BX5455HD snowblower issues

[GunSlinger1]

while checking the reduction box and gearbox oil levels on the blower I noticed that the gearbox oil looked brown and milky which I figured meant there was water in the oil. So today I changed out the gearbox oil, I will attach a picture of the oil that came out.

While changing the oil I noticed a defect in the weld on the fan housing and I'll attach pictures of that as well.

The snowblower was new this winter and probably has 5 hours on it. I'm going to give my dealer a call but wanted to post here also and see how concerned you guys would be about this.

 

[Dave_eng]

I think the "weld defect," may just be a lack of adhesion of the powder coat paint and nothing to worry about. After a few days of use more paint will be missing from the fan as sand, grit and small stones pass through the blower. Powder coat paint, or all paints, are affected by any oily or dirty film on the metal where the paint should adhere.

I had a new expensive riding mower and the powder coat paint came off it in large flakes about 6" square. Clearly not properly de-greased before the painting process

Take a small screwdriver and peel back the paint that has split and I will be very surprised if you find a crack in the weld.

Let your container of old oil stand vertically somewhere warm and see if there is any separation that occurs. The water being heavier than oil should move to the bottom of the container. From the photo, I don't see a concern but the photo may be not accurately displaying the color.

I would only be concerned if the next time you changed the oil it had a different color than what you put in.

Was the blower sitting outside at the dealer?

Dave M7040

 

[GunSlinger1]

I think the "weld defect," may just be a lack of adhesion of the powder coat paint and nothing to worry about. After a few days of use more paint will be missing from the fan as sand, grit and small stones pass through the blower. Powder coat paint, or all paints, are affected by any oily or dirty film on the metal where the paint should adhere.

I had a new expensive riding mower and the powder coat paint came off it in large flakes about 6" square. Clearly not properly de-greased before the painting process

Take a small screwdriver and peel back the paint that has split and I will be very surprised if you find a crack in the weld.

Let your container of old oil stand vertically somewhere warm and see if there is any separation that occurs. The water being heavier than oil should move to the bottom of the container. From the photo, I don't see a concern but the photo may be not accurately displaying the color.

I would only be concerned if the next time you changed the oil it had a different color than what you put in.

Was the blower sitting outside at the dealer?

Dave M7040

Not sure if it was outside at the dealer but if it was it wasn't long because they had to order it.

I know its hard to tell from the picture but there is definitely a crack in the weld. Its more of a void that i assume was from manufacturing and not something that happened from stress.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

I would pull the fill plug and put some air pressure on the gearbox, if the crack is all the way through you should be able to feel or hear the leak. I would be suspicious of the crack because it appear there was water in the oil. I drained my BX5455 after two winters and the oil looked like new.

 

[Dave_eng]

I would pull the fill plug and put some air pressure on the gearbox, if the crack is all the way through you should be able to feel or hear the leak. I would be suspicious of the crack because it appear there was water in the oil. I drained my BX5455 after two winters and the oil looked like new.

Grouse Feathers

The"crack" is in the fan housing not gear box. The one where the paint is flaked up.

I found this simple but very educational test on youtube to determine if there is water in your oil. The video is about 3 minutes long and is well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5MABCBxU60

Dave M7040

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Grouse Feathers

The"crack" is in the fan housing not gear box. The one where the paint is flaked up.

Dave M7040

Sorry I misread that.

 

[OBKubota]

If the snowblower is brand-new with only five hours on it,I would definitely bring it up with the dealer. it's hard to believe any of this can happen in only five hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bucktail]

Grouse Feathers

The"crack" is in the fan housing not gear box. The one where the paint is flaked up.

I found this simple but very educational test on youtube to determine if there is water in your oil. The video is about 3 minutes long and is well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5MABCBxU60

Dave M7040

Most of you married guys are probably best off not doing this in the kitchen like the guy in the vid did.

 

[Toyboy]

I've always used Marine lower unit lube in my gear box. I also brush the snow off the vent when I'm done. I've never had a water problem.

 

[coachgeo]

....
I found this simple but very educational test on youtube to determine if there is water in your oil. The video is about 3 minutes long and is well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5MABCBxU60

Dave M7040

hmmm... that brings back memories of a test we use to do to determine water content in WVO fuel.

Might work for testing your motor oil. We just cooked it in a spoon. Hold spoon with glove or pliers and heat spoon with lighter and see if it bubbles. Bubbles indicate water. More formal version used at one point in the WVO world was

[quote="Old hot pan WVO vs Water test]".
Smear a finger of wvo accross a fry pan (cast iron preferred)as a temp check.

Keep the sample of wvo to be tested handy. Enough for 1/4"-3/8" thickness covering the bottom works best.
Heat the pan on high temp until the smear begins to produce smoke then pour in the sample.

NOTE:
Do not pour in a sample with any visible water. If water droplets are visible no testing is needed. There is water present in your sample. Visible droplets of water will spatter hot oil out of the pan and may cause burns or fire.


Look closely at the bottom of the pan where the oil meets it. Are there very small bubbles forming. This indicates some suspended water. The number of bubbles indicates how much water is present in suspended form.

I usually accept a FEW bubbles myself. Lots of small bubbles is unacceptable to me. If crackling or popping is heard..way too much water is present.

I have tried to keep this test as simple, cheap, and translatable as possible.

It works....though it is not "foolproof". False positives can be obtained if the pan is WAY too hot..or if solvents are mixed in the WVO. And false negative results are possible if the suspended water has high concentrations of salt/sugar/ acids."[/quote]

assume it would take some testing of other oil samples to get a gist of what is normal and what is above normal water in your motor oil. Example take a bit from same oil and let it settle. Another and boil out the water. Then perform same test on each see what suspended water (won't settle out) and what no water looks like when using hot pan test