snow thrower follow up

[Xearl 131]

I finished repairing my two stage snow thrower for my 523DXI . I put on two new idler sprockets and a new chain . I did all this without taking it back off the machine ,not an easy task . Thanks to NYPCrepair  ( I think that's right ) I made up an oak block 9 1/2  long 3/4 thick  to wedge against idler sprocket bolt to tighten the chain . When I put the block in place I noticed it was right by the key hole on the side . ( second picture )I was able first to get a thin screwdriver in to pry against the wood . Then there was enough room to get in a pry bar and force the block to tighten the chain . The first try I made the chain to tight but got it the second time around . Two things  :  The chain was 55 dog bones long and the picture is distorted so the ruler does not look like 9 1/2  but it is .

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

Does it matter which oak tree that "precision tool" came from? There are 17 varieties of oak trees.

 

Glad that you were able to get it back on-line without too much trouble. File for reference the number of links in the chain!

[Xearl 131]

I used Red which I felled, milled , and air dried for three years . Then I planed, joined and cut  to the proper dimensions . John my first couple of tries I used pine which split after whacking a few times .  That keyhole one the side worked without  a hammer at all . By the way thanks for the input on my posts . What a great site .

 

[WNYPCRepair 1,875]

4 hours ago, Xearl said:

Thanks to NYPCrepair  ( I think that's right ) I made up an oak block 9 1/2  long 3/4 thick  to wedge against idler sprocket bolt to tighten the chain . When I put the block in place I noticed it was right by the key hole on the side .

 

 

Close enough, LOL. 

My block was just a piece of pine I had laying around and I drove it until the end stuck in that keyhole. It splintered the end just enough to give me the right tension.

 

Next time, I will cut something specific.  Now that you figured out the right length.

 

[Xearl 131]

Thanks again . I tried several times without the wood and got no where .  

[WNYPCRepair 1,875]

57 minutes ago, Xearl said:

Thanks again . I tried several times without the wood and got no where .  

 

 

Yep, it was a discovery of necessity. I couldn't get it tight enough using a pry bar in the hole for the idler sprocket, and I looked over and saw that piece of pine I had laying on the workbench.