More QA42A questions.
 

I changed the bearings and seals in the gear box and repacked it with grease and a new gasket. Now I am working on the chain tightener bearings and sprocket. I disassembled the shaft and noticed the side to side play int the sprocket shaft. It appears the sprocket is wearing into the right side of the tensioner . It is actually wearing a groove in the sprocket from the outer bearing race. What keeps this shaft centered ? There is a roll pin holding the sprocket on the shaft but what keeps it from floating to the pto side? Also is the sprocket on the auger replaceable? It appears not from the parts blow up. Thanks.

Smoker:

Here are the images from the Parts Manual....

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...ets/1-42-C.jpg
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http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...ets/1-42-B.jpg

This is the best I can offer. I don't have any experience with this Tension-er Shaft.

The same thing happened to mine tensioner. It wore it so bad that it wore right to the needle bearings. Now I"ll be buying a new one now. After I receive all my new parts, I'll be looking what was missing or can be done to correct the problem. Maybe shims???
If I remember right . . . The sprocket is replaceable but is not available. I was going to replace mine because I'm replacing all the bearings, sprockets, chain, ect. Mine wasn't bad at all so I just left it in place.
If you fine anything out please PM me. I have taken photos of my Thrower rebuild and plan on posting it.:GoodLuck:

:IH Trusted Hand:

When I put a new sprocket on mine, I vaguely remember shimming the tensioner shaft to remove side-to-side play. I'll have to look when I go home for break in a couple of days.

I am NOT ready for this 12" of snow and stuff after being in Florida since August...

Tell me about it . . . My Snow thrower is still out being powder coated.:Irratated: Oh well, it's either rebuild now or in the middle of winter when I really depend on it. Can you tell I procrastinate . . .:biggrin2.gif:

Now that I have some time using the thrower, which works great, I have one small item left to adjust. Well two actually. When blowing at a good pace to load the thrower yet keep the motor spinning , i get a good flow of snow directed as the chute should work. But I also get a fine mist out of each side that shoots straight up . Kinda like a fountain at a synchronized swimming event. To say it sucks when you are going into the wind is an understatement . I cant get off to see what is happening to create a fix but figured someone has had this happen . Or is it a " dress for it " problem? The other thing is , how do you stop the chute from rotating on its own. I always have to hold the rod so it doesnt turn full lock one way or the other.

My chute does the same thing. I tried adjusting the gap between the sprocket and the shute, but had no luck. I believe that is the only way to fix it. Mine only does it when blowing to the right, not forward or left.

As for the mist, that is part of using a snow thrower and I don't think there is a way to avoid it. In deep snow like this, I end up having to do the work twice due to the fine spray.

loose chute
 

Mine was doing that,
so I took little metal pieces that hold the chute on and put then in the vice and hit them with a hammer on each edge to decrease the clearance, when they are bolted on.
I had to try it several times to get it right.
At first I bent them too much and the chute wouldn't turn, but a few tries and it works well, staying put exactly where I aim it.
Sure is better than flopping like a wind sock @ a airport. :biggrin2.gif:

tensioner
 

the tensioners are made of aluminum and they can bend slightly.
Usually the outside shaft support/bearing tips forward because of a thrown chain or just the constant pulling on it as it is closest to the chain.
That causes the sprocket to walk to that side and dig into the support.
At least it was on mine.
When I put on a new sprocket I put a washer between it and the tensioner to take some of the side thrust of the sprocket.
on my Qa 42A, the 24 tooth auger sprocket is welded to the auger so it might take some doing if a fellow wanted to replace it.

Wind sock at the airport, now that made me chuckle .:biggrin2.gif: McMaster Carr sells some bronze oil impregnated bushings with a 3/4" id and an 1-1/4" od 1/16"thick. They work perfect for shimming the shaft float. I have 1 on the pto side because the sprocket had a circle worn in it from the needle bearing race. But I put 3 on the outside . When I started using it the sprocket would pull to the outside under load so I added more to that side. But I tightened the tensioner equally on the bolts lenght wise. Mabe I should give the outside a little more than the inside to over come the pull as the sprockets are closer to that side. Made me think olgeorge , thanks.