Shear bolt size for Normand N60

[ctgoldwing]

I have a Normand N60 blower and just remounted it today - I didn't want to waste my time if the world ended on 12/21 :laughing:

A couple of years ago I purchased 100 nuts & bolts for shear use (I have a gravel driveway & until everything really freezes I usually snap one every storm). As a matter of course I alway start with a new bolt for the season except I can't find mine. I can't even blame my kids as they are grown & out of the house

I searched my garage & basement and can't even find my owner's manual. We are getting the house ready for sale & I'm afraid the manual & bolts have been packed away in one of 100 boxes already

It appears that a 1/4 - 20 bolt fits but if I remember correctly its a metric thread that was specified. After all Normand is a Canadian company. The shear bolt I am looking for is on the blower end of the PTO shaft and is about 2" long. I am especially looking for the bolt grade.

Anyone?

Thanks!

 

[Catfish Man]

I don't know what size it takes.
But what I did was buy a bunch and put them in the tube that is made to hold the manual, along with the required wrenches.
That way I never have to hunt for the shear bolts, or make a trip back to the house if I'm at the bottom of the driveway or at a neighbors house.

 

[ctgoldwing]

Good tip Catfish Man! I do that for my chipper where I have a cylinder like that for safety glasses etc. I think I will make a little pvc container for the blower - once I find out what to put in there

 

[kco]

Earlier today I posted a photo of the holder I made for my Meteor blower:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/266537-snowblower-question.html#post3118290

The hole was already in the support I bolted it to.

 

[Buckgnarly]

If it is close to a 1/4" it;s going to be an M6 in size. You shaft looks exactly like my old Meteor 54", and it used an M6 on the shaft and 1/4" on the auger side.

 

[ctgoldwing]

Earlier today I posted a photo of the holder I made for my Meteor blower:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/266537-snowblower-question.html#post3118290

The hole was already in the support I bolted it to.

:thumbsup: Pretty much what I was thinking kco tho I see a couple of things you did that I was going to do differently -

I was going to use pvc but I am assuming you used abs as its black - a better choice, pvc is far more brittle in the cold.

It also appears you 'slotted' the removable cap - great idea, makes it less likely to really get 'stuck' on there.

Thanks for posting!

 

[ctgoldwing]

If it is close to a 1/4" it;s going to be an M6 in size. You shaft looks exactly like my old Meteor 54", and it used an M6 on the shaft and 1/4" on the auger side.

thanks Buckgnarly! I am going to rumage around some more to see if I can find some M6 sized bolts. If I remember correctly I initially bought bolts that were too long - If I find them I will be able to confirm the grade.

 

[kco]

ctgoldwing, can you call Normand to find out the bolts and see if they can send you a manual?

I have an MK Meteor 75" pull-type which no doubt is not relevant to your situation. Although made in Canada it specifies a 5/16" GRADE 2 for the auger and an M10 grade 8.8 (similar to SAE grade 5) for the Italian-made Comer PTO.

Grade 2 bolts are hard to find. I tried 3 local dealers and several online sites to no avail. Then I realised I could use 5/16" carriage bolts which are grade 2. After buying a few of those I did discover an Ag wholesaler who sells grade 2 bolts, and that led me to a fourth local dealer who carries them.

Grade is important. My dealer replaced his auger bolt with the too-strong grade 5 (or 8?) and ended up bending the auger. He has a machine shop and was able to straighten it.

I have only broken one shear bolt but keep several spares.

I broke an "inadvertant" carriage bolt shear bolt holding the blower fan plate--twice!. Last year on a 2"x6" wood block, and this year with a rock or dog bone--I saw the thing fly about 50 feet but could not find it in the deep snow. The carriage bolt pulled right through the housing, bending the plate but not hurting the housing. I'm fortunate I had a 3/8" carriage bolt the first time. Otherwise I would have replaced it with a machine bolt and flat washer, which likely would have damaged the main housing (instead of just pulling the carriage bolt through the hole).

Here are some photos:

 

[Jay4200]

I looked everywhere for the answer to your question - I have an Econor 72" blower and have manuals, but they are on my work computer at the office (no office for me until next year!!).

Go to the Normand site, and use the 'contact us' link - ask them for a manual and parts list and they will e-mail you pdf files. That's what I did. Company Normand - Snowblowers

If memory serves, one of the shear bolts is the same size as a std snowblower auger shear bolt - I think that is the one in the PTO shaft. It may even be what is specified - I don't remember - probably just what the PO put in there. If anything, a snowblower shear pin is weaker, so you'll be safe either way. The other (on the auger drive shaft) is smaller - M6 grade 5, I think.

I have never broken a pin due to my drive being gravel - I don't understand that. On the occasion that I dug in when it was too soft, I merely threw 1000 pounds of gravel onto my grass (I hate when that happens). I have broken several shear pins due to chopping the throttle while there is still snow in the blower and it packs up - that is a big mistake and almost always results in 45 minutes with a digging bar to clear the thing out. If you keep your RPMs up, however, you shouldn't be breaking pins. My blower likes as many RPMs as my tractor can push out and runs better the faster I spin it - whenever there is snow in my blower, I keep the RPMs cranked as high as my L4200 will go.

JayC

 

[mjym]

hi on the pto its in mm i use 10mm wrench and on the chaine its 1 quater in bolt grade 5 on the top of the bolt its 3 radial line and go on bolt depot.com hope it will help you and merry chritmas tou you mario