Help with projects

[freebird914]

I have a Champion Forge blower which needs takened apart and repaired any one have diagrams or any information...

Also working on a couple of Champion Post drills ...

Any data out thier web sites or such...

Thanks :?:

[Fionnbharr (finn:-)]

Sadly you are pretty much on your own here, the closest you get are the old champion catalogs that are available on CD. It is experience and reverse engineering all the way on these types of rebuilds, generally if repeated soakings with your favorite penetrating oil doesn't fix the blower most people are sunk, if you have a machine shop, and are a skilled machinist (even a good hobbiest:-) you can get more done, but like I said penetrating oil and maybe sometimes applying a little heat will break things free... Jr could probably fix it, and probably several other guys here who are also excellent mechanic/machinists, the guys who ooze common sense and confidence:-) Me I still have a blower that I can't get going after extended soaking with liquid wrench, strong arm and kroils...

[meco3hp]

Hello, Freebird,
Glad you made it over. Did you check out the Old Wood Working site? They have some cataloges from Champion. Any pics of the blower? Post some pics and discriptions of the problems and we should be able you.

Thanks
Richard

[HWooldridge]

I'll share a secret on blowers. The compound gearing that makes the fan spin merrily with only a few turns of the handle also works in reverse. That means you can often reach inside the housing and turn the fan long before you will budge the handle. Most blowers are not worn out because they were made well and used fairly little in many instances. The problems happen when the thing is tipped over in the dirt or sits under a tree for 75 years. I typically remove the handle and put the blower in a bucket, pour in diesel until it's covered then let it sit for a week. A friend of mine once brought one to the shop that was buried in sand for at least 30 years and frozen tight. We soaked it in diesel for several days and were then able to open the housing just enough to wash the sand from the gear box. It was then reassembled and oiled - he is still using it.

You should be able to fix most any common blacksmithing tool if you have some mechanical aptitude and basic hand tools. They are pretty straight forward.

[meco3hp]

Hello,
Some more thoughts. You also have to remember that most of these tools are made in a way that a small amount of maintanice is all thats needed to keep them running good. It also goes to say that fixing them should also be as easy! As long as the shaft of the fan blower is not pitted, pouring babbit bearings is fairly easy. If it's a newer blower it'll have brass sleeve bearings. Very easy to replace them also. If it's a problem with a gearbox driven blower, it gets a little harder but no where near impossible. Broken castings can be complicated, but also no where near impossible to fix. Just remember, your not the first one to run into these problems. We've all had these problems at one time or another. Just keep asking questions. If you have a part that just has to be replaced or is beyond your skills or shop capabilities, maybe somebody here could help you!

Thanks
Richard

[freebird914]

Here's my problem, The fan spins but clatters when it slows down I have movement on the fan side.. up and down and side to side not a lot but I was gonna shim it with brass... In the gear box their is a same amount of binding I am sure it's a adjustment the gear not on the blower handle is missing it's set screw therefore giving some movement.. I was trying to get it apart and see the three screws that hold the gear box to the body.. The shaft on the fan ends has been hammered on so they are flared out slightly... Does the shaft come out thru the body side or removing the fan allows the gear box the be removed ... On the blower hand gear side in the gear box body I see a stake is that correct or a temporary fix...

I consider myself able to repair this thing really just need a diagram gonna make my own as I take it apart.... Lots of little problems just love to tinker with old metal also have a couple of post drills to work on .....

[brucerdn]

something I like to do as I take things apart is keep a running log of what I do and a description of the part as I go that really helps as for the flared end take a file or dremel tool with a good burr on it and take it off then do whatever you have to do. On mine the shaft that runs on comes out through the gear box(I think it's been alonng time since I had mine apart)
Good luck and have fun

Buck
If opportunity doesn't knock build a door

[mike-hr]

What model is the blower? I have a partially disassembled #400 blower, and might be able to help with some pictures. If i remember, the jackshaft is tapered, only comes out one way. You can check with calipers.

[freebird914]

All I know is a Champion Forge Blower where's the model number located ? may have to degrease to find.....

[HWooldridge]

The 400 says so on the front of the fan case - and the fan runs at right angles to the handle on a shaft with a worm gear. They are made like a Rolls Royce and if cared for, should last for 1000 years...

You probably have a smaller one so the straight cut gears are all running parallel with the handle and the fan - everything is in the same plane.

Take a hand file and get rid of the mushrooming on the shafts. You should be able to remove the fan after that but it may be that the fan is only clipping something as it runs and may not be centered in the case.

Some Buffalo blowers were designed to run in one direction only but I am not sure that Champion made any that way. However, I have usually found that most blowers make less noise in a particular direction - so if they blow equally by cranking either way, then I pick the one that makes the least noise and stick to it.

The brass shim is a good idea if you can get the fan off and make something to fit. Another option is to wrap a piece of shim around the shaft and slip it into the bore. May be just enough to stop the rattle.