Check the Snowblower Gearbox for Grease
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- čas přidán 6. 03. 2021
- Everything you need to know!
In today's video, we'll be discussing why you should regularly check the auger gearbox on a snow blower, to ensure it has proper lubrication.
As shown in the video, a snow blower come into the shop that had a damaged worm gear. This worm gear failed because there wasn't any grease inside the gear box, to lubricate the rotating assembly.
These gear boxes can leak if the seals, or the gasket fails. This is quite common on older equipment.
Even if the gear box has a slow leak, you can simply add grease to it every season, to keep everything lubricated, and to prevent an expensive repair bill.
I personally use STENS "00" Grease (Double Zero) as I find it to be the perfect balance between a low temp soft grease, and an oil.
All information on EP additives that contain Sulfur, and their interactions with Yellow Metals can be found here: www.machinerylubrication.com/...
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All information on EP additives that contain Sulfur, and their interactions with Yellow Metals can be found here: www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/28958/ep-additives-effects
Having a really hard time finding any of this grease or any 00 grease at all here in Canada. Anyone know where we can grab this?
I used Motul 300 syn 75w-90 gear oil small amount added to the existing grease that came from the factory as my auger fluid is non serviceable!
At first I thought 'How can a simple subject like this take almost 19 minutes?' Wow, you packed it with great information throughout. Don't stop making these videos. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words! I try to include expert info that's easy to understand. Thanks for watching!
Great information, I never thought of checking or adding grease. This is now a part of my maintenance. Thanks again for the valuable information.
Thanks for watching!
Perfect information. My friend gave me his snow blower as he destroyed the gearbox. I plan to rebuild it. This information will be key for a proper fix. Thanks
Hey great video I have a MTD 26 years old snowblower and I keep it in excellent condition too. This video was very informative and I haven't checked mine recently but with the annual oil change and greasing regiment I will definitely be checking. Thanks for sharing with us I appreciate it.
Thanks for watching!
Wow thank you for the info you are a very good teacher and explain everything right down to detail.
Another great video. Well spoken and easy to understand for upkeep of your snowblower. GREAT JOB EP
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the relevant and detailed information. And Happy New year!
Great video on this subject. I'm in the middle of changing out the gearbox now due to exploded casing.
Wow, amazing quality video and information. So glad I found your channel. Funny how some companies call for engine oil in the cases and other companies use gear oil and others, grease, etc.
I was thinking silicone seal and oo grease
My MTD 317E611D120 (1997) is now 24 years old. It's in excellent condition. I've always done yearly maintenance on it. I always make sure the gearbox is full of GEARBOX 80 WEIGHT OIL. Matter of fact I just disassembled the gearbox on my MTD to see if there were any serious wear issues. No metal flakes or any signs of wear, looks brand new. I will continue using gearbox 80 weight oil.
Excellent details, EP!
Thanks for watching!
Some/many owners don't even own a grease gun and know about greasing zero fittings. Good information.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video. Thanks for producing it.
Thanks for watching!
Great great info... all useful. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Great video that will save your viewers major gearbox rebuild costs. Most gearboxes are filled with low temperature white lithium grease right from the assembly line BUT this stuff tends to get pushed and packed off to the sides of the covers away from the two worm gears. The 00 grease you use is an excellent way to extend the life of the internal components of the gearbox by simply adding some as required every year or two years. Pretty soon time to start on lawnmower videos SPRING is upon us!
Fools spring! I'm still waiting for 2nd winter. Thanks for watching!
Good day Wayne. I like reading comments for different opinions, started reading, boy fellow knows what he is talking about. I wonder were the young fellow gets it from. lol Thanks I guess I will have to get some stens 00
@@EliminatorPerformance I have had enough winter, darn cold or I.m getting older. Thanks Jake good video.
Don thanks appreciate the kind words, stay safe and healthy my friend!
Nice and thorough. Thanks!
good tip on the fill plugs
Thank you. I'm in my shop doing this now.
Thanks, I am working on an abused contractor blower right now. I am done. I am just checking to see if my snow-mobile grease is OK. I will check the label for sulphur. I have used it in Roto Tiller worm gears for years. Thanks again. Your knowledge is ahead of mine but I try.
Thanks for the kind words Bruce! I spend a lot of time researching to see what's good and not so good, rather than always learning from experience, or trial and error. I do like the STENS 00 grease, but sadly the old man said they're not selling it anymore. I forget where we purchased the Alvania EP, but it works good too. I've heard Tractor Supply Store (now peavy mart) sells 00 cotton picker grease, but not sure if it's good for low temps. Looks like I have to do more research now lol
Great video , good information Love the products . Good to see you bring the older machine back to used .
