The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

I broke what I think is called the cam shaft right where it joins the gear
that is turned by the driveshaft's flywheel on my snow blower (inside the
crankcase housing). This shaft drives the transmission belt not the blower
impeller belt. It's a Craftsman model C950-52672 (Canadian). An old "Trac
Drive" model. It's over 20 years old I think, pre 1987 is all I could find
out. Bought used. Built like a tank in every other respect. (Interesting in
that some of the warnings stickers on the outside are in German or Dutch).
Looks like they don't use real bearings in these small 5HP engines that the
crank case cover acts as bearing. I need to replace the shaft and the
crankcase cover. That's where the problem originated dirt slowly worked it's
way in there and wore down the shaft. It looks like a Briggs and Stratten
(B&S I think), but I can't for the life of me find any model number on the
engine! It's either painted over or under the housing somewhere. I called
Sears Canada with their model number and had limited success with the
operator/parts person (who knew nothing about engines). Any part I ordered
they couldn't guarantee until mid February! I'd like to fix it. If I could
figure out what engine it is there are local places that probably could
source the part faster. Any advice? If I can't get it soon I'll probably
bite the bullet and buy something bigger and brand new. I've got a soft spot
for Husqvarna but Honda makes a pretty sweet engine too. Any thoughts there?
Ariens? Deere? Toro? MTD? Other? Probably at least 26"er and more than 8HP
this time as I have 100' of driveway to clean, plus sidewalks. Thx.

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Most often now the fix for your engine is a shortblock which is usually not
very cost effective for the age of your unit. There is a chance the model #
for your engine is on the top of the blower housing hidden by an electric
start button if you have one. Honda makes a nice snowblwer but very costly
and Sears has some very poor models but some very good ones as well..

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.

"Paul9901" wrote in message
news:b04bc348ec5526e17858d81531bf8588@homerepairli ve.com...
Most often now the fix for your engine is a shortblock which is usually
not
very cost effective for the age of your unit. There is a chance the model
#
for your engine is on the top of the blower housing hidden by an electric
start button if you have one. Honda makes a nice snowblwer but very costly
and Sears has some very poor models but some very good ones as well..

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.


I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Did you try the Sears parts website? With the model of the
snowblower, you may be able to figure out the engine and/or get a part
# for the parts you need, which you could then possibly get from other
sources.

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Thanks I had no idea sites like that even existed. I've almost dismantled
the whole thing but I still can't see a number on the actual engine. Where
do they hide it? I think the manual was long gone on this. Sounds like a
very similar machine to mine. I've got the part numbers I need from Sears.
They charge nearly the same price as a new engine for a cam shaft and a
crank cover. Yikes. Thanks again.

p.s.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...t_6970_360_360
this one looks almost exactly like my engine...

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.


I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

In fact that looks EXACTLY like the same thing I was looking at on the part
screen at Sears warehouse. Where can I get Tecumseh part at a reasonable
price?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.


I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Yeah, looks like the same blower. If you do a google you will find
quite a few places that sell parts.

For example

http://www.outdoordistributors.com/Tecumseh/tmain.html

http://www.rcpw.com/Oem_Parts.htm


Just which part is it you need? Crankshaft? Camshaft?

I have the owners manual for that blower. Might be useful for you if
you get it working again.




Alan Smithee wrote:
In fact that looks EXACTLY like the same thing I was looking at on the part
screen at Sears warehouse. Where can I get Tecumseh part at a reasonable
price?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.

I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Ah ha. I cleaned the crud off the blower housing...what I didn't see hiding
was the engine number 143 764042 which translates to Tecumseh's
HS50-67268F -- got it! I think an earlier model than yours but not much. Yes
now parts are popping up all over the internet. This DIY stuff is harder
than it looks sometimes.
Is there instructions somewhere on how to align the cam and the drive shaft
to Top Dead Centre somewhere for reassembly? There's a hole in the cam gear
does that mean anything?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Yeah, looks like the same blower. If you do a google you will find
quite a few places that sell parts.

For example

http://www.outdoordistributors.com/Tecumseh/tmain.html

http://www.rcpw.com/Oem_Parts.htm


Just which part is it you need? Crankshaft? Camshaft?

I have the owners manual for that blower. Might be useful for you if
you get it working again.




Alan Smithee wrote:
In fact that looks EXACTLY like the same thing I was looking at on the
part
screen at Sears warehouse. Where can I get Tecumseh part at a reasonable
price?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.

I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html

The Broken Snow Blower Blues
 

Nothing on engine repair.


Alan Smithee wrote:
Ah ha. I cleaned the crud off the blower housing...what I didn't see hiding
was the engine number 143 764042 which translates to Tecumseh's
HS50-67268F -- got it! I think an earlier model than yours but not much. Yes
now parts are popping up all over the internet. This DIY stuff is harder
than it looks sometimes.
Is there instructions somewhere on how to align the cam and the drive shaft
to Top Dead Centre somewhere for reassembly? There's a hole in the cam gear
does that mean anything?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Yeah, looks like the same blower. If you do a google you will find
quite a few places that sell parts.

For example

http://www.outdoordistributors.com/Tecumseh/tmain.html

http://www.rcpw.com/Oem_Parts.htm


Just which part is it you need? Crankshaft? Camshaft?

I have the owners manual for that blower. Might be useful for you if
you get it working again.




Alan Smithee wrote:
In fact that looks EXACTLY like the same thing I was looking at on the
part
screen at Sears warehouse. Where can I get Tecumseh part at a reasonable
price?

"Rich256" wrote in message
...
Alan Smithee wrote:
Oh god and I just found out today it's a Tecumseh not a B&S.

I tried a direct email but today it finally bounced.

I wonder if it could be the same as mine. I have a 5 HP Sears Trac
Drive that is now about 15 years old. It has a
TECUMSEH-MODEL-HS50-67291H engine.

From the owners manual I found it carries a Craftsman model number
143.794053

I got the Tecumseh number from:

http://sears.pammar.net/tcross.htm

Northern Tool carries a nice selection of engines:

http://www.northerntool.com

Parts list available at:

http://landscapepower.com/tecumseh-p...eh_PDF_70.html