1998 265-H 42" Snowthrower Question

[sdunlimited 3]

Hi Folks,

I'm new to Wheel Horse machines and picked up a 1998 265-H with 38" mowing deck, 42" snowthrower, wheel weights and chains this summer.  This machine was well neglected when I got my hands on it but with some routine maintenance and cleaning it has been operating like a champ.

 

I planned on mounting the snowthrower today and got sidetracked -all day- replacing the drive belt instead.  It was a bear but now that I've done it once, if I ever need to get in there again it should go lot faster.

I got the snowthrower mounted late in the day but am missing a piece and I'm not sure if it will have an impact on operation.  

I'm missing the retainer clip, part number 79-7090 found here:  https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=22109 as part 18 on the schematic.

Toro is asking $30 (!?) for it.

Repair Clinic has it here for $25:  file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/2015-04_2019-10-04_admin_response_eversource_deny.pdf 

It's still about $20 more than I'd like to pay.  Seeing the part sitting on the squares in the Repair Clinic pics made me think I could probably craft my own.  I'm assuming it's about 2.5" tall?

 

The big question is, do I even need it?  

 

I re-mounted the snowthrower just as it was when I bought it.  It works, but it doesn't lift up very high for driving without it engaging the ground.  

The snowthrower's lift rod is supposed to sit in a "V-notch" in the lift lever mechanism.  The schematic for the tractor that has the v-notch is here:  https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=19212 

The v-notch piece itself isn't identified in the schematic but you can see it in the pic.  If you see the number 25 in the schematic, follow the line for that part straight across until you see the two washers.  The line going through the middle of those two washers points directly to the "v-notch".

The $30 retainer clip is supposed to hold the lift rod into that v-notch.  The directions for mounting it are here in the snowthrower manual, on page 12:  https://www.toro.com/getpub/24462 

If you look above the v-notch however, there's a hole that the lift rod also fits into.  That's where it was mounted when I bought it, and that's where I mounted it again today.  It seems to work, just doesn't lift the thrower that high but I'm not sure just how much further it's going to lift it's in the v-notch.  

Also, the manual for the snowthrower says you can add more washers to the lift rod if you want it to lift higher when not in use.  So again, I'm not sure if there's any real difference in mounting this into that hole, or the v-notch.  

 

I know this is a highly specific question but was curious if anyone else who may have one of these can speak to it either way.  Especially if they're mounting in the v-notch rather than that hole I'm using.  

 

Thank you for any help you can provide - it is appreciated.

 

Cheers!

[sdunlimited 3]

Hello Again,

 

I spent a little more time on this today and discovered a couple things.  It appears that the hole I'm using for the lift mechanism works fine and the v-notch mounting point can't be too much different.  Adding additional washers to the lift rod does in fact raise up the snowthrower a sufficient amount.  I added 3 good sized washers and got it to sit at the height in the pic which is seems to be fine for my needs.  

Next up will be grinding the rust in the chute and re-painting with something close to Wheel Horse red.