Moderators, please accept my apologies if this is the wrong place to post this and move if necessary.
I get stir crazy over the winter and as a gear-head grease monkey need something to wrench on So I figured I share with you my little project for the next couple of days.
I found a vintage Bolens 5hp 24" snowblower on craigslist for $75 OBO with a "bad engine" and the seller accepted my offer of $50 to take it off his hands. Hmmm... challenge accepted!
I got it home and looked it over... its in great shape overall. The transmission is still smooth, everything is intact and very little rust/wear. It was probably rarely used, based on the looks of the auger and housing.
Put some gas in the tank, changed the oil (old stuff was nasty) and it started right up! Engine was quiet. For a minute I thought "COOL! The seller had no idea what he was talking about, this engines fine!" ... that is, until I saw the crankshaft PTO walking around in its journal and spewing oil everywhere.
Ok ok...Chris, find your happy spot. A few choice words came out of my mouth as I was hoping for an easier fix. Oh well...
Get the engine off the machine, and the side cover off the side of the engine. Ah ha:
The crankshaft journal all gouged and chewed up
The crankshaft galled
NOW I see why the seller deemed the engine trashed. The engine had probably been run low on oil or the incorrect grade, and the crankshaft suffered oil starvation. Funny, the camshaft and the cylinder itself looks fine. Im going to be mic'ing everything before I put it back together so Ill know if the camshaft and cylinder/connecting rod suffered any damage. Going to have to ask a local expert rebuilder for their opinions as well.
Anyways, I will update this in the next week or so with my progress. I was able to find the side cover and the crankshaft - believe it or not, this series of motor was very popular and manufactured by Tecumseh for 25 years, used on snow machines, motor bikes, yard equipment, etc. The parts network is very strong (bonus!).
I will keep the forum posted of my progress and hope to get this bad boy running in time for the next snow!
Wish me luck!
I get stir crazy over the winter and as a gear-head grease monkey need something to wrench on So I figured I share with you my little project for the next couple of days.
I found a vintage Bolens 5hp 24" snowblower on craigslist for $75 OBO with a "bad engine" and the seller accepted my offer of $50 to take it off his hands. Hmmm... challenge accepted!
I got it home and looked it over... its in great shape overall. The transmission is still smooth, everything is intact and very little rust/wear. It was probably rarely used, based on the looks of the auger and housing.
Put some gas in the tank, changed the oil (old stuff was nasty) and it started right up! Engine was quiet. For a minute I thought "COOL! The seller had no idea what he was talking about, this engines fine!" ... that is, until I saw the crankshaft PTO walking around in its journal and spewing oil everywhere.
Ok ok...Chris, find your happy spot. A few choice words came out of my mouth as I was hoping for an easier fix. Oh well...
Get the engine off the machine, and the side cover off the side of the engine. Ah ha:
The crankshaft journal all gouged and chewed up
The crankshaft galled
NOW I see why the seller deemed the engine trashed. The engine had probably been run low on oil or the incorrect grade, and the crankshaft suffered oil starvation. Funny, the camshaft and the cylinder itself looks fine. Im going to be mic'ing everything before I put it back together so Ill know if the camshaft and cylinder/connecting rod suffered any damage. Going to have to ask a local expert rebuilder for their opinions as well.
Anyways, I will update this in the next week or so with my progress. I was able to find the side cover and the crankshaft - believe it or not, this series of motor was very popular and manufactured by Tecumseh for 25 years, used on snow machines, motor bikes, yard equipment, etc. The parts network is very strong (bonus!).
I will keep the forum posted of my progress and hope to get this bad boy running in time for the next snow!
Wish me luck!
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