smijman

That sounds like the best option. Any Ideas on the best way to clean it? A soak of some sort?

As far as i know, that bolt is holding the fan shaft in position. If i loosen it, the shaft has a lot of play. I feel like it is set properly as it is though, now that I've fiddled with it. Like I said, the problem is the intermediate shaft moving around. I don't see any way to take it out though.

If I can safely take it apart, yes. If not, then I can live with it. The sound is made with the fan off, and that bolt is full tight.

The intermediate shaft, if you will, moves back and forth. Went i crank one way, if runs smooth. If i go the other way, It makes a grinding noise. I suspect this is from the large gear rubbing on the inside of the box. I wanted to try and put a washer or something to keep it from moving around.

I've partially taken apart my blower. I've hit a road block. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove the gears. Here are some pictures of the gearbox. I can take more pictures if you need to see a different part. Any ideas?