Thanks for watching!
Great info, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Good one brother . Thanks for sharing. Stay safe out their
Thanks for watching!
Stupid me - I forgot to reinstall sheer pins at the auger from ( bolt ) convenience last year. Well, now I gotta do the worm gear so thanks for your vid and all the helpful tips. Never did this before but looks doable thanks to guys like you and helpful info. Warning to everyone new to snowblower operation - “ make sure you use sheer pins on your auger shaft and save yourself the trouble and cost “.
Great video thanks learned a lot !
Excellent video keep them coming
Thanks for watching!
I’ve always used Lucas seems to work great
Great info. Thanks
Lovin it ! Thanks very much!!!
Good video!! I need to change the lube in my blower! Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
your videos are very thorough i have an old craftsman snowblower but one side of the auger is frozen on the shaft it wont spin around the shaft when i remove the shearpin any ideas of getting it free other than using a torch which i dont have thanks
I just put an M4 bolt in the front of mine. 45deg downward angle about midway on the cone shaped portion. Poured in grease thru the top hole to push out the aluminum shavings. Once it started coming out clean, pumped grease in thru the new hole to push any air out the top. $0.44 bolt and washer, coated in permatex afterward to stop leaks.
Our minister has a 2 year old Briggs and Stratton blower. It wasn't blowing well so in addition to replacing the two auger belts he noted the grease fitting and pump grease from his neighbour. Im concerned that it's the wrong weight and he'll damage it. Not sure if he plans on taking it from Ottawa to Calgary when he moves this summer.
Very good video. Wish I could find the 00 stens grease.
My Craftsman snowblower has two grease plugs on the auger gear box.Both are at even height.
When adding 00 grease do you add grease through one hole until it comes out of the other hole or would that be adding too much grease?
The Stens 00 is re-labeled Champion 4049H, recently discontinued. Alvania is a Shell product, discontinued even longer (replaced by Gadus). Both had sulphur as the EP additive, but tested 1B on the ASTM corrosion chart (not likely to cause issues, and that’s backed up by the fact that Alvania has always been MTD’s recommendation for their gearboxes).
I’m running the Champion (aka Stens) product in my MTD-built Troy Bilt.
I did an unscientific side by side comparison of corrosion using the Champion product and the Smitty’s Super S 00 from Tractor Supply. I used that as the comparison because it contains no sulphur at all. I soaked brass fittings in each product for several days. At the end, I could see no difference in the darkening of the fittings, in fact if there was a difference, the Super S may have been a tiny bit darker.
Champion still sells the 00 except not in 32oz bottles, you have to buy PN: 8229763 which is an 18kg container. I could fill my own bottles, but it sucks for reselling to my customers who want it.
how do you lube the gear box for Troy-Bilt snow blower? Remove the rubber plug ontop??
The gear box on Ariens snowblowers, at least the newer ones, is filled with a specific oil. You're supposed to check it to ensure it has an adequate amount. The level needs to be so many inches from the top of the gear box housing.
My friend rebuilt his mtd gearbox before last winter. He used regular grease. Burned out before spring. He rebuilt using pricey mtd spec grease. So fsr so good. I've read that John Deere corn head grease will work in those gearboxes.
Yea regular grease no good in colder weather it gets too thick! Thanks for watching!
Yep 00 grease seems like it would be best
Where can I find all these grease. I have done searches to no avail.
Good stuff
Thanks for watching!
Any tips on painting the snowblower? Did you sand all the rust down to bare metal and then prime and then paint? did you use any kind of antirust primer? thanks
Would you know What would be the equivalent for ariens magic L2 gear lube? Thank you
My gearbox has alvania ep grease, my question is can I put the 00 grease??? I'll be mix!! Is that fine or not??
Nicely done! Have you ever used gearbox oil, like the lower units of boat gearboxes? Guessing the seals (intended for grease) wouldn't contain it. I prefer oi because it's a better lubricant than grease, but grease has it's place too.
Nice,,great info
One comment I do have on EP additives
"active sulfur" is low temp high pressure and will react with so called yellow metals..
"Inactive sulfur" is used for High Temp gears and will only react to form an intervening coating at these very high temps.
If we use an EP with high temp "Inactive" it shouldn't hurt these gears as they simply don't see any high temps..
Generally, EP additives for a simple gear system as this really isn't required.
My concern is keeping these lubricated. I find that the original grease doesn't Re-Flow back to the gears and just seems to get wrapped up and spun off to the outside of the case internally.
