Snow Thrower Model ST-376

[MikesRJ 552]

My ST-376 (ST-376 Manual) has gone under the "knife" a week and a half ago. Been traveling al ot lately and have to get this thing done before the white stuff comes. Got a bunch of work done today and many parts are stripped, primed and painted. Will post some pics tomorrow of the progress.

One difficulty was getting the Auger Shaft out of the Auger's Bearing. Apparently the shaft was bent in the middle and wouldn't pass through the auger bearing. After fiddling with it for over an hour and a half, I finally got pissed and cut the shaft off between the blower housing and the bearing. I then got everything out only to find the bearings were trashed anyway. New bearing on order, new 3/4" shaft material from TSC is welded into the Auger Shaft Assembly arm. Sometimes you just have to go around a problem rather than work through it I guess.

[W9JAB 156]

Looking at the photo of your blower, I would strongly suggest that you change the chain system from the old style to the new style.

The old system used only one idler sprocket, this gives you very little chain to sprocket contact on the main drive gear. What happens is if you plug up the auger the chain will slip over the main gear and grind the teeth off of the main gear, from you photo it looks like this has already happened. It a pain to replace that gear.

With the new system, two idlers are used, this gives you three times the chain to sprocket contact, so if the auger stalls the belt slips not the chain.

:D

[MikesRJ 552]

Have a picture of what you're talking about?

[W9JAB 156]

[MikesRJ 552]

Any idea where I can get one of them pulleys? Or perhaps both since I'm in there. Also I guess I'll need a hank of chain as I'm sure I'll need a longer one, correct?

[W9JAB 156]

I got chain and a 17 tooth idler sprocket

from a local supply house. 41 chain

also I would check the sprocket on the auger

to see if it's worn out.

[MikesRJ 552]

Present status:

The main drive sprocket is a bit worn and really should be replaced. The auger sprocket is very slightly worn but not enough to replace this close to snow season. The idler is worn pretty good so two (one to replace and one for the upgrade) more of those might be in order. I am waiting on delivery of the two new auger bearings (which I was surprised to learn are the same bearings used in the mower deck spindles) as previously stated, but the major portion of the work will beat the snow anyway. Next spring I can reconsider changing the rest of the sprockets. Plus the PO put heavy skid shoes on the Wheel Support arms. I'd like to take those off and put the original wheels pins and wheels back on.

[W9JAB 156]

Mike the only reason I brought this up is last year I went through this, I felt that the auger sprocket was "good enough" turned o.k. by hand. But the first night of snow I was

throwing the chain left and right.

It was a long fix to get a new sprocket welded to the auger. And after looking at other

units I saw the humor in the two Idler system.

[DMK855 15]

Looks Good Mike!! You better get that done before I get up there!!

[MikesRJ 552]

Mike the only reason I brought this up is last year I went through this, I felt that the auger sprocket was "good enough" turned o.k. by hand. But the first night of snow I was

throwing the chain left and right.

It was a long fix to get a new sprocket welded to the auger. And after looking at other

units I saw the humor in the two Idler system.

The Auger Sprocket is almost nearly un-worn, the one I am really worried about if the drive sprocket. It's VERY worn (read that, teeth almost gone) and will have to be replaced before reassembly. I too see the good sense in the two idler sprockets setup and will see today if Bearings and Chains (local distributor) has the sprocket and chain parts.

[MikesRJ 552]

Looks Good Mike!! You better get that done before I get up there!!

That depends on when your coming this way, now doesn't it? I should be finished before weeks end.

[MikesRJ 552]

Coming together, slow but sure ...

[MikesRJ 552]

Not a Ver-Monster (GerryW), but bring on the SNOW!

All done and ready to go. Waiting for the new 2-link chains to arrive and we'll be all set.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,510]

That came out real nice Mike . Isn't there supposed to be a metal piece across the top front of the blower for when yer in the deep stuff? Or was that only on the newer models?

Mike.........

[MikesRJ 552]

The extensions were an addition on the later models (not sure of the year, 1965 maybe), but were not included originally on this one. I don;t think the extensions showed up until the ST-325 model (1965), and then I think it only included the sides..

The funny thing with this blower (the housing) is that it is in fact an ST-324, which was highly modified before I got a hold of it. Originally, the ST-324 came without the side and top extensions. The ST-324 also had a significantly different completing kit, Shroud rotation handle, and belt tensioner.

What exists today, as it's shown here, has the controls much like the newer models, and the skid shoes replaced the original roller wheels. Where the side extensions came into the picture for this thrower is unknown, but I wish I had a piece of 1/8" stock big enough, I'd make my own top extension.

Anybody have an extra? Or how about some dimensions?

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I wish I had a piece of 1/8" stock big enough, I'd make my own top extension.

Anybody have an extra?

Check with PennDOT.

I hear speed limit signs are about the right size. :ychain:

[JimD 3,345]

Use a stop sign, it's already painted red on one side. :ychain:

[Kelly 1,030]

Looks good, I like the fab work to make it fit the newer tractors, but what's up with the JD hub caps, we can forgive the ford weights.

[MikesRJ 552]

Looks good, I like the fab work to make it fit the newer tractors, but what's up with the JD hub caps, we can forgive the ford weights.

Funny you should mention "fab work". It appears that this particular thrower had been fabbed several times before I got it, and further re-fabricated by me to make it closer to original.

The first thing I noticed was the skid shoes. Upon dis-assembly I realized the roller wheel pins must have broken in the past, and a PO made and welded the skid shoes you see on it now.

The next thing I noticed was that the thrower was tagged as an ST-324, but obviously was not original due to the missing Clutch Rod, Crank Handle, and Control Guide parts which should have been there. I fabricated a new support bracket to support the existing Support Crank to the auger housing. Also the auger chain cover was missing and I fabricated a duplicate of that part as well.

The completing kit as installed here is an original to the 10-8 model which is 9-9113, with the WH SB #81 performed to it.

This also required that the drive shaft shortened and the Drive Pulley key-way be converted from a woodruff key to a 1/8" square key for alignment of the Drive Pulley to the tensioners and PTO.

As for the other stuff:

The "JD" hubcaps are repros from a no longer owned machine, as I took the NOS WH ones off for the winter. I thought I would have gotten at least a nod for trashing the JD-like ones rather than the WH ones. Sheesh

Well, the weights are 100lb-ers so I use what I got. You say they're Ford's? I thought differently, but OK, I'll go with that.

[MikesRJ 552]

Never mind, duh!

Currently sitting in a hotel watching snow flakes fall ...

[Kelly 1,030]

No matter what, looks like your ready for snow that's all that matters.