dclarke 4,011 #1 Posted November 28, 2016 I picked up a 520H and snow thrower in August with 525 hours on it, the engine runs fine, the trans seems to be in good shape and the paint is good. The wiring needs attention and there's a whole list of small stuff I want to do to it so I figured I'd make a winter project out of it, my intent is to make this my snow machine when it's done. I didn't take a pic of it before I started but there is one on page 2 of the "sold archive" in the Classified section. The only thing I'm gonna paint is the top of the air cleaner, the battery compartment and the rims, the body tins will be shined up and everything else will be cleaned and left as it is. I plan on checking the valves and carbon on the engine while it's apart and cleaning the carb and I think I'll put axle seals in the tranny while I'm at it. So far I've picked up a new seat, a set of decals from Terry and a foot pedal kit from Matt. It'll get new tires also. Here's a few pics of the tear down. 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrc 727 #2 Posted November 28, 2016 hi denny, the rear of the seat support brackets appear in good shape on your 520H. however, often times they crack and break off. since you have it torn down, may i suggest an idea. on the top of the angle iron brace between the pump and transaxle weld a 3/16 inch thick small strip of metal. this provides a 3rd support (in the middle) for the weak 2 rear seat supports.. i do this to all the 3,4,500 series hydros i get. just a thought to help prevent a future problem.. best regards mike in mass. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #3 Posted November 28, 2016 Thanks, Mike. I'll check it out. 11 minutes ago, mrc said: hi denny, the rear of the seat support brackets appear in good shape on your 520H. however, often times they crack and break off. since you have it torn down, may i suggest an idea. on the top of the angle iron brace between the pump and transaxle weld a 3/16 inch thick small strip of metal. this provides a 3rd support (in the middle) for the weak 2 rear seat supports.. i do this to all the 3,4,500 series hydros i get. just a thought to help prevent a future problem.. best regards mike in mass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #4 Posted December 10, 2016 I've made a little progress on this thing this week, most of the parts I've ordered are here so I hope I can start putting this back together. I've got the steering gears and front axle cleaned up and back on, I'll need to adjust the tie rods to set the toe in on the front wheels. I'm also putting new seals and outer axle bearings in the transaxle and have a start on blasting the rims so I can get these new shoes put on and get this thing rolling again. 14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #5 Posted December 10, 2016 I got the transaxle back together, here's a few pics of what I did. This is really a pretty simple process once all the hyd lines are out of the way, just unbolt the case and pop it apart. I collapsed the seals with a chisel and popped them out with a screwdriver then drove the bearings out with a bearing driver, then installed new axle bearings (Torrington J1816) and seals (SKF11124) and a new brake shaft seal (SKF7443). Putting it back together is pretty straight forward, just needed to make sure the 2 thrust washers were in place and I used a gasket from Toro (108312). 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,984 #6 Posted December 10, 2016 Looking great. I have never went this far on any of my 520's You really cleaned everything up good. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #7 Posted December 11, 2016 That's a good way to clean out the years of crud in the trans. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #8 Posted December 11, 2016 This transaxle was really clean inside, just a little sediment from the oil and that was it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #9 Posted December 11, 2016 My 518 was not that nice when I put the eaten 1100 on it. Wayne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #10 Posted December 14, 2016 I made a little progress this week, while it's apart I replaced the o-rings in the hydraulic valve and I've ordered an o-ring kit from "classic kitchens" for the lift cylinder. I got "Matt's" foot pedal installed this morning and I replaced the rear lug bolts with one of "Bob Maynard's" conversion kits. Also put a new valve and grommet in the gas tank and mounted it and I have most of the dash stand back together, I need to get the engine cleaned up and get it back on then get to work on the wire harness. 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MalMac 1,328 #11 Posted December 15, 2016 While you have access to the drive belt tension pulley, check the shaft that the tension pulley is on. where the shaft goes through the hood stand, it wears the small thin bushing that goes through there. It also wears the shaft bad. Mine was wore so bad the bushing was nonexistent. The factory bushing is way to thin for that application. I drilled it out and inserted a way heavier oil impregnated bronze bushing. