JonW 0 #1 Posted January 30, 2011 I just bought a brand new belt for my 42" single stage snow blower. Before I installed the belt I cleaned the pulleys with carb cleaner I tried blowing 12" of snow and was making a 1/4 swipe going in low 1. Is there a way to adjust the tension? The tension pulley spring is on the blower. Any other ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,985 #2 Posted January 30, 2011 Just a thought, is the belt slipping, or is your PTO clutch slipping? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #3 Posted January 30, 2011 Thats what I was wondering if there is an adjustment. The snow will stop the belt from spinning. Its a new belt (Just bought it two hours ago). I have never used the blower before as I have a plow on my truck. Its just we have so much snow I thought the blower would help. I greased the zerk fittings and lubed the chain. The belt I bought was a Gates 6969. How do I test the P.T.O. clutch? Something is slipping whether its the PTO or the belt. Also the snow is only being thrown 8-10 feet, before it loads up and stops the belt, and auger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,129 #4 Posted January 30, 2011 Disconnect the trunnion at the triangular plate and screw it back the rod (toward the dash) one or two turns, reconnect, and try the thrower again. If it hasn't been moved in a while - or ever - you might need to heat it. Don't try too hard to get it to move, or the rod might twist off. If that doesn't help, get back to us. Just don't adjust it so much that it's hard to get the PTO lever to "snap" into the engaged position. All that will do is add wear to the bearings, bushings, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,985 #5 Posted January 31, 2011 You might want to try spraying a little brake cleaner on the PTO clutch plate to clean it. A dirty clutch can act like an out of adjustment one. Use caution if it is the flammable stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #6 Posted January 31, 2011 Thanks guys!! I will do those two ideas. Now I think about it, the clutch must be slipping, either from oil or just out of adjustment. Will post back tomorrow. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,786 #7 Posted January 31, 2011 Now I think about it, the clutch must be slipping, either from oil or just out of adjustment. I hope its not oil as that will ruin the clutch material if it soaks in. Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #8 Posted January 31, 2011 Ok, Cleaned and scuffed the clutch and pto cover thing. Turned adjustment rod one time, then one more then two more then finally two more (for a total of 6 turns). It is a little better but still stops the belt. Now the pto will turn the belt very slowly when the clutch is dis-engaged I am thinking the clutch is toast, although it looked like it had about 1/16-1/8" of material left on it. The pto cover cleaned up pretty well. Now the small clutch stop is worn to the rivets....... I am going to pull the clutch off my Sons c-81 and try that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #9 Posted January 31, 2011 My Son's clutch is completely worn........ So I looked at my clutch and it is thicker then a quarter(friction material). I noticed my stop bracket was completely worn past the rivets, so I bought a new one. I looked at a brand new clutch at the dealer and they are about the same thickness(friction material). I came home and "burnished" the face of the PTO clutch cover, then touched up the clutch disk very lightly with 150 to remove a touch of glaze it had on it. We set the .012" distance for the new stop bracket. It STILL stops the belt and auger. We have turned the adjusting rod a total of 9 turns (towards the dash). When I took the clutch cover off there was NO oil anywhere near the clutch face or cover. There was enough on the roller bearings but not enough to wet the clutch. It is definitely better as now I can throw snow for about 3 or 4 feet before it stops the belt. This is in fresh snow about 1 foot deep. I am getting near Witt's end on this. Any other ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,129 #10 Posted January 31, 2011 Did you happen to see exactly what stops and what is still moving? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #11 Posted January 31, 2011 Did you happen to see exactly what stops and what is still moving? The belt, auger, all the pullys stop spinng. Nothing spins at all. Except the engine......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,129 #12 Posted February 1, 2011 9 turns of the trunnion seems like an awful lot - even if it was never adjusted before. Did you happen to look closely at the bearing / stub shaft / snap ring on the end of the PTO pulley? Maybe the snap ring came out of it's groove and the stub shaft is pushing in through the bearing. :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse_of_course 99 #13 Posted February 1, 2011 Something ain't right! With the engine off and the clutch disengaged, can you turn the PTO pulley? I wonder if there is excess friction somewhere upstream from the PTO.... Everything should be able to turn freely by hand. Good luck. :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrocket49 23 #14 Posted February 1, 2011 Just a thought, could the snowblower be bound up? Does the snowblower turn easily with the belt off of the PTO pulley? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #15 Posted February 1, 2011 Yes, everything turns freely when the PTO is diengaged. There is maybe 1/8" play in the pto clutch cover.(side to side) All snap pins are in place. I am thinking the P.O oil soaked the clutch and when the PTO engages the oil slips. I only sprayed it with brake clean and scuffed it up. Maybe its time for a new clutch. I dont know what else to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaineDad 85 #16 Posted February 1, 2011 One thought. Do you have the belt on correctly? Do a search and see how it is routed. I have seen some guys have the same problem due the way the belt was routed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #17 Posted February 1, 2011 One thought. Do you have the belt on correctly? Do a search and see how it is routed. I have seen some guys have the same problem due the way the belt was routed. ..................... THANK YOU Mainedad! NOW that the belt is routed correctly........ It blows through snow like a WH can. (Note to self, Check the obvious first) :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
118lfd 8 #18 Posted February 2, 2011 One thought. Do you have the belt on correctly? Do a search and see how it is routed. I have seen some guys have the same problem due the way the belt was routed. ..................... THANK YOU Mainedad! NOW that the belt is routed correctly........ It blows through snow like a WH can. (Note to self, Check the obvious first) I would back off the pto adjustment if you did not already as if it is adjusted to tight I can see it putting undo stress on the motor. You definitely don't want it so tight its hard to push the lever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonW 0 #19 Posted February 2, 2011 Yup, We lossened it 5 turns. Will recheck it tomorrow. Maybe we can back it out even further. Thanks for the idea. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #20 Posted February 2, 2011 nice to find an easy fix Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
118lfd 8 #21 Posted February 2, 2011 I looked at my blower yesterday and could see how the belt could be routed wrong very easy. It would not work to well that way either. Glad you found the problem and fixed her up so easily. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Operator 7 #22 Posted February 2, 2011 Now take a Magic Marker and map out the path for next year, voice of experience here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaineDad 85 #23 Posted February 2, 2011 You are welcome. After all of these years, I sometimes have to do a double take to make sure I route the belt correctly too :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,786 #24 Posted February 2, 2011 Now take a Magic Marker and map out the path for next year, voice of experience here. Or just print out the pics in this thread, http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5522 , and stick em in yer toolbox . Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Operator 7 #25 Posted February 2, 2011 I can hear my printer ! Wireless is great. Good idea Sparky :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites