Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > My Old Gilson lives again.

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 17 Dec 2005 3:52 pm

I worked on my $50CDN mid 70's Gilson 10/25 Snow-Charger all day. I set the point gap, plug gap, timed it, cleaned and put a few new things in the carb. It fired up on the 1st pull once I set the timing a 2nd time. That 30 year old Tecumseh runs like a champ....So good infact that it might change my opinion on Tecumseh engines. :D I got all the linkages moving, had a peak underneath and greased the auger before I put the belts back on it. I still need to check the bearings, clean and paint the auger and shute and a few other things. This thing is an animal, it's got a ton of torque and wants to push it's way threw the snow. I can't test the auger as it rained last night and the snow is too wet.

It should have a new Impeller, belts and a rubber drive wheel for the traction device. The old impeller is kinda dinged up and rust but it will work until I get a new one. The Joystick linkage needs some adjustment but over all I'm more than tickled with this thing. :D I'm going to start the painting process tommorow morning in the shute and etc so I can try this thing out in the next storm. For $150CDN I have 2 running blowers, I've spent about $100 so far in parts, belts and oil between the two blowers.

Author: jubol

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:03 pm

BRT,

Go Google "Gilson snowblower".

You will see a site Pete's "Gilson Snowblower" Gallery.

You will find a great deal of info on your Gilson!!
Fred

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:33 pm

Been there already, got lots of info indeed. :D I emailed him to let him know that I have this machine and what my plans were with it.

Author: jubol

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:36 pm

Pete also has a source of parts on that site!
Fred

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:40 pm

Yeah, I was looking at his parts listing already. From what it say's the local Lawnboy dealer is a good start. The Fricton wheel is a little worn so I'll be replacing that and the belts gotta go too.

Author: jubol

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:43 pm

Pete had a source for the Friction wheel, bearings and belts!
Fred

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:59 pm

Yeah, the belts and bearings I can get locally pretty cheap. I bought two A30 and two A34 belts for my Craftsman machine for $16CDN with taxes. Being a Truck mechanic I have many buddy's at parts supply stores and oddball specialty shops.

Author: jubol

Date: 17 Dec 2005 5:01 pm

:lol: :lol: Luckey dog, on the parts prices!!
Fred

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 17 Dec 2005 6:55 pm

Yup, I know just where to shop and if I don't our parts guy know's the perfect place. He's a cheap SOB like me....LOL :roll: ....Did I mention my father-inlaw is a parts salesman for Caterpillar, he's been selling parts for over 25 years at various companies and there isn't too much he can't find with all the "connections" he has.
He's really anxious to see the old Gilson in action tommorow, he's a sucker for old school OPE like me. :D ....To look at it is one thing, to see it running is something else.

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 18 Dec 2005 12:25 pm

We messed around with the old Gilson again this morning. I had a good look at everything. I'll have to make a new axle shaft next summer, the old one is bent and the holes for the lock pins on the wheel's are beat out. I'll make/buy a few new bushings for the shafts and get a 2 new bearings for the belt tensioners. My father-inlaw glass beaded the shutes from both machines and primed them. I'll paint them tommorow. We both agree, the old Gilson is gonna get a complete rebuild/paint job late next summer/early fall. It's such a rugged old beast it's worth fixing up. I adjusted the unitrol linkage, it works much better now. :D Now we just need a little snow for me to try it out. The freshly painted shute's should help, they were both pretty rusty and rough inside.

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:08 pm

Shoveler, I put some new belts on the old Gilson today, I ended up using two 1/2 x 35" belts. The traction belt fit great. the Auger belt is a little loose in my opinion but it works ok. I tried a 34" belt and it was too tight so the auger ran all the time. Can I get a 34.5" belt? That old machine has some torque, it hit's the snowbank with authority and keeps on trucking. :D With the auger and traction engaged the engine doesn't even notice it. :twisted: Now for some fresh snow.....