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #12 Posted December 15, 2016 1 hour ago, MalMac said: While you have access to the drive belt tension pulley, check the shaft that the tension pulley is on. where the shaft goes through the hood stand, it wears the small thin bushing that goes through there. It also wears the shaft bad. Mine was wore so bad the bushing was nonexistent. The factory bushing is way to thin for that application. I drilled it out and inserted a way heavier oil impregnated bronze bushing. I'll check that, Tim. Thanks for the tip. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #13 Posted December 15, 2016 17 hours ago, MalMac said: While you have access to the drive belt tension pulley, check the shaft that the tension pulley is on. where the shaft goes through the hood stand, it wears the small thin bushing that goes through there. It also wears the shaft bad. Mine was wore so bad the bushing was nonexistent. The factory bushing is way to thin for that application. I drilled it out and inserted a way heavier oil impregnated bronze bushing. I checked that shaft and found it to have some play, The shaft is good but the 7879 bushing was worn some and was loose in the hole. I wasn't sure a new bushing would fit tight in the hole and I really didn't want to pay $13 for it to find out so I reamed the hole to fit a thicker bushing that I had in stock. The flange on the new bushing is a little thicker so to keep the pulley lined up I took the spacer out of the pulley bearing and shortened it a little on the lathe. Overall I'm pretty happy with how it worked out, the play in the shaft is gone, I have a thicker bushing that fits tight in the hole and this bushing (Toro #6229) is closer to $5 instead of $13. 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MalMac 1,328 #14 Posted December 16, 2016 Just about same thing I did Denny. Really smoothes out the running of the belt. Mine even got more quite. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #15 Posted December 16, 2016 This morning I got the repair kit for my lift cylinder and a nice pair of foot rest pads from "Classickitchens". Thanks Eldon! I got the kit installed and the cylinder back on and that sealed up the hydro system so I filled the tranny with 10-30 synthetic. I also got the engine degreased and hopefully in the next few days I'll get the valves checked and get it back on the tractor. 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #16 Posted December 22, 2016 It warmed up a little today so I got a few more things done. I have the front rims blasted so I put new bearings in then mounted all 4 bare rims back on the tractor and set the toe in on the front. Then I mounted the front tires and primed those front rims, after I get a coat of silver sprayed on them I'll seat the tires and get those back on the tractor. Two down and two to go. I picked up one of those mini tire changers from Harbor Freight a few weeks ago, it worked pretty well on the front tires but I had a little trouble taking the rear tires off. Once I get the rear rims blasted we'll see if the new rear tires go on any easier. I also checked the valve stem clearance and cleaned up what little carbon there was on the head and piston and took the top off the carb and cleaned it out then bolted the engine back on the frame. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MalMac 1,328 #17 Posted December 22, 2016 Looks like your moving right long Denny. For long you'll be blowing snow with it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #18 Posted December 28, 2016 I've made a little more progress, the front wheels have new bearings and are back on, I got the gauges all cleaned up and the dash installed. I picked up a new wiring harness (thanks Tom) and put it in this afternoon and took the starter apart, cleaned it up and got it back on. 12 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shynon 7,435 #19 Posted December 28, 2016 Looking good Denny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,126 #20 Posted December 28, 2016 Looks to be coming along really Nice , Denny!! Can't wait to see it done... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,867 #21 Posted December 28, 2016 Makes me want a 520 Denny! Looks sharp! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #22 Posted December 30, 2016 I made a new wiring harness for the engine and got that installed and got the tins back on the engine, a new set of battery cables and I think most of the wiring is done. 10 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,808 #23 Posted December 30, 2016 I see you have the same habit as I in loading up the hardware ready for the next piece. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #24 Posted December 30, 2016 2 minutes ago, WHX9 said: I see you have the same habit as I in loading up the hardware ready for the next piece. Yeah, it seems like if I don't do that I can't remember what goes where. Getting old I guess. lol 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,808 #25 Posted December 30, 2016 I hear ya there Denny, a good shop practice even if you have a "young" memory. It also helps if you are going to replace a fastener with say stainless or other type you have the correct dimensions from what was OEM. length/thread which can be critical in those over the tank pan & seat bolts & other areas. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites