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buffalo blower repair


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#1 emerson

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Posted 25 February 2010 - 05:23 PM

I bought an antique blower on ebay and of course it was supposed to work like new. When it arrived i found that although it worked there was quite a bit of resistance and when i really cranked it the fan seemed to make a sound like it was rubbing on the shell. Can anyone tell me how I should approach this. I would like to repair and use this blower. All help is much appreciated. I am a rookie so talk to me like i am ignorant as I am.


#2 Brandon Graham

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Posted 25 February 2010 - 06:02 PM

check for a bent blade or see if it has moved to one side or the other

#3 ThomasPowers

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Posted 25 February 2010 - 06:19 PM

Also if it is a bi-directional blower; some of them will work better in 1 direction than in the other---I've had one that would rub if turned one way and not if turned the other. Rather than rebuilding it I just marked the direction on the housing.
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#4 emerson

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Posted 25 February 2010 - 06:39 PM

View PostBrandon Graham, on 25 February 2010 - 06:02 PM, said:

check for a bent blade or see if it has moved to one side or the other
Thank you.

#5 emerson

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Posted 25 February 2010 - 06:39 PM

View PostThomasPowers, on 25 February 2010 - 06:19 PM, said:

Also if it is a bi-directional blower; some of them will work better in 1 direction than in the other---I've had one that would rub if turned one way and not if turned the other. Rather than rebuilding it I just marked the direction on the housing.
Thank you.

#6 sawyer04

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Posted 26 February 2010 - 05:12 PM

I had mud daubers in my blower and soybeans. I have found a mouse nest and a screwdriver in other blowers I have aquired.

#7 Bentiron1946

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Posted 26 February 2010 - 06:06 PM

And sometimes the old grease in the housing is like dried mud chunks and needs to be cleaned out and fresh put in. <_<
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#8 BIGGUNDOCTOR

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Posted 26 February 2010 - 08:39 PM

Soak it in some diesel for a day, or more, should loosen up all of the old gunk in it.
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#9 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:02 AM

View Postsawyer04, on 26 February 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

I had mud daubers in my blower and soybeans. I have found a mouse nest and a screwdriver in other blowers I have aquired.
Thank you.

#10 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:02 AM

View Postsawyer04, on 26 February 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

I had mud daubers in my blower and soybeans. I have found a mouse nest and a screwdriver in other blowers I have aquired.
Thank you.

#11 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:03 AM

View Postsawyer04, on 26 February 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

I had mud daubers in my blower and soybeans. I have found a mouse nest and a screwdriver in other blowers I have aquired.
Thank you

#12 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:05 AM

View Postsawyer04, on 26 February 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

I had mud daubers in my blower and soybeans. I have found a mouse nest and a screwdriver in other blowers I have aquired.
Thank you

#13 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:05 AM

View PostBIGGUNDOCTOR, on 26 February 2010 - 08:39 PM, said:

Soak it in some diesel for a day, or more, should loosen up all of the old gunk in it.
Thank you

#14 emerson

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 11:06 AM

View PostBIGGUNDOCTOR, on 26 February 2010 - 08:39 PM, said:

Soak it in some diesel for a day, or more, should loosen up all of the old gunk in it.
Thank you

#15 matto

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Posted 14 March 2010 - 08:36 PM

my old buffalo blower had a spacer washer missing on the fan shaft gear. this would cause the shaft to move to the outside and make the fan blades rub on the housing.
put in a new washer as a spacer and that took the back and forth movement out of the fan shaft. fixing my grinding noise and rubbing problems.

#16 emerson

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Posted 17 March 2010 - 10:21 PM

View Postmatto, on 14 March 2010 - 08:36 PM, said:

my old buffalo blower had a spacer washer missing on the fan shaft gear. this would cause the shaft to move to the outside and make the fan blades rub on the housing.
put in a new washer as a spacer and that took the back and forth movement out of the fan shaft. fixing my grinding noise and rubbing problems.
I think this is the problem as I noticed the fan will move a little bit from side to side. What kind of washer do I use and where exactley should I place it. Thanks for the help!!!

#17 Rob Browne

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Posted 17 March 2010 - 11:52 PM

Have you opened it up yet and had a look at the gizzards? Then you can make some informed decisions and also take photos for posting here for more advice.
Rob Browne


Remember, if you have never failed, you have never tried.

#18 matto

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Posted 28 March 2010 - 01:04 AM

i used a 1/2 " washer because i have a lot of them. use a washer that fits fan gear shaft. you maybe see the broken washer on the shaft still.

#19 Tri Moon Forge

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Posted 29 March 2010 - 10:23 AM

Another tip is to turn the blower and then turn it with your hand over the outlet offering resistance. They were designed to be used with coke/coal over the tuyer blocking some of the airflow. However if it is grinding and making racket it could be anything as described above.

Let us know what you find out and I'm kinda jealous you found a hand crank for your forge. I looked and looked but couldn't find a working one within my budget so I ended up building a double action bellows.

#20 IHTD340

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Posted 07 April 2010 - 09:43 AM

If you find that you have broken parts their is a place called COTTONWOOD FORGE that sells parts





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