Help on BX Snowblower Shear Pins Please

[WayneW]

Broke one this morning on the second (inner) impeller. There is only one, and it broke, and part of it is stil in there. When I took the broken bolt off there is still a chunk inside. After inspecting the broken bolt, I think there is some of the threaded part still in, that is why it won't come out. It apparently broke in two places, near the nut and near the head.
I tried to hammer it out but there is not much room because it's in the circular exit chute. Plus if there IS a part threaded in there, I don't want to hit it too hard and risk stripping something. New blower. First shear pin break. This couldn't be easy could it?
I've broken them before in me Ariens walk behind, and they usually just fell out in 2 complete pieces. Not leaving the middle in there. Help please.

 

[Junkman]

It isn't a threaded hole, but just a plain ole drilled hole. Chances are that one side of the shear bolt has a lip on it. Try driving it out from the other side. I haven't broken any on my blower yet, but I do know from past experience with other blowers, that sometimes they are a pain to line up and drive out the broken piece. Use a thin flat faced drift pin and a small ball peen hammer. It should come out easily then. I believe that the bolt is just a standard soft bolt with no groove cut in it. The front pins are special. I purchased a package of 10 each from www.Tractorsmart.com this summer just to be prepared for the day when I will need them. Just don't ask me where they are now, because when I put the blower on, I couldn't find them. So much for being prepared... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Junkman]

I have been thinking about your problem and after going out to look at my snowblower, I realized that what you broke isn't the shear bolt, but the bolt that goes through the drive-shaft to the inner fan assembly. The shear bolt is the one that holds the two flat plates together in the fan impeller drive-shaft assembly. I suggest that you download this parts book and study it for the details that I mention. I would assume that this hole is also just drilled through, but it does explain why you are having trouble getting it out. http://www.streamload.com/plowboy/Books/BX2750_Late.pdf . For those that have a early design BX snowblower, change the word "Late" to "Early" and it will bring up the correct pages for your blower. I don't know what determines early from late.
Getting back to the problem, on page 3 of the diagram, you will see #7, which is the bolt that you broke. #6 is the shear bolt. Remove this also and make sure that it hasn't been replaced with the incorrect bolt. #7 should be a grade 8 bolt and the shear bolt, #6 is a grade 5 bolt. They might have been reversed in assembly. Don't forget to grease the auger shaft to keep it from rusting to the auger. There are 2 grease fitting, one on each side. Also use chain and bar oil on the chain. The chain isn't a standard item, and it is expensive if you wear it out... Junk........

 

[WayneW]

Thanks for the first tip Junkman. After I got home from work I spent some more time with it. (this was my first shear bolt to break with the new blower) There was the middle of the bolt stuck in the shft. I was able to tap it out with a small hammer and a nail. Then tapped a new bolt in it's place, then tightened down. There is another hole in that shaft that's closer the the gearbox. I "guessed" that the two holes were at the same angle, which they were. Now I know. So to anyone else with a BX snowblower, the two holes line up. It helps tremendously when you know that when you are tapping, the fan and shaft are lined up properly.

Another one of those experiences that I can file under the "Now I know" catagory.

Also found that small gravel bits can be tossed and accumulate around the teeth on the discharge chute, causing it not to pivot fully. I used a shop-vac to clean them out and all was ok.