I like the new case mod you show and speak of, great idea, just pump and go, keep it fresh!
Which is one reason why I prefer to use the 00 as it flows like oil but sticks like grease. The NLGI #2 is too buttery and regular 5w40 synthetic oil (what MTD is now using) is too runny in my opinion. Unfortunately there's a shortage of 00 grease here in Canada.
I heard ya dad mention that,,
I'm not finding either as I search,,,ughhh
I was thinking about trying the Lucas oil treatment stuff they sell
@@TheNovaJohn I'm calling Super S Products tomorrow to see if they'll sell us some from the US, as NAPA Canada won't import it, and TCS tractor store in Canada won't sell the cotton picker 00 grease they sell in the US either... The only other option was Champion grease but unfortunately they discontinued their 32oz bottles and are only selling larger quantities now...
Is there any side to side play with the auger shaft after the rebuild ?
Alvania EP grease is what I have in mine. No one seems to sell it though. I can't even seem to find Shell Gadus S2 V220 00, which if I'm not mistaken is the replacement for Alvania EP grease. Anyone know where to get that stuff?
I just fixed a snowblower that had a little stiff grease in the case. The brass gear died from lack of lubrication from the factory. I replaced the brass gear. My case had a plug at the bottom and the top, so I used a grease gun filled with John Deere corn head grease and pumped grease into the gearbox from the bottom. This verifies that there are no air pockets and the gearbox is full. I used a piece of wire to determine the level of grease on the top worm gear. DO NOT FILL THE GEARBOX COMPLETELY FULL OF GREASE!!!! As long as the grease level is a little above the mesh of the worm and pinion gears, the level is correct.
I have used Lucas Hub Oil in place of corn head grease. It can be found at parts outlets that handle tractor trailer parts.
If I were to add a grease zerk to fill the gearbox, I would install it in the lowest point possible, making it possible to fill the gearbox with cornhead grease. Just monitor the level of the grease as the gearbox is filled.
Great tips, thanks for watching!
I use “00” grease and anything else I’ve tried is too thin and will leak.
Is it possible to use something like an axle/hub oil(S6 AXRME SAE 75W-90)? This is used in commercial vehicles for steer hub lubrication and those vehicles run in severe low temp conditions without issue. Thanks for the video.
Yes many people run that stuff too, I've never used it but I've heard it works fine. I stick to 00 grease because it's been proven and is commonly used in snowblower auger gearboxes
Hi, by any chance, is there a 00 grease for this purpose I could find somewhere?
Beside the 18kg one from champion you mentioned in a comment recently.
Thanks!
Something like a 5w 20 or 5w 30 would be far to thin of lubricant? I was reading some craftsman forms as I just picked up an older 5/23 that needs some love and I was reading that some say the old craftsman uses to call for a motor oil in the gear box any thoughts
The "00" grease is far superior in my opinion, it offers great lubricity in low temperature conditions, but also thick and sticky enough that it adheres to the gears while spinning. There's a reason it comes in almost every snowblower gearbox now.
Incredible informative video that I’ve been searching for! I have a 9 hp 29 inch wide craftsman snowblower that is from 2003-2005. My gearbox has that same bolt as you’re pointing out in the video, when I remove that bolt am I supposed to put grease or gear oil in the housing?
00 grease is similar to gear oil, the old steel gearbox housings take thicker gear oil
@@EliminatorPerformance Awesome thank you my local New Holland dealer sells the exact same 00 grease shown in your video! Cheers!
@@big_mike_nyc it's good stuff, I've never had a problem. As shown in the video when I smear it on the workbench, it's like a mix between oil and grease.
I have a twenty fifteen cub cadet model number 524 s w e snowthrower. The Auger gearbox does not have a drain bolt and it does not have a removable fill plug. As far as I can determine the seals are still good. How would you recommend adding some grease/lubricant to it Or checking its level?
You shouldn't have to worry about it unless you see it's leaking grease. If it is, use 00 grease
My auger gearbox has two plastic grease plugs.
Can they be reused or can they get damaged when removing them?
Replacement grease plugs are pricy.
I've always reused them
Super S Cotton Picker “00” EP grease containing no sulfur for the win.
My manual says Ronex ED #1 grease.
That stuff is hard to find or not available.
I came across Castrol Spheerol SHL 00 grease.
Castrol says it has a 1b corrosion rating so ok for bronze/brass.
I don't know how much grease is in there yet,but if I have to add can I just add the Castrol 00 grease to the gearbox without having to take it apart and remove any old original grease?
