Buying attachments - how to check a gearbox

[tractchores]

I'm in the market for a used snowblower and brush hog. Looking at a blower this weekend. Any advice on how to check out the blower to make sure it is ok? Obviously I'll make sure it's straight, check for visible damage - but how do you evaluate a gearbox if it isn't hooked up to a tractor? Should I be able to turn it by hand?

Thanks!

 

[RBA50]

I have never tried to turn the input shaft by hand, but I can turn the auger fairly easily, which in turn makes the gearbox/input shaft turn. You can also open the fill plug and check the oil level and condition. Personally, if I was going to buy a used blower, I'd want to see and hear it run, unless it was **** near a giveaway that I felt like trying to track down parts for if something was wrong. Gearboxes can be expensive, and hard to find if the blower is an older model. Shaft bearings, sprockets, chains ,etc are easier.

 

[Baby Grand]

You'll never really know until you hitch it up & run it.
If that's not an option, you can always price a replacement gearbox (if available) and factor that into your offer.
Happy hunting!

 

[oosik]

The gear box and bearings on each side of the auger. I would definitely want to hear it run. I traded in my snowblower two years ago. About a month ago - as I was rambling around the internet - I saw that the manufacturer went out of business over ten years ago. I'll bet it would be next to impossible to find a gear box now.

 

[tractchores]

Thanks for the suggestions. Checked out one today, had it run and it was silent and worked well, so now I'm the proud owner of a new blower. Sadly I got in a car accident on the way home (snowstorm and someone slid into my lane). Luckily the blower is ok, but my trailer and truck are destroyed and I broke a hand... ugh!

Will need to get the blower on tomorrow and give her a try, looking forward to it.

 

[s219]

Thanks for the suggestions. Checked out one today, had it run and it was silent and worked well, so now I'm the proud owner of a new blower. Sadly I got in a car accident on the way home (snowstorm and someone slid into my lane). Luckily the blower is ok, but my trailer and truck are destroyed and I broke a hand... ugh!

Will need to get the blower on tomorrow and give her a try, looking forward to it.

Goddam! Glad you only got a broken hand out of it, but that sucks about your truck and trailer.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Dang, that's bad luck for sure, but could have been worse. Was the blower damaged?

 

[tractchores]

Thanks. I do feel lucky, could have had my dog with me or others in the car. Luckily just things were damaged and not people, anytime you can get up and walk away is good.

Car is well insured, trailer isn't, but I think I can fix it (needs a new tongue, but axles are ok). The blower seems fine, it broke its straps, but did not come off the trailer. It doesn't appear to have gotten any damage, though I'l go through it in detail tomorrow. Guess it turned out way more expensive than I wanted . Very glad the blower didn't end up in the back of the car!

 

[aczlan]

Thanks. I do feel lucky, could have had my dog with me or others in the car. Luckily just things were damaged and not people, anytime you can get up and walk away is good.

Car is well insured, trailer isn't, but I think I can fix it (needs a new tongue, but axles are ok). The blower seems fine, it broke its straps, but did not come off the trailer. It doesn't appear to have gotten any damage, though I'l go through it in detail tomorrow. Guess it turned out way more expensive than I wanted . Very glad the blower didn't end up in the back of the car!

Did the other driver not have insurance to cover the consequences of their actions? It would seem that if they slid into your lane they should be at fault and their insurance should be replacing your trailer...

Aaron Z

 

[mark02tj]

Did the other driver not have insurance to cover the consequences of their actions? It would seem that if they slid into your lane they should be at fault and their insurance should be replacing your trailer...

Aaron Z

You would normally think that's the way things work, but states have different laws on that. My daughter lived in MI and caused an accident up there. You're required to have insurance in MI, but the other driver's insurance paid for his car and her insurance paid for hers. MA (where the OP lives) may be similar.