Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > Snowblower parts & prices.
Date: 14 Dec 2005 7:51 pm
I have an 1988 Craftsman 8/25 blower I'm currently using and a mid 70's Gilson 10/26 I'm fixing up to use as well. The sears machine is in pretty good shape and I'm trying to decide wether I should fix it up completely or "run it till she blows"..LOL...I noticed that the bearings on the drive axle are getting pretty worn and I suspect the other bearings aren't far behind them. Are these bearings expensive from Sears or are they generic and cheaper somewhere else?
Being a Big Rig Tech I'm quite handy and I don't believe in buying a bearing housing when all I need is the bearing so I take things apart and fix them when they are "mean't" to be replaced as a unit all the time. If I can get a few bearings and such for a good deal I'll re-furbish both machines this summer to get them ready for next winter.
The construction of our new house begins late next month and I'm getting a 24x30 heated garage for all my toys although the OPE will only be in there for repair. They will reside in a large baby barn out back. :D I work in the "big" bay now so it will be nice to do little projects like these in the new shop...LOL...With 150FT+ of driveway to shovel I need both these machines for my father-inlaw and myself to use. :wink:
Date: 15 Dec 2005 8:19 pm
there are bronze bushings on the wheel drive axle.
they are replacable, easy.
sometime it is however very difficult to remove the wheel.
bushings are about 2.50 each and you dont need the whole plate that it mounts in.
parts are quite reasonable for that machine and its not a bad unit for you either.
you should check out the bearing that is behind the impeller .if it is fastened in with 2 bolts its probably time for replacement.if its 3 bolts it will last the life of machine.
the hex shaft that the friction wheel mounts on could use a bushing now and then and its not expensive either.
if you need anything just ask.
chris
Date: 15 Dec 2005 8:44 pm
Thanks for the info, I'll check it out. The machine is worthy of a few bushings/bearings in my opinion. The friction wheel shaft has some slop in it on both ends. and I'll check that impeller bearing tommorow to see if it's 2 or 3 bolt. I set the float level tonight and it was running great until I decided to hook up a new kill switch, Murphy's law I guess. :roll: I was pulling the plug wire off to kill it but that can be hard on the ticker sometimes...LOL :shock:
I've been buying my parts at Provincial Outdoor Power Equipment on the Bedford Highway. I talked to the guy who I got the machine from today, he said the reason I have 6 reverse speeds and 2 forward is that the old engine had the opposite rotation. He said there was a crank pulley and a cam pulley on that one?....Never seen one like that before.
Date: 15 Dec 2005 9:17 pm
yes there were a few with cam shaft PTOs.
the camshaft ran the drive for the wheels.
and because it was the camshaft it spins the opposite way as the crankshaft,hence the drive is backwards.
you might be able to reverse the shift assembly so you get more foreward speeds.
but be carefull with that thing,it is capable of running you over now.
chris
Date: 16 Dec 2005 4:13 am
Yup, I can't run fast enough to keep up with it in reverse...LOL....I works ok for the Money....What do you expect when you buy 2 old machines for $150....The Old gilson intrigues me more than anything, it's built like a tank.