New Troy-Bilt Snowblower, Questions

[Maritime Storm]

My 1971 Ariens Sno-throw decided to eat it's gear box yesterday. Gotta a quote from the local repair shop on getting fixed, called the boss and told her, she said, to [censored] with it, get a new one

So, my father wanted(and got) my Ariens/GX200 combo for parts and I'm now the proud owner on a new Troy-Bilt 27"/7HP Tecumseh(OH195SA) snowblower. Anyone know of site where I find the valve adjustment specs this motor? Anyone know of anything I should watch out for on this blower?

 

[flatlandtacoma]

Valve lash is .004"

Here is the service manual: http://www.cpdonline.com/695244A.pdf

 

[Maritime Storm]

Sweet, thank you.

 

[Bror Jace]

Are these made by MTD?

If so, baby it. Check it over frequently, lock-tite down all the fasteners, carefully lubricate every hinge or moving part and (in general) maintain the heck out of it. If you're lucky, it just may last you a decade or more.

Troy-Bilt used to be made near here (Troy, NY) but they were bought by MTD (I believe) and were aimed at a mass, economy market.

Baby it and you should be OK.

 

[Bror Jace]

Duplicate post.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Yes it is made by MTD of Kitchner, Ontario. There are only 2 brands sold around here that aren't, Ariens & Honda, both were most of a grand more for same size machine. Plus I bought it through work so I was able to get it at at discounted price. After flipping through the manual in the above link I have a question, looking at the fact these engine are slaph lubricated, how do they oil up to the rocker arms & valves?

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Maritime Storm
I'm now the proud owner on a new Troy-Bilt 27"/7HP Tecumseh(OH195SA) snowblower. Anyone know of site where I find the valve adjustment specs this motor? Anyone know of anything I should watch out for on this blower?


Good engine. Why are you worried about valve adjustment? I don't know of any owners who have worried about valve adjustment in this application. Commercial use maybe? I've had that exact engine going on 9yrs now. It's on my Yard-Man/MTD snowblower. It starts the first or second pull stone cold or hot, has never run out of power for me, is exceptional on gas & doesn't bombard you with exhaust fumes like a big flat-head or 2-stroke will. I've never had to use the electric start on it aside from an occasional test. Other stuff will break on this machine before the engine wears out.

Joel

 

[Bror Jace]

Maritime Storm, I understand about the selection ... and the same is true around here. Dad bought an Ariens 11.5hp/28" path for about $1,300 US 3 years ago ... but with the mild winters we've had the last few years, the exact same machine was going for $999 in some big-box retail stores Feb-March.

The Ariens feels like a really fine machine ... the MTD machines (sold under various labels ... Murray, Troy Bilt, the Tractor & Supply brand (which I forget) ... less so.

JTK is in Buffalo, NY ... which gets heavier snow than we do in the Capital Region 200+ miles farther east ... and seems pretty happy with his machine. I hope you have great luck with yours ... but I'd still caution you to maintain it carefully and inspect it frequently ... especially after hard use. Actually, this is a good practice with just about all OPE equipment as it is common for things shake and vibrate loose. Those little screws, knobs, etc ... can be hard to find and surprisingly expensive to replace.

But like JTK says, I wouldn't worry so much about the engine. Use an oil high in barrier anti-wear additives (ZDDP, moly, boron, etc ...) and change it at least once each year and the motor (a Tecumseh Sno-King?) should outlast the rest of the machine ... even if it was a Honda or Ariens.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Bror Jace

The Ariens feels like a really fine machine ... the MTD machines (sold under various labels ... Murray, Troy Bilt, the Tractor & Supply brand (which I forget) ... less so.


