BX Front Snowblower Annual Maintenance - Video

[Killingitcountry]

I quit winter - so I did the maintenance already. My blower is a BX2755HD ... this may be the same for many other models. Hope it helps someone.

- James

 

[DustyRusty]

I learned that the Allen screws plugs in the front gear box are installed at the factory with Loctite. I warmed my gear box with a heat gun, and then they came out without any effort at all. Heat helps to break the bond of the Loctite. Also, on mine, upon delivery, I noted that the vent was painted over, and that the gear box was unable to breath until I pealed all the paint off of it. One other suggestion, I would power wash the blower prior to doing the maintenance, because power washing can drive water into various components. If you have grease everything afterwards, you will drive out that water when the new grease displaces all the old grease. These are some of the things that I was taught when I worked in a shop repairing heavy equipment. Other than these few suggestions, it is a great video.

 

[Killingitcountry]

I learned that the Allen screws plugs in the front gear box are installed at the factory with Loctite. I warmed my gear box with a heat gun, and then they came out without any effort at all. Heat helps to break the bond of the Loctite. Also, on mine, upon delivery, I noted that the vent was painted over, and that the gear box was unable to breath until I pealed all the paint off of it. One other suggestion, I would power wash the blower prior to doing the maintenance, because power washing can drive water into various components. If you have grease everything afterwards, you will drive out that water when the new grease displaces all the old grease. These are some of the things that I was taught when I worked in a shop repairing heavy equipment. Other than these few suggestions, it is a great video.

Thank's for the compliments! I wanted to power-wash the blower first but it was still about -12°C when I started ... warmed up to about -5°C by the time I pulled out the power washer. I didn't direct any prolonged spray at the bearings or grease points - and after it dried I emptied the can of undercoating all over the blower - it's a slimy mess and ready to sleep for the summer. You are 100% right about washing before greasing! Thanks again.

- James

 

[DustyRusty]

When you take it out of storage next fall, mix Dawn dishwashing liquid 25% with 75% water, and use a spray bottle to spray the entire snow blower down with diluted detergent. Pressure wash, and it will look like new. Hopefully for you, your summer will be here before July 1st.

 

[PNWBXer]

I just was changing out my gear box oil on my bx2816 snowblower today! So funny that you posted this. I think you should do a video on painting your blower......that is my next task. I need to figure out how to smooth out the chipped paint so I can Primer the bare metal before painting. Your looks like it could use a few layers of "protective" paint

 

[DustyRusty]

The chipped "paint", isn't paint at all, it is a powder coating. You will need some aggressive sandpaper to scuff the edges, and get the metal clean. I would prime with a self etching primer, and top coat. Once you get a chip in powder coating, water gets under it and the steel starts to rust, and it will continue rusting without your noticing it, until a large piece of powder coat falls off. My snow blower on my BX22 that I purchased in 2004 was painted, and even though the paint is badly faded, there is no rust on the housing. Powder coating looks good when new, but it doesn't hold up to rock chips. I bought a 3 point fertilizer spreader, and it was rusted out after 3 years, and beyond repair. Powder coating doesn't adhere well at sharp edges. The Curtis cab on my BX22, had ribbons of powder coat pealing after a few years, on the inside edges of the sheet metal. Powder coat quality depends on the preparation of metal before the coating is put on. If the metal is clean of all contaminates, such as oil, it will hold up better, but unless the metal is bead blasted there is a poor bond to the metal.

 

[Killingitcountry]

I would love to paint it but for now I’m just soaking it in undercoating at the end of the season to slow the corrosion. I have no space that I can commit to a paint project at the moment but .... it does need to be addressed. It’s too bad they are painted so poorly from factory.

- James

 

[PNWBXer]

The chipped "paint", isn't paint at all, it is a powder coating. You will need some aggressive sandpaper to scuff the edges, and get the metal clean. I would prime with a self etching primer, and top coat.

Yeah I didn't know that about powder coating....I just know my Enamel paint I use requires a primer on bare metal before applying.....So I was going to "wire brush" the rest of the powder coat around the problem areas down to bare metal...then primer and paint. With a snowblower...you are always going to have paint/power coat coming off in the impeller housing and tips of the auger if you run into any rock/gravel at all. But a once a year post use painting should keep the rust at bay right? That is my thought.

 

[DustyRusty]

I would not wire brush the powder coating, because you will damage its integrity. I would use a sand paper and attempt to smooth the edges down to the bare metal. Prime and paint.

 

[PNWBXer]

I would not wire brush the powder coating, because you will damage its integrity. I would use a sand paper and attempt to smooth the edges down to the bare metal. Prime and paint.

There is so much bare metal around what's left of the powder coating (talking impeller housing) that I don't think it really matters to keep what's left in there. There is literally more bare metal than powder coating.