Free snowblