Chute rotator

[JCA]

Hi folks. Got a new/old front-mount snowblower for my Kub. It's a 2650, the generation before the current 2750. Along with some other problems (which I won't go into now) the chute rotator is very hard to turn. I visited the dealer yesterday and tried some new ones; much easier. I've tried taking it apart and putting grease on it--bad idea I think in sub-zero weather.

Now it may be that that's my answer write ther: I need to clean off all the grease and just keep it well oiled so that it doesn't freeze up. But I'll go ahead and post this and see what thoughts you folks have to offer.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[chim]

Someone posted pics a while back on a conversion they did using an electric window motor. Pretty slick..............chim

 

[Pks]

If the rotator uses a pair of nylon bushings, try taking them out of the housing/mount and look for burs or gouging in the nylon. Polish the burs off and smoothen the gouges. Then look for burs on the steel shaft and polish them as well.

Apply WD40 to keep out the water and put it all back together. It should slide together very smoothly and with almost no effort.

That's what had to do to my new one. Who ever assembled it, put a huge slice in the nylon when they stuffed the worm gear into it. Whenever it gets a little stiff, I spray the nylon bushing with WD40 which removes the water and it turns easily again.

 

[JCA]

Great suggestions. I'll be out there today working on those nylon busings. Thanks.

Jim

 

[Pks]

A second idea came to me:

If the shaft rotates smoothly but the chute is still tough to rotate, try taking it off the blower and cleaning off the surface the chute sits on. Mine has another nylon journal bearing that the chute sits on. It's possible that it might have gouges or grooves that could hamper the chute's ability to rotate.

Please let us know how it went.

 

[WayneW]

I had small pieces of gravel jambed in mine. Thought it was iced up, but after bringing it inside, I used the shop vac to clean it out. Some WD 40 and it's smooth now. Thinking about making some sort of cover that'll fit over it to keep the gravel out in the future. (Since then, I've raised the drag shoes so hopefully there will be less gravel)