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$100 snow blower project.

6K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  Cronk 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I cruise Craigslist for deals based on what my needs are......

Well, after last winter I've been looking for a good snow blower at a good price. Something I didn't figure with a corner lot in the city limits was the amount of time it would take to shovel the sidewalk and driveway. My neighbor let me borrow her snow blower and I was hooked so the hunt was on!

what I found was a John Deere 826D Snow blower. The motor was blown. It looked to me that somebody purchased the snow blower and failed to add oil before use. They ran 1/3 of a tank of gas before the engine threw a rod.

Here it is as I got it. As the header says, I paid $100.00 for it. Note the condition of the auger, hardly any paint rubbed off. It has a few paint chips on the chute, I'm guessing they had a gravel drive?
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The engine was toast, both sides of the block were cracked.

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Replacement engine. Got it off of e-bay for $275.00. Same basic engine, shaft size was different. Oil drain holes were in a different spot and four head bolts were different. (four on OEM motor had threads to mount shielding and brackets to.

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
I set about one Saturday swapping the two motors.

Took engine off.
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Engines side by side.
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More of blown engine.

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The transfer went fairly easily. I had to transfer the flywheel and the little gizmo beneath it to power the headlight if so equipped. I saved the carb, head, coil etc.... Off the old engine before scrapping it. Main issue with the different engine was the shaft size. The new engine had a 7/8 tapered shaft. Was only tapered on the upper side. I found a pulley at Rural King that swapped right over BUT the tapered portion of the shaft was in the way. My solution, to start the engine and run my angle grinder across the tapered shaft, essentially machining it to the correct diameter. Checked my work with a mic gauge, slid the pulley on, installed keyway and tested it out! Works like a new one!
 

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#4 ·
Nice job. The 120 volt starter is worth it's weight in gold at 10*.

Headlight is nice but generally just illumintes the stuff that blowing back on you! :D

I need to get mine tuned up.



Nothing runs like a Deere (with a new motor)! :lol: :lol:
 
#5 ·
Nice work. You'll need it, we just got a snowstorm on Monday...winter is here.

My good ol' 2-stroke Toro started right away, as usual (I am diligent about running the gas out at the end of each season).
 
#6 ·
You just leave a dry cylinder/carb etc....? No concerns of rust forming? Curious, I never leave the cylinder dry...depends on the equipment how i prep for winter, run out the gas fill with oil, treat the gas, but never a dry cylinder....
 
#8 ·
-88- said:
You just leave a dry cylinder/carb etc....? No concerns of rust forming? Curious, I never leave the cylinder dry...depends on the equipment how i prep for winter, run out the gas fill with oil, treat the gas, but never a dry cylinder....
Two ways to go, either run it dry or dose the tank with Stabil or the like and make sure you run it long enough for the stuff to run through the carb. Rust isn't really a concern for seasonal storage, not around here anyway. The main concern is gumming up the carb. Never had a carb problem with a small engine that I have run out at the end of the season. Oh, and I also source non-ethanol fuel for my small engine, really cuts down on carb issues.

I just realized my snowblower is 19 years old...my how time flies.
 
#11 ·
We had 5 of those that winter! 5 over 2'. 3 of them were over 3'. You've seen the road with the hill I live on. We have to clear that too.


:D

There are snowblowers and then there are SNOWBLOWERS! :shock: :D


Something tells me I'm going to need this one this year.

Ru Zu, Yep it's an old Snowking. One of the few of the old indians I like.
 
#13 ·
Excellent snowblower Cronk. I bought my 826 new many years ago and it's still going strong. I also have a 5 hp Deeres and surprising how much of a difference between the two. I use my 826 every winter and do up to 5 driveways each time out. Given an opportunity I'd buy another 826 in a heart beat. Kind of want a 1032 Deere but certainly have zero complaints with my 826.
Everyone talks about Stabil, running the fuel out at the end of the season etc. and I'm sure that's a good idea but admit I've done none of the above yet the blower is ready every winter, seldom taking more then three pulls for it's first start of the season and it's in an unheated building.
Worth mentioning the auger. My experience has been you can tell the quality of the machine by it's auger. My old Deere has eaten at least two garden hoses and one dog chain and it's still fine. Note to self: If doing a driveway you are unfamiliar with ask about obstacles under the snow, look for a hose attached to an outside faucet.
My sister bought a new LawnBoy snowblower and in it's first few uses on snow only the auger wound up like a pretzel. She took it in and had the auger replaced. Shortly after it did the same thing, auger roached. The second time she didn't bother fixing it and I robbed the 5hp off it. The Deeres have a pretty stout auger.
 
#14 ·
Thanks 2wheels2. I never really thought about the auger. I helped my wife's friend's husband dig out his snow blower a few weeks back. It's a newer wheel horse snow blower pretty close to this one but I picked a few cheaper components out right away. One was the shoot being plastic. His was all warped due to resting against a shelf in the shed.

Looking back at these pictures, you know what's sad? My Rodeo is still sitting in the same spot........ :? I put the 5 speed in it and have only put a couple hundred miles on it since. Guess I'm keeping the salt off the frame though. :wink:
 
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