Journey of an old snow thrower

AVGWarhawk · 10-30-10, 07:14 PM

I was able to obtain an old tracked snow thrower that was not running and has not run for 3 years. My first order of business was to get the 8hp Tecumsa engine running. My first guess and correct guess was the carborator had issues. I pulled the carborator to find Jabba the Glob at the intake flap.

Once I removed the Jabba the Glob with carb cleaner the moving parts within the carborator now moved once again. I had to cut a new gasket out of gasket material I had on hand:

I reinstalled the carborator and proceeded to clean up the remaining parts of the fuel system. The small intake for the carb had another Jabba the Glob that I removed and the once what was gasoline now smelled like a 53 Desoto that has been sitting in the sun for 15 years. What an odor.

My next issue was the electric starter. Now, the motor has a pull start but hey, if the electric starter can work darn sure I'm going to use it! I removed the gas tank to access the starter. Someone for some unknown reason mounted the starter with only 2 of the 4 bolts. The top of the starter was on the tops of the two top bolts effectively keeping the throw out gear on the starter from engaging the flywheel.

So, I checked to see if the starter would spin when powered and it worked. The throwout gear also functioned as designed. I reinstalled the starter as it should be.

After checking all was secured I poured fresh gas into the tank and primed the newly cleaned carborator. I did not use the electric start as I still did not know what the real issue with the starter was and why anyone would mount the starter as they did. Oil level was up to snuff.......I gave her a pull

She huffed and puffed a few turns of the engine and quit. The smell of burnt fuel filled my shed. She was going to run but needed the years of neglect to be worked out of the system. One more pull and she fired to life.

I shut her down and tried the electric start. This also worked!

Next order of business was maintenance items. One drive belt and two auger belts. The auger housing needs to be removed to access these belts. New belts in position:

I cleaned the frame that supports the motor and found the paint was in excellent shape. The augar housing was nothing but rust and BADLY flaking paint. I desided to strip it down to bare metal and repaint.

After much scraping and sanding it was time for primer and paint.

Fresh red paint!

I reassembled the auger housing to the frame. Voila! New looking and running snow thrower:

One none running derelict snow thrower=$0.00
2 auger belts and 1 driver belt=$50.00
3 cans of primer and paint=$15.00

One running two stage 8hp tracked snow thrower=PRICELESS!!!

farmall · 10-30-10, 07:36 PM

It looks great! Where is the snow?

krashkart · 10-30-10, 07:39 PM

Great stuff! I love projects like that, but they're kind of hard to do in an apartment building.

Gerald · 10-30-10, 07:41 PM

I guess it's a bit early yet ..but a good job, you have done,

August · 10-30-10, 07:46 PM

Good job AVG!

Castout · 10-30-10, 09:14 PM

Great job!

A Snow thrower for free 65 bucks, nice !

Takeda Shingen · 10-30-10, 10:32 PM

Very, very nice handiwork!

Reece · 10-30-10, 10:46 PM

Good job Chris, looks like a new one, the satisfaction from doing it yourself is worth the effort!!

Come on snow season... I'm ready!!

FIREWALL · 10-30-10, 11:16 PM

Nice little machine and the price was right.

When you have nice weather I bet you could fab up something to use it for a garden Tiller.

papa_smurf · 10-31-10, 05:09 AM

Great job there

Jimbuna · 10-31-10, 05:43 AM

Nice job Chris....guess we won't see any more pictures of you shovelling it away then?

gimpy117 · 10-31-10, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Nice job Chris....guess we won't see any more pictures of you shovelling it away then?

AVGWarhawk · 11-01-10, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Nice job Chris....guess we won't see any more pictures of you shovelling it away then?

Sure will! It will be high-tech snow throwing!

FIREWALL · 11-01-10, 10:29 AM

AAAhhhhhh !!!

MY EYES !!!

Please don't show anymore "How To" instructional photos.

AVGWarhawk · 11-01-10, 11:30 AM

Darn it. The first instructional video was going to be, "The Pull Chord and You."

10-30-10, 07:14 PM	#1
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Journey of an old snow thrower I was able to obtain an old tracked snow thrower that was not running and has not run for 3 years. My first order of business was to get the 8hp Tecumsa engine running. My first guess and correct guess was the carborator had issues. I pulled the carborator to find Jabba the Glob at the intake flap. Once I removed the Jabba the Glob with carb cleaner the moving parts within the carborator now moved once again. I had to cut a new gasket out of gasket material I had on hand: I reinstalled the carborator and proceeded to clean up the remaining parts of the fuel system. The small intake for the carb had another Jabba the Glob that I removed and the once what was gasoline now smelled like a 53 Desoto that has been sitting in the sun for 15 years. What an odor. My next issue was the electric starter. Now, the motor has a pull start but hey, if the electric starter can work darn sure I'm going to use it! I removed the gas tank to access the starter. Someone for some unknown reason mounted the starter with only 2 of the 4 bolts. The top of the starter was on the tops of the two top bolts effectively keeping the throw out gear on the starter from engaging the flywheel. So, I checked to see if the starter would spin when powered and it worked. The throwout gear also functioned as designed. I reinstalled the starter as it should be. After checking all was secured I poured fresh gas into the tank and primed the newly cleaned carborator. I did not use the electric start as I still did not know what the real issue with the starter was and why anyone would mount the starter as they did. Oil level was up to snuff.......I gave her a pull She huffed and puffed a few turns of the engine and quit. The smell of burnt fuel filled my shed. She was going to run but needed the years of neglect to be worked out of the system. One more pull and she fired to life. I shut her down and tried the electric start. This also worked! Next order of business was maintenance items. One drive belt and two auger belts. The auger housing needs to be removed to access these belts. New belts in position: I cleaned the frame that supports the motor and found the paint was in excellent shape. The augar housing was nothing but rust and BADLY flaking paint. I desided to strip it down to bare metal and repaint. After much scraping and sanding it was time for primer and paint. Fresh red paint! I reassembled the auger housing to the frame. Voila! New looking and running snow thrower: One none running derelict snow thrower=$0.00 2 auger belts and 1 driver belt=$50.00 3 cans of primer and paint=$15.00 One running two stage 8hp tracked snow thrower=PRICELESS!!! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

10-30-10, 07:41 PM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	I guess it's a bit early yet ..but a good job, you have done, __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-30-10, 07:46 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Good job AVG! __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

10-30-10, 09:14 PM	#6
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Great job! A Snow thrower for free 65 bucks, nice ! __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

10-30-10, 10:46 PM	#8
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Good job Chris, looks like a new one, the satisfaction from doing it yourself is worth the effort!! Come on snow season... I'm ready!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

10-30-10, 07:36 PM	#2
farmall Watch Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 29 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	It looks great! Where is the snow?

10-30-10, 07:39 PM	#3
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	Great stuff! I love projects like that, but they're kind of hard to do in an apartment building.

10-30-10, 10:32 PM	#7
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Very, very nice handiwork!

10-30-10, 11:16 PM	#9
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Nice little machine and the price was right. When you have nice weather I bet you could fab up something to use it for a garden Tiller. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

10-31-10, 05:09 AM	#10
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Great job there __________________

10-31-10, 05:43 AM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Nice job Chris....guess we won't see any more pictures of you shovelling it away then? __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

11-01-10, 10:29 AM	#14
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	AAAhhhhhh !!! MY EYES !!! Please don't show anymore "How To" instructional photos. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

11-01-10, 11:30 AM	#15
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Darn it. The first instructional video was going to be, "The Pull Chord and You." __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road