Shear bolts for 2360 snowblower

[ScottW]

I ordered some spare shear bolts for my MF2360 snowblower, and they sent me bolts that look like ordinary, chrome-colored 5/16" x 2-1/4" bolts. They are not color coded gold or silver and do not have grooves like the OEM ones. The parts guy at my dealer was able to look up the part number for the auger bolts, and got a size match to what he sent me. (He couldn't look up the fan bolt number.) He says they will break, even without the grooves, and that I can use the same type on the fan and auger. He also said that grade 8 for the fan shear bolt sounded impossibly strong for this size shear bolt. All I did was relay to him the information out of my manual and off the sticker on the blower, and I have no reason to doubt the manufacturer! They clearly say that the bolts for the auger and fan are different, but my dealer says what they sent will be fine. Economical switch or just plain wrong?

Auger bolts, 4263512M91, silver, 2 grooves, grade 5
Fan bolt, 4316035M91, gold, 1 groove, grade 8

We've had 4 inches snowfall so far, and I got it all nice and packed out with the tractor tires. Maybe I can finally put this baby to the test after the next storm :licking:

Thanks. --Scott

 

[Mock1]

Scott. Where do you order your parts from? I'm 2 1/2 hours North of Spokane.
Thanks,David

 

[AMCS]

I just happen to have the replacement shear bolt kit bag that came with my 2360 2yrs ago sitting on my desk. There is 1 gold bolt with 1 groove and 2 silver bolts with with two groves. The grooves on the silver bolts are deeper and wider than the groove on the gold bolt. This leads me to believe that the auger bolts are designed to shear much sooner than the gearbox bolt. The packlist just lists 3 shearbolts, 5/16NCx2 1/4" PTD 4263663M1. Hope that helps. Got about 4" on the ground and it's snowing hard. I may start throwing in the morning myself.

 

[blackd]

Scott, I just ordered a bag (10 bolts) of the silver, single groove type. Down here in SoMD the dealer had to order them, but they were here in ~ week.

BTW, after last year's snow, he has sold 3 new blowers (one to me) and is getting one for his own 2310.

 

[ScottW]

Mock1, I ordered from the dealer who sold me my tractor and implements, Central Washington Equipment in Wenatchee, WA. They have a website. I didn't get any spare bolts with my snowblower--I think the dealer probably screwed up, and because of that I don't think they're going to bill me for the plain looking bolts that they sent. I'm still wondering, is it possible that what they sent me is functionally equivalent to the OEM version?

 

[amkfken]

I have been using ordinary hardware store bolts in mine the past 3 years, they will shear as well as the grooved style with no adverse effects so far (about 10 total in the last 3 years)
Your mileage may vary!!

 

[irvingj]

You can also use Kubota bolts, if there's a K-dealer more convenient- they have some that are identical.

Some folks use regular bolts but in a grade 5, which is softer. I've used all three (M-F, Kubota, and gr. 5) with no apparent problems. I've replaced auger bolts several times, impeller bolt only once.

My blower did come with a set of M-F replacement shear bolts, in a plastic bag inside the owner's manual, color-coded and with one or two cut grooves.

 

[ScottW]

irvingj, thanks for the suggestion about Kubota. I forgot that they sell the same snowthrower from the Canadian manufacturer (who is that?). There is a Kubota dealer that I drive by once in awhile, and I'll probably stop in.

 

[AMCS]

9-12 inches last night so the season begins for me. Being a nice guy I was doing a neighbor's driveway and picked up 1.5" thick branch that took out the fan shear bolt. As with my previous experiance the shaft of the bolt never drops out when sheared. I found using about a 1/4" allen wrench in the hole and tapping with a pair of pliers I was able to drive it out far enough to start the bolt and tap it in with the pliers. There is a hole in the shaft fwd of the bolt hole and inline with the bolt hole you can use to position the fan. I could make a tool to drive out the shaft of the bolt but since I've made it 2 seasons without shearing a bolt the allen wrench works fine.

 

[irvingj]

I believe the Canadian manufacturer is called "RAD" -- don't know what that stands for, if anything, but I'd say they make pretty good stuff.