Author: snowshoveler

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:13 pm

there are some belts that are available in half sizes not many but should be able to do somthing for you.
i have a list at work with the half sizes on it.
ill see what i can find out.
i can post numbers for you and you might be able to get them local.
chris

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:27 pm

That would be great. :D I just think that once the 35" belt stretches it may be too long and allow the auger to slip under a hard load thus screwing up my potentialy large rooster tail...LOL :lol:

Author: Termy

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:38 pm

35 inch belt seems a little long. Generaly, what is the normal sise of a snowblower belt? A belt should be tight but not too tight as to tear itself apart. I generaly go by the 1/2 or 1/4 inch of play rule. Auger slipping is not in my book, if you want your auger to slip, go somewhere else. :lol:

Author: snowshoveler

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:38 pm

hey Big.
there may be an adjustment on the idler pulley where it ingages the belt.
just a thought .
look for a slot in the arm its on .
chris

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 22 Dec 2005 5:56 pm

Nope, it just bolts right through...I already thought of that. :D I don't see any adjustment on the auger tensioner at all. I will be replacing the idler over the summer as it's the old style bronze bushing and it's pretty much worn out but with a little grease now and then it should last the winter. I'll make it a roller bearing peice like the tensioner on the the traction belt. It's not exactly built with saftey in mind but I do find it easy to control with the large joystick traction control. :D

Author: twistedtrbl

Date: 23 Dec 2005 4:51 pm

I think its great that you are restoring your Gilson! Here is a pic of mine that I got for free. It had been in a shed for 10-15 yrs. What a shame.
Went through mine in about a week after finding Pete's website. Here it is in the garage for a little PM.

Author: jubol

Date: 23 Dec 2005 5:21 pm

Twister,

You did a great job on her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fred

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 23 Dec 2005 6:29 pm

That's my plan, a tear down and complete resto/paint. :D Fresh white and orange paint is pretty cool huh? I like the joystick control, it's very easy to use.

Author: Spectrum

Date: 24 Dec 2005 6:32 am

BigRigTech wrote:
Nope, it just bolts right through...I already thought of that. :D I don't see any adjustment on the auger tensioner at all. I will be replacing the idler over the summer as it's the old style bronze bushing and it's pretty much worn out but with a little grease now and then it should last the winter. I'll make it a roller bearing peice like the tensioner on the the traction belt. It's not exactly built with saftey in mind but I do find it easy to control with the large joystick traction control. :D

The auger belt idler is essentially self adjusting since it is spring loaded. The tensioner is on the slack side of the drive so it's just there to apply starting force. The harder it pulls the tighter it wedges into the V groove.

As for slippage and belts I can't over emphasize using OEM belts here. That fractional difference makes a big difference in how well the thing balances out as a system. Even though you are buying a generic power rated belt by size I have found that the profiles do vary. This causes them to ride higher or lower in the grooves effectively changing the pitch length and compromising the V-fit. I've had the best luck with the Gates or NAPA green belts having compatible profiles.

Of the many used belts both OEM and generic I have checked stretch has always been insignificant. Don't wait for that to correct anything.

If that idler roller still has a good fit you can also try soaking it in oil over the summer. That liner is about 20% oil when new and needs to be saturated or replenished from the right grease

Pete

Author: BigRigTech

Date: 24 Dec 2005 6:37 am

The auger disengages now with the 35" belt so I'll try it I guess. The old belts had no numbers and there is no ID tag left on the machine for me to order from. :wink:

Author: Highwind

Date: 24 Dec 2005 10:05 am

twistedtrbl wrote:
I think its great that you are restoring your Gilson! Here is a pic of mine that I got for free. It had been in a shed for 10-15 yrs. What a shame.
Went through mine in about a week after finding Pete's website. Here it is in the garage for a little PM.




Nice work on that machine. Looks great!

Author: Majorxlr8n

Date: 24 Dec 2005 10:38 am

Twisted - NICE JOB! It looks SWEEEEEET!!

Marty