Woodmaxx 60inch Snowblower-Impeller noisy-too noisy?

[cdaigle430]

Hi;
Just wondering-i have a 60 inch Woodmaxx 3ph snowblower that is pretty loud when engaged. I verified it is not my tractor and tractor PTO. The loud growl seems to come from the huge impeller. I verified the recommended oil and oil level in the gear box and lubed the chain regularly with bar and chain oil and chain is correct tension. I also lube all the fittings regularly...noise seems to come from impeller and not auger.

Im just wondering if these are inherently noisy.

 

[seville009]

my augars on both blowers are quiet.

i wonder if something is caught behind the impeller - stone , debris....

you should be able to spin it by hand with the pto in neutral. try that and see if you feel resistance

is this brand new and never been used? if it is, have the dealer fix it.

 

[PILOON]

Last spring I chanced to manually spin my blower while tractor was shut down.
The noises generated were scary, sounded like bearings were all square.
Luckily that was following last snow event.

Teardown showed that most bearings were about to explode.
Now since my preowned blower had given me some 8-10 years of service I had no complaints.

Advice that I can offer U is to manual spin your blower with the engine off and let your hearing be your diagnostics,
All ready for this season's snows as of yesterday as I installed my winter attachments B4 it got too cold.
Still debating if I'll buy a new battery as my CUT is not a happy cold weather starter.

 

[cdaigle430]

Ive had it for 3 years, I can spin it by hand and it does feel like bearings are square or could be the chain is too tight? Ill have to record it this weekend and post it somehow. If I am standing where the PTO shaft is its fairly quiet, as soon as I walk in front of blower (safely ) I here hear the noisy growl ...like the old industrial drill press.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

When in doubt change it out.

It's a lot warmer now than in January

 

[cdaigle430]

When in doubt change it out.

It's a lot warmer now than in January

I think its 400 US for a new gear box, its been noisy but its getting worse. I think it started while it was under the 2 year warranty. Sadly this is the one part of the blower I thought was bullet poof but I know for certain its on its way out.

Hoping for at least one more year out of it because I dont have time to replace the gear box this year. Sounds and feels like the bearing on the impeller side-so much for my excellent rating on woodmaxx.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

I'd be filling that gearbox with a really heavy lube, grease or crushed bananas. You know it's going to blow up and it never blows up when it's parked not being used.

I had a gearbox blow up on a rotary mower. Sure I tried the mickey mouse fix first but when the bearings are gone nothing makes them good again. I still have the case and might save it as a spare but the cold hard truth is it deserved to die after the abuse its had.

 

[KWentling]

I'll be disappointed if my 84" Woodmax craps out that soon. Looks like replacing bearings and seals should be pretty easy and the bearings are common ones that should readily available.
Seals likely too but would have to look for sure. Being a Chinese gearbox I'm sure it's got crappy Chinese bearings. Get good brand name bearing if you rebuild. Do it before it wrecks the gears too.

 

[ruffdog]

The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to remove the impeller so you can swap bearings. A bad bearing is like a bad tooth...it ain't gonna get better. My old Lorenz blower only sounds like a big fan blowing air....no growling.

 

[PILOON]

Question:
Is your blower using a HD cast iron gear box? or is it a smaller aluminum one like on a walk behind blower.
(don't know Woodmaxx)