No doubt about that Bror. The MTD and variants, mine included, are flimsy buggers. You can flex the chassis on them easily. Case in point; Last winter my brother sucked up a section of rope in his 9hp MTD "Gold Series" snowthrower. Not only did it jamb the auger in a split second, it put such force on the auger that the sides of the blower housing bellowed out at the sides spitting the auger right out of the machine! Good thing was; He was able to pop the auger and wormgear housing back into place and smack the sides back into shape. He wasn't too happy about my nephew keeping that sled (w/rope) burried under the snow, that's for sure.

Joel

 

[harley145000]

I have a 1993 7 hp snapper with a tecumseh engine,bought it new.this machine will keep throwing snow even if its over top the snorkle.

 

[Maritime Storm]

I was curious on the procedure & specs, that's all. I using the same 5W40 Castrol Syntec I've used in the previous snowblower. The HM70 that I took off my old had a good run for 36 years but was beginning to get cranky, had a new GX200(6.5HP) clone dumped in my lap this at no cost. After a minute with a measuring tape it found a new home on the Ariens(direct bolt-on replacement, no modification) and the [censored] thing never worked that good in the 4 years owned it, right up until it ate the drive gear spines off the axle. That's most of why I bought the model I did, even a new Ariens is isn't built anywhere near as strong as that 1971, and at half the price for the Troy-bilt with an OHV Tecumseh, in my shed, it was a no brainer. We got 50Cm of snow this week with more in the forecast, being without a snowblower wasn't an option. So far the the Troy-bilt has impressed me. I baby my tools to begin with, so I expect this blower will have a long life.

 

[Mike_dup1]

I agree, Tecumseh engines are tough. I have had 4 Ariens sno-blowers since 1970, they all had the Tecumseh engines. Never a problem, never had to work on any engine.

I have known the local Ariens dealer since 1970 when his dad ran the business, went to HS with his sisters. He once told me the biggest issue he sees was people buying a 7 hp machine when they really needed a 12 hp. Then working it beyond its designed scope, hours on end in heavy snow etc. Another was people using the wrong viscosity of oil, i.e. 10W-40 or 20W-50 when it called for a 5W-20 or 5w30 oil. He has pulled apart engines the siezed up in below zero temps because the oil was as thick as STP. The higher viscosity oil makes the engine work harder cold temps and harder to pull start. For some reason people think these small engines will work better with 20W-50 or even a 10W-40 but in cold temps is can be detrimental.

So the most important things is, use the right viscosity oil and don't use premium gas.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Bror Jace

The Ariens feels like a really fine machine ... the MTD machines (sold under various labels ... Murray, Troy Bilt, the Tractor & Supply brand (which I forget) ... less so.


No doubt about that Bror. The MTD and variants, mine included, are flimsy buggers. You can flex the chassis on them easily. Case in point; Last winter my brother sucked up a section of rope in his 9hp MTD "Gold Series" snowthrower. Not only did it jamb the auger in a split second, it put such force on the auger that the sides of the blower housing bellowed out at the sides spitting the auger right out of the machine! Good thing was; He was able to pop the auger and wormgear housing back into place and smack the sides back into shape. He wasn't too happy about my nephew keeping that sled (w/rope) burried under the snow, that's for sure.

Joel



Murphy's law right? My new one did the same thing, dog's rope, broke 3 of the 4 shear pins, #4 didn't break and the auger popped out of the bearing carrier on that side. Took me about 20 minutes to re-install it, grease the bearing cups & replace all 4 shear pins. Doesn't appear to have hurt anything in the end.

 

[richter1]

I have a 26" Troybilt (MTD) snowblower with a 10HP Tecumseh engine that I bought about 5 years ago. It is true that it is not as rugged as some of the more expensive machines, but it has worked flawlessly for me. The 10 HP engine is great and has blasted through ice crust and 15" deep snow without flinching. It has only required normal preventive maintenance, so far.

 

[Maritime Storm]

I'm actually rather impressed with mine, so far. It put the old Ariens to shame with the snow we've had this winter. Other than the dog rope incident the machine performed flawlessly, not to mention it used half the gas the old HM70 on the Ariens used.