Chain drive on front mount snowblower?

[Jim Morrell]

I went to the dealer the other day to get a master link for the drive chain on my 51" front mount snowblower. They said it was a special link from Kubota, some sort of O-Ring chain and you need the special master link from them. Well anyway after they told me the price for one master link and the look of shock and horror on my face we decided on another option. I bought a new #50 chain and 2 master links for the price of just one Kubota master link. I installed the new chain and it works just fine.
That being said, did I just set myself up for failure in the middle of a snow storm? Anyone else run into this problem and use #50 chain?

Thanks
Jim

 

[parkerbdlght]

No, just make sure you keep it lubed. The o-ring chain keeps debris from getting in. I have put normal chain on and never had any problems.

 

[Creig]

You may want to go to a sports shop that sells off road motorcycles and ask them for a good chain lube. Motocross style bikes use lubes that are specially formulated to lubricate while shedding water/dirt.

And while you're there, ask them for a price quote on o-ring chain. Again, I believe they use it on their bikes to prevent dirt/water from getting into the links. I would imagine the price there would probably be lower than from your Kubota dealer.

 

[art]

For the price of the link, I think you bought some mighty cheap chain! Do keep it lubed well!!!!!!!!

 

[rbargeron]

A front snow blower drive chain gets used very few hours in a year - and it's in a pretty friendly environment to boot - comparatively low abrasives load, and lots of lube water. Even if you never lube it at all, a new #50 chain will last many years. A squirt of oil on it now and then will make it last forever. O-ring chains are for places like sander bodies, grit collectors, dozer tracks etc. A box of #50 chain can often be had on eBay for very short money. I think you can safely forget all about it till around 2019.

 

[638]

A worn roller chain is really not likely to break. What it will do though is cause excessive wear on the sprockets. Chain is not that expensive, and is easily replaced. Sprockets are another thing.

 

[Willl]

A worn roller chain is really not likely to break. What it will do though is cause excessive wear on the sprockets. Chain is not that expensive, and is easily replaced. Sprockets are another thing.

What he said, and I'll add....

When your chain gets stretched to the point of wearing on your sprocket tips, it's too late.

Any new chain you install now WILL die an early death without new sprockets.

The point I'm trying to make here is if you don't want to end up replacing your sprockets, take care of your chains.
If you think they might be worn and/or stretched, replace them.

 

[638]

Probably so. Seems to me, back in the good old days, you could buy a sprocket with flame hardened teeth, and they would last longer. Don't know about how it is now.

 

[atgreene]

I buy my chain through Eastern Bearing. You can also use stainless chain if steel causes an issue with corrosion/rust. SS has slightly less strength, but will last longer.

Buying anything like bearings or roller chain through Kubota is a waste of hard earned money. Everything like that can be bought from industrial supply houses for 1/4 as much and last just as well.

 

[Jim Morrell]

No, just make sure you keep it lubed. The o-ring chain keeps debris from getting in. I have put normal chain on and never had any problems.

Thanks, so far so good with the chain... I've been using some bar and chain oil to keep her lubed up.

Jim

 

[Jim Morrell]

For the price of the link, I think you bought some mighty cheap chain! Do keep it lubed well!!!!!!!!

The chain and 2 master links was right around $10 and the dealer told me it was around that much just for the special Kubota master link.

Jim

 

[Jim Morrell]

A front snow blower drive chain gets used very few hours in a year - and it's in a pretty friendly environment to boot - comparatively low abrasives load, and lots of lube water. Even if you never lube it at all, a new #50 chain will last many years. A squirt of oil on it now and then will make it last forever. O-ring chains are for places like sander bodies, grit collectors, dozer tracks etc. A box of #50 chain can often be had on eBay for very short money. I think you can safely forget all about it till around 2019.

I'll make sure to buy another pair on warm gloves for 2019 sounds like I might need them lol. Thanks for the info.

Jim

 

[Jim Morrell]

I buy my chain through Eastern Bearing. You can also use stainless chain if steel causes an issue with corrosion/rust. SS has slightly less strength, but will last longer.

Buying anything like bearings or roller chain through Kubota is a waste of hard earned money. Everything like that can be bought from industrial supply houses for 1/4 as much and last just as well.

I ended up buying my #50 right there at the dealer....Osgoods in East Dixfield, Maine.... the price was right and just a few miles from the house. I agree about buying Kubota parts being a waste of money for alot of the general maintenance of the machine..... my Case 580B was the same way.

Jim

 

[BXpanded]

Most "O" Ring chains are "endless" (no removable master link). They're put together by bradding the connecting link. Note MOST! A conventional master link won't tighten things up enough to compress the "O" ring and create a seal.
Any stretching in your chain is actually wear in the pins and bushings. The chains don't really stretch.
To see how much wear the chain has, lay it down on a flat surface and measure some number of links while pulling on the chain. Compare this to the spec for pitch of the chain multiplied by the number of links you measured and you'll see the wear. If the wear is measurable with a tape measure, you probably should replace the chain. Rule of thumb is new sprockets every other chain. That assumes you did not let the chain wear appreciably. Any sprocket showing signs of wear or hooking should be immediately replaced. As someone stated before: New chain on worn sprockets or new sprockets with old chain will create rapid wear and possibly chain failure.

 

[Jim Morrell]

Most "O" Ring chains are "endless" (no removable master link). They're put together by bradding the connecting link. Note MOST! A conventional master link won't tighten things up enough to compress the "O" ring and create a seal.
Any stretching in your chain is actually wear in the pins and bushings. The chains don't really stretch.
To see how much wear the chain has, lay it down on a flat surface and measure some number of links while pulling on the chain. Compare this to the spec for pitch of the chain multiplied by the number of links you measured and you'll see the wear. If the wear is measurable with a tape measure, you probably should replace the chain. Rule of thumb is new sprockets every other chain. That assumes you did not let the chain wear appreciably. Any sprocket showing signs of wear or hooking should be immediately replaced. As someone stated before: New chain on worn sprockets or new sprockets with old chain will create rapid wear and possibly chain failure.

Thanks for the info on o-ring chains.... I just bought the tractor and the chain was broke on the snowblower... owner said he picked up a rock, but the chain and sprocket were completely dry, showed no sign of lube at all. I believe this was probably the problem, I inspected the sprokets and chain well before I went to the dealer for a master link on the o-ring chain... chain looked dry but in great shape otherwise, I dont think the blower saw much use, also the sprokets were all in great shape showed no signs of rounded teeth what so ever. Anyway the #50 chain is on there now, all lubed up, and working well. I appreciate all the input and help from everyone here.

Jim