1988 520-HC Ber-Vac snow thrower modified crank rod

[cafoose 3,354]

I just got finished making up a crank rod to turn the snow thrower chute on my 520-HC with a Ber-Vac snow thrower. Here are some pics of how I did it. I am very pleased with the results. I used a 3/8 drive universal and a 3/8 drive extension. My neighbor welded the extension into a piece of 1/2 inch conduit and the universal into a piece of 3/4 inch conduit. Then he welded the original crank handle in the other end of the 1/2 inch conduit. The universal snaps into the extension giving me the flexible joint I need for the angle and also it's easy to remove when I remove the snow thrower with no tools. I can let the universal attached to the snow thrower. The 3/4 conduit has a 3/8 hole drilled in it for a bolt to fasten it to the chute gear on the snow thrower. The 1/2 inch conduit fits perfectly in the hole on the support bracket attached to the tractor. All I need to do now is make an attachment for the lift assist springs on the front quick hitch bracket.

 

[stevasaurus 22,711]

That is very cool and a great idea. 

[Ed Kennell 38,024]

Bingo....we got a winner.

[Retired Sparky 526]

Now there is a good excuse to go back to HF. 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,296]

That is a great idea. I don't know about going to HF to replace the parts. They just had their tent sale and you may end up with their special 0.25 cent parts.

[cafoose 3,354]

I got the universal from amazon with some drive adapters for around $5. I got an impact one because of welding it. Chrome does not do well with welding. The extension was a Chinese one I had in my toolbox that the end broke off so it was unusable anyway. I had the conduit laying around in my garage. The whole thing just cost me $5 and I got some extra socket adapters as a bonus.

[Retired Sparky 526]

I would rather go to HF for a universal then give up a piece of my precious Craftsman tools.     Am I right.

[cafoose 3,354]

  Yes you are that's why I went to amazon and got a Chinese universal and used a broken Chinese extension. The setup I used doesn't take much torque to turn the chute.  .

[peter lena 8,583]

cafoose , like your idea ,good job on that , thought you might add a smooth ball knob on the end of that chute rod , easy to do , just a slight taper grind and a 3/8 x 16 die nut on the end of the rod and screw on the easier to use round knob , hardware store has them . keep making things better, pete