NewIdea 516A 2 Stage blower Gear oil

[Nick Danger]

I just purchased a New (to me) Idea 516A blower and was checking the gearbox oil. It was full (good to see).

I purchased a manual online and in the manual it states it s/b 90w gear oil.

When I checked the oil, it seemed light and certainly didn't have that "gear oil" smell.

I would like to change it to Synthetic, but didn't see a drain plug...nor does the manual show one.

How would one go about changing it? Never having one apart, not really sure what it looks like inside...or does one just remove the plate and hope the gasket remains intact?

thanks in advance,

Nd

 

[Nick Danger]

I just purchased a New (to me) Idea 516A blower and was checking the gearbox oil. It was full (good to see).

I purchased a manual online and in the manual it states it s/b 90w gear oil.

When I checked the oil, it seemed light and certainly didn't have that "gear oil" smell.

I would like to change it to Synthetic, but didn't see a drain plug...nor does the manual show one.

How would one go about changing it? Never having one apart, not really sure what it looks like inside...or does one just remove the plate and hope the gasket remains intact?

thanks in advance,

Nd

Well, I dove in and pulled the plate off ruining the gasket. Being it was only 10F out, the lube was like thick molasses...I could literally scoop it out like it pudding.

Does anyone know where I can pull information about this blower and where one can find parts? Would like to find gasket and qty of lube used.

Tried Google...nil...


Thanks,

Nd

 

[JerryK]

Nick,
If you have a hard time finding a gasket, it is pretty easy to make a new one. You can get gasket material in sheets at most auto parts stores. Clean off the old gasket surfaces, then lay the new material on it and hold in place...while gently tapping the gasket with a ball peen hammer. This will give you an outline that you can cut out to make the new gasket. You can 'cut' the bolt holes out by making home made hole punches. They can be made out of any size pipe/tubing...with the ends ground down to make them cut [also make good leather punches]. Before assembly, again make sure that everything is clean, coat the gasket on both sides with a thin coat of Permatex, then put her back together. There are lots of new silicone gasket products out now, too.
I put synthetic in my blower right after I picked it up at the freight company. Usually there is a sight hole, a small plug on the side that you fill the gearbox up to untill it starts to run out. Good luck, Jerry..

 

[Rudevette]

a good rule of thumb is to fill the gearbox to the hole that is aligned with the center of the highest shaft. That could be either input or output, it all depends on the orientation of your box. We have literally thousands of gearboxes at my place of employment and we put Mobil 634 in every one of them. It is a synthetic gear lube and we have never had a problem. If you are able to find a dealer who can give you some manufacturer contact info it would help so you can verify with the oem that this lube would work. Or, check the box real close for a nameplate. I'm sure that box is made by one of the big gear companies and if you can find a box nameplate I can help put you in touch with somebody who can answer you questions on it. I know a lot of good people in the gearbox and bearing industry.

-Justin

 

[Nick Danger]

Nick,
If you have a hard time finding a gasket, it is pretty easy to make a new one. You can get gasket material in sheets at most auto parts stores. Clean off the old gasket surfaces, then lay the new material on it and hold in place...while gently tapping the gasket with a ball peen hammer. This will give you an outline that you can cut out to make the new gasket. You can 'cut' the bolt holes out by making home made hole punches. They can be made out of any size pipe/tubing...with the ends ground down to make them cut [also make good leather punches]. Before assembly, again make sure that everything is clean, coat the gasket on both sides with a thin coat of Permatex, then put her back together. There are lots of new silicone gasket products out now, too.
I put synthetic in my blower right after I picked it up at the freight company. Usually there is a sight hole, a small plug on the side that you fill the gearbox up to untill it starts to run out. Good luck, Jerry..

Jerry, thanx for the input...had that in mind as I figured I wasn't going to find one...stopped by the Local NAPA and purchased roll of cork and can 'O Permatex...got her in tonight and filled...Now for the SNOW!!!

 

[Nick Danger]

a good rule of thumb is to fill the gearbox to the hole that is aligned with the center of the highest shaft. That could be either input or output, it all depends on the orientation of your box. We have literally thousands of gearboxes at my place of employment and we put Mobil 634 in every one of them. It is a synthetic gear lube and we have never had a problem. If you are able to find a dealer who can give you some manufacturer contact info it would help so you can verify with the oem that this lube would work. Or, check the box real close for a nameplate. I'm sure that box is made by one of the big gear companies and if you can find a box nameplate I can help put you in touch with somebody who can answer you questions on it. I know a lot of good people in the gearbox and bearing industry.

-Justin

Justin, the only thing on the gearbox is paint...not even a drain plug...altho at 10F...it wouldn't have come out anyway...at least not til summer...I got her all together and put in 75-90 Mobil Synthetic LS...Took about 14oz...

There is a 90 deg street elbow on the filler that sits vertical tucked under steel plate, so when it's dark and all U got is a flashlight, adj ext mirror...a bottle of lube with a 10" piece of tubing and at first didn't take out the breather...it got a little messy...I am thinking not sure if I have that many shopping days left to see this filled...

Was barely able to get any of my pinkie down in the elbow to see if it was getting there...Hard to see fresh oil in filler...but got there eventually...Again...Now for the SNOW!!!

 

[rbargeron]

Just noticed this thread - I have a 516A too - now somewhat modified to have a hydraulic drag blade and chute turner. I have the book for this unit - I'll take a look to see what they say about gear oil, filling level, etc. Check out this thread for some before-and-after pics of my rig.

 

[Nick Danger]

Just noticed this thread - I have a 516A too - now somewhat modified to have a hydraulic drag blade and chute turner. I have the book for this unit - I'll take a look to see what they say about gear oil, filling level, etc. Check out this thread for some before-and-after pics of my rig.

Like it!

Not sure about the drag part yet as I haven't even been able to use it yet...figures! get a different blower and not enough snow to use it yet

Will need to see how it performs...have used a 7' V plow for the last 15 seasons...so this is exciting...let me know what you find out in your manual...

Nd

 

[rbargeron]

Hi Nick - the official Operator's Manual for the No. 516A Rotary Snow Plow (Made by Avco New Idea, Coldwater, Ohio 45828) shows the side plate on the gearbox with the street elbow and a vent plug a couple inches above it. On another page it says to use 90w gear lube and fill "to the bottom of the oil level plug" - apparently the plug in the elbow. No mention of capacity.

 

[WilliamBos]

Hi Nick - the official Operator's Manual for the No. 516A Rotary Snow Plow (Made by Avco New Idea, Coldwater, Ohio 45828) shows the side plate on the gearbox with the street elbow and a vent plug a couple inches above it. On another page it says to use 90w gear lube and fill "to the bottom of the oil level plug" - apparently the plug in the elbow. No mention of capacity.

Beautiful blower!!