Snowblower Spur gear grease-help

[Tractor NUG]

Good morning and hope all had a good Christmas. Looking for some help or advice- I picked up a B2782B snowblower and put it on back in early November when it was not really cold yet. I noticed that the Chute would not turn very easily and eventually worked it by hand until it turned but I could tell it was not turning easily. I also noticed it had a lot of pink coloured grease in the area where the gear teeth are ( that meet the teeth from the spur gear that turns the chute).
Now that we are in -30 degree weather, that great looks like putty and yesterday while I was using the unit, the chute was barely turning and I soon noticed that the little hydraulic motor and attaching hydraulic lines were really, really hot. I think that perhaps the grease that was used to lubricate the teeth was maybe not the right one and is way too heavy but I am not a mechanic- any ideas?
thanks

 

[85Hokie]

I would replace all that grease with a synthetic grease. Getting the old grease out might not be so easy too! If you have a heat gun, or use the wife's hairdryer - heat that place where the old grease is located, preheat that until it moves and pump the new grease behind it until the old has pushed out.

 

[Tractor NUG]

I would replace all that grease with a synthetic grease. Getting the old grease out might not be so easy too! If you have a heat gun, or use the wife's hairdryer - heat that place where the old grease is located, preheat that until it moves and pump the new grease behind it until the old has pushed out.

Hey thanks - I was thinking of using the Kubota "Chain and Multi-Purpose Spray Lubricant" I got from the dealer. It has Parafin and hydrotreated Naphtha in it - which I think are synthetic(?)
Cheers

 

[85Hokie]

Hey thanks - I was thinking of using the Kubota "Chain and Multi-Purpose Spray Lubricant" I got from the dealer. It has Parafin and hydrotreated Naphtha in it - which I think are synthetic(?)
Cheers

Not sure what you have available in your neck of the woods - but find something that can withstand that bone chilling cold, talk to someone at the counter where you buy your car/truck parts - they ought to be able to recommend a good grease to use. I would not just go and grab something off the shelf. I had a old 53 ford, and on those days around here when it hit low 20's F, the steering would not move at all!!!! That was the old type of very thick grease.....anything that was thinner would leak out in the summer time!

I think you really need to get the old out - if there is a place that holds grease, otherwise you might be able to use the spray that you mentioned.

 

[Tractor NUG]

You bet. I will clean it out for sure. Thanks for the quick advice. I really appreciate it. Happy New Years!

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[conropl]

Try strait glycol antifreeze. I squirt it around the shoot and gears after every use. It keeps the packed in snow from icing up and provides lubrication. Started doing it years ago when my old hand cranked Ingersoll blower shoot would freeze up or get hard to turn... and have never had a problem since. I still do it on my hydralic shoot I use today. If you have any melted snow, it just mixes with the glycol and keeps it from freezing. I know it works at -15F, but must admit I have never tested it at the temps you are at.

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[Tractor NUG]

Try strait glycol antifreeze. I squirt it around the shoot and gears after every use. It keeps the packed in snow from icing up and provides lubrication. Started doing it years ago when my old hand cranked Ingersoll blower shoot would freeze up or get hard to turn... and have never had a problem since. I still do it on my hydralic shoot I use today. If you have any melted snow, it just mixes with the glycol and keeps it from freezing. I know it works at -15F, but must admit I have never tested it at the temps you are at.

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Thanks for the help - that makes a lot of sense- Cheers and all the best!

 

[dirtydeed]

Saw your video last night. Looks like you're back in business.

 

[sagor]

A lot of grease products will freeze at low temperatures. Usually around -10C to -20C. Not on my tractor, but I have a TV type of antenna rotor that I cleaned out all the grease and replaced it with grease formulated for snow machines. Obviously that is a low-temp grease.
Considering this is for a snowblower, all you need is low temp grease. Low temp grease would not be that great in warn climates, it would thin out too much.
PS: Around -40 C or F (same temp), even the snowmobile grease starts to get sticky/frozen...

 

[Tractor NUG]

Saw your video last night. Looks like you're back in business.

You bet. We'll see if that Kubota lubricant works. Thanks for watching the videos.

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[200mph]

Is grease really necessary in this application? The chute rotates on a plastic bearing. Yes a bit of grease on the teeth might benefit wear, but how much are your rotating the chute?

The hydraulic motor is likely heating up from the hot hydraulic fluid flowing through it and not due to the rotational stress of the load.

 

[Dave_eng]

Chain saw bar oil winter grade. Cheap, sticky and available most places.

Dave

 

[Tractor NUG]

Is grease really necessary in this application? The chute rotates on a plastic bearing. Yes a bit of grease on the teeth might benefit wear, but how much are your rotating the chute?

The hydraulic motor is likely heating up from the hot hydraulic fluid flowing through it and not due to the rotational stress of the load.

Thats a good question. I didn't realize it was a plastic base until we pulled it apart. Should be getting some more snow in the next few days so will test it out- I spread a little lubricant on top of the plastic so we will see if it works or not.

 

[Bulldog]

If you want a really good spray lube look at Zep 2000. It's not very cheap but last a long time and works great hot or cold.

 

[Tractor NUG]

Appreciate it for sure - got a few good names in lubricant from everyone. Still a good question remains - the bottom plate under the chute is made of plastic- so I have metal turning on a plastic bearing- why does that need to be greased?

 

[Dave_eng]

Appreciate it for sure - got a few good names in lubricant from everyone. Still a good question remains - the bottom plate under the chute is made of plastic- so I have metal turning on a plastic bearing- why does that need to be greased?

Consider the simple high school science fact.

Ice, actually frozen water, has a greater volume than the water did. This is why pipes that are frozen split.

Water may be the only liquid with this property. Most if not all liquids and solids shrink when getting cold.

Your question: "why lube if you have a metal on plastic situation," is a very valid one.

My answer would be you lube to prevent water getting between the two surfaces, freezing and in doing so expand and reduce or eliminate and clearances and creating high friction levels.

Dave

 

[Tractor NUG]

Consider the simple high school science fact.

Ice, actually frozen water, has a greater volume than the water did. This is why pipes that are frozen split.

Water may be the only liquid with this property. Most if not all liquids and solids shrink when getting cold.

Your question: "why lube if you have a metal on plastic situation," is a very valid one.

My answer would be you lube to prevent water getting between the two surfaces, freezing and in doing so expand and reduce or eliminate and clearances and creating high friction levels.

Dave

Dave. Two thumbs up. Thanks. That makes alot of sense. Cheers and Happy New Year!
GP

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[200mph]

There is a lot of clearance between the plastic bearing and chute, so water expansion at freezing point shouldn't be an issue. The downside to oil and grease is there tendency to attract small rocks and such which might have more detrimental impact on friction.

At very cold temperatures you'd be surprised just how thick even low temperatures grease becomes. While doing environmental testing in cold test chambers to -40F (also equals -40C) I would put a variety of oils and greases inside the chamber to see what would happen. Even synthetic lubes become much thicker than one would typically imagine and barely pour at these temps.

 

[RCW]

I’ve used several things over the years; some better than others.
Going to try this next. Label recommends snowblower chutes.

Like others said, the chute rides on a plastic bearing. Mine normally rotates fine without lube unless things ice up.

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[Jpatrick]

I've got a B2789 snowblower with a hand crank to turn the chute. I lube that gear with motor oil. What I do is take crank case oil from engine oil changes and put it in an oil can. I also use crank case oil for bar/chain oil in the chain saws.