shaft, and fill the whole auger up with grease. I was going to do this on my Honda, but I discovered that if you remove the end bolts, the holes go all the way through, and you can just pump the grease in from there....
Majorxlr8n


Location: Freehold NJ
Joined: Aug 6, 2003
Points: 1092

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #11   Dec 22, 2005 11:29 pm
PCPC wrote:
You shouldn't have to weld a nut to the auger, as zerk fittings are usually self tapping. I would drill the hole, just past (clear of) the inner shaft, and fill the whole auger up with grease. I was going to do this on my Honda, but I discovered that if you remove the end bolts, the holes go all the way through, and you can just pump the grease in from there....


 Welding the nut onto the rake tube raises the grease fitting upwards, away from the auger axle shaft & allows grease to flow MORE EASILLY throughout the tube. Rake tubes are usually pretty thin (would you only screw the zerk fitting in 1/2 way?), so welding the nut onto them provides a better seal and a thicker base to screw onto. When I first tried to add zerks on a snowblower auger tube, I tried it exactly as you have suggested, only to have the zerk fall out or strip out. If it happens to stay put, then when grease was added, it leaked from the zerk base since its not fully seated.

Marty

PCPC


Honda 1132 snow thrower, Simplicity 1060 snow thrower, RedMax EBZ8000 leaf blower, older Snapper self propelled mower, Echo weed wacker, 20 + year old 16" McCulloch Chain Saw, wheel barrel with a flat tire, and a rusty shovel!

Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Points: 26

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #12   Dec 22, 2005 11:58 pm
You're right, that it's a more secure way of doing it, but I think the thickness is plenty, if you're drilling away from the axle shaft, so the fitting can stick into the tube, if necessary. As long as the hole is the correct size, you should be able to get it secure enough. You do have to be careful though, because like you said, if the metal is not that thick (and you're tapping it into a curved surface), and if the hole is just a little too big, it won't tighten correctly. The auger shaft in the pictures look pretty darn thick though, and most augers that have zerk fitting in them, have the fittings screwed right in. Most people don't have welding equipment, and would have to bring it somewhere. I guess you can even solder them in, if you really want to secure them. A lot of people have a propane torch for doing basic plumbing... If you want the fitting directly over the inner shaft (I guess that's called the axle shaft?), which is a better idea, then you would have to weld something for the fitting to screw into. Are any machines made like that, or do they all have the fittings located past the inner shafts?
Majorxlr8n


Location: Freehold NJ
Joined: Aug 6, 2003
Points: 1092

Re: Greasing the auger shaft assembly
Reply #13   Dec 23, 2005 12:19 am
The ones I've had the most trouble with adding auger zerks are MTD & its "clone" units. The auger rake tubes are almost paper thin! Trying to keep a zerk snug on one of these units is impossible without welding on a nut. The Ariens tubes are INDEED beefy, but they already have grease fittings (although some never see a grease gun!). I guess that if you drilled a hole thru the rake tube and deep enough into the "axle" shaft, you could add a zerk (without welding a nut) IF the rake tube is thick. For those without welding equipment - JB Weld could be used to secure a nut instead, and would provide a nice, leakproof seal!

Marty

Replies: 1 - 13 of 13View as Outline
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