Yes it should be fine to mix, I know Stens is no longer selling the 00 and MTD (Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt Craftsman) exclusively use Alvania EP grease. Try to find Champion 00 at Napa or Cotton picker 00 at PeavyMart/Tractor Supply Store
@@EliminatorPerformance Thanks
Forgot to mention the Castrol Spheerol SHL 00 grease is a semi-fluid synthetic PAO grease so it should work well in cold weather.
How do you check one that has a plastic cap? Looks like i will break it if i try to remove it.
mine was rubber on an MTD 24
For a 21 inch self propelled snapper how would you recommend servicing the transmission? I can get the Stens 00 but I would really like to get some of the old (10 yrs) grease out without taking the thing apart. Any ideas? Should I just add the new and call it a day? I am guessing turning it upside down with oil and gas removed will not allow the old 00 to flow our at all. I thought about mixing some 90W oil over several drains might get a lot of the old stuff out then fill with the new. Any thought? Thank you
Did you ever figure it out? I’d if anything maybe try a manual fluid evaluator with a small air pump needle on the end. That may suck some of it out. I just don’t think you’ll get any shavings and boogers unless you actually take it apart.
Evacuater*
Man I wish we got snow over here in the UK 🇬🇧 all we get is the melted type lol hope you and the old man are doing ok..
Be careful what you wish for Mick lol with climate change you never know what could happen. And yes we're good thanks Mick!
@@EliminatorPerformance man I would love snow..
Thanks Mick OLD MAN doing fine turn 72 March 27th hurray just waiting for the Gov. to supply my shot.
@@waynestefinashen239 good on ya.. I'm waiting for mine.. should be in 4 weeks hopefully
I have an old Craftsman eager-1 winterized snowblower. 7/24. What type of grease would you recommend??
Either 00 grease, or mobil SHC 630 OIL
Can’t find the Stens anywhere. Amazon says currently out of stock. I think it might have been discontinued. Any alternative?
Try that alvania EP grease it works good too
@@EliminatorPerformance I'll probably have to try and find a no Sulphur EP grease because I can not find that one either.
My augar n
Blades turn slowly and I'm thinking the gear is worn. I don't know but it moves just skowly
My MTD looks like it only has a small plastic plug on top of the gearbox assembly. Are these considered maintenance free or how do you go about adding grease to them?
Pop the plug out, it's a hole there made for adding/checking grease
I have the same. It's right on the top on the split in the casing. Very convenient
What fitting do I use to get the grease in the plastic plug hole?
Having a really hard time finding any of this grease or any 00 grease at all here in Canada. Anyone know where we can grab this?
00 grease is currently on backorder pretty much everywhere so it will be difficult to find. I have 6 32oz bottles on order now, been waiting since October
Wow, that’s crazy. My gearbox doesn’t have a zerk or filling port so I was thinking about adding one, never thought it was going to be this difficult to find grease anywhere though.
Make sure you let people know to shut off snowblower before and while they are adding lubricant to gearbox, because you know someone will misinterpret what you said in your video. You know I speak the truth!😅
Better still, unplug the sparkplug.
If you add a grease fitting to the housing, how can you pump in the 00 grease?
You’d have to buy a manual grease pump that you can fill with “00” grease. Google “00” manual grease pump. If you’re going to use that grease maybe drill a hole in the top like some will come nowadays and just cap it
Hey Eliminator Performance, Maybe you can help me with a problem with my snowblower. I have a 2011 Sears Craftsman snowblower, 1450/27 , and I am currently working on fixing the gearbox. I did watch the video twice but I still can’t get the issue resolved. Here’s the kicker, I talked to a mechanic I know very well and he said it is not just grease, but there’s gear oil mixed in with it. So here the problem: I have put the adequate amount of grease (or what I thought it was) but I am just wondering, should I be able to rotate the auger unit with my hands or do I have to connect the 2 units together?
Auger usually does not spin by hand, unless you're rotating the impeller shaft, which should then spin the worm gear (as seen in this video) I've used 00 grease on every gearbox unit, never had an issue. The difference is the real older units with steel gearbox housings use gear oil. Some guys use gear oil, I use 00 grease as it's in between grease and oil. It's never created a failure
@@EliminatorPerformance I have spun the impeller by hand, but while I have spun it, it took some effort. And on top that, I don't have Steins 00 grease, I am using a grease called Motomaster Extreme low temperature grease, it says it's good for snowmobiles, and it's calcium based, the viscosity -- I would say -- is similar to the white lithium based grease in the video...
is the grease that i have an ideal or close to what I saw in the video? I talked to a buddy mechanic I know, and he said that what I have would work good. but I'm still having issues. I am going to keep on trying and hope I can get the issue resovled by the end of this week
@@kaelanreynolds9762 I use white lithium on the worm gear when assembling, then use 00 to fill the gearbox. I find the 00 flows better than the lithium. If it looks similar to the 00 you should be fine.
My 8 year old ayp poulan pro /husqvarna was still greased up like a doctor. I did buy it used 5 years ago so the previous owner may have had it serviced
Grease never hurts! Thanks for watching!
I think I shredded my gearbox on my 06' Poulan 2 stage today. I Replaced the auger belt and then blew some real heavy snow. Straw that broke the camels back lol
It happens
Tractor Supply sells Cotton Picker Spindle Grease 00. $5.29/qt. I've used it. It works.
Good day Paul Tennis. Would that be good in cold here in Ontario. Were are you from Thanks
Paul thanks we will check this cotton picker spindle grease 00 out at our local TSC, never heard of it before!
Yes I've heard of it, it is Double Zero so should work, the issue was it wasn't available at our local TSC when a friend looked for it!
@@EliminatorPerformance Tractor Supply in the USA is a different company than TSC (Peavey) in Canada. That is why we cannot get the same products that Tractor Supply in the USA carries.
@@donvoll2580 I'm in the US in the New England area. Since the grease is type 00, I think it would work find in your area.
What gearbox lubricant is equivalent to Ronex ED #1 ?
Download this PDF file, scroll to the bottom and under the 1 section look at the specs of the grease. You can then compare that to other greases.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.powerlubeind.com/sites/default/files/default_images/downloads/LubeSpec2014/TDS/Exxon-Mobil/Ronex_Extra_Duty_series_tds.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjH1tq09oH7AhV1jYkEHVoABcIQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1B8PwJ81PMA-43cbyjVvpW
Great info. But I think my SNAPPER 10301 uses ENGINE OIL in that gearbox ?
Some take a gear oil, others may take engine oil like the real old snowblowers with the cast steel gearboxes. I use 00 grease in every gear box and have never had an issue.
How do you put oil in?
Through the fill cap! Watch my how to service a snowblower video!
Just found this out the hard way. $15 gear...2 hours of labor...and one snow storm with a shovel.
i have a 1987 john deer 826 still runs strong
I’m just finishing up rebuilding my 78 832 john deere. I was able to get all the gear box bushings and seals and gaskets from John Deere. When I asked my local dealer about parts he laughed until I supplied the part numbers and he looked them. He was amazed.
The old guy that gave it to me gave me a parts catalog and service manual.
What is the difference between a hypoid gear and ring gear? Wondering cause the Red Line MT-90 gear oil, while safe for yellow metals, says not for hypoid gears. Thanks.
I never use gun grease in any of my differentials. I've only use synthetic gear lube. If they use in in vehicle rear differentials, why is it not better than grease in a differential? Gears sticks to parts until they push it out of the way then they run dry, that 's why. Gear lube lubricates constantly and it easier to change.
How can I ?
get the stens oo grease?
Stens unfortunately no longer sells it, look for the Alvania EP grease, that's what MTD uses in all their gearboxes now
Thank you.
My gear box was bone dry also
With a paint job it will be like new
Seems easy to fix nothing like rebuilding a cotton stripper
I have a snowblower that it looks like there's a piece of wood for the plug
That doesn't seem good lol maybe google your model number and get a parts diagram and see what it's supposed to have!
How can you tell the box is 3/4 full of grease?
That's the thing, it's kind of a manufacturers recommendation, I usually fill them up and I've never had any issues! But if it has that plastic plug, just be careful it doesn't pop out
@@EliminatorPerformance Thanks for the reply eh?! Really like your videos. You explain things very well.
I've got a Arins Snow Tek 24" Home Depot special. Bought it cause it was black and the decals were cool....LOL
Anyway what type of lube can I use in the Auger gear case?
00 grease!
@@EliminatorPerformance No kidding grease?
The manual has a pseudo dipstick method to check it almost like its a transmission fluid. Anyway we'll see whats in it. Thanks !
@@Foxxtrott1100 it's the best thing for it, but don't think of 00 like typical"grease" it's designed for low temperatures and is oily. Watch the part when I smear it on the work bench.
@@EliminatorPerformance Awesome thank you for taking the time to reply.
That machine is so far gone and abused, is it even worth rebuilding it? Cost effective.
Yes, paint is quite inexpensive and remember that I get parts at wholesale prices so it's worth it for me!
"Yellow metal?" Isn't that just copper or brass?
A little bit of grease, and your snowblower last for many years
Like a well oiled machine! Thanks for watching!
can i just use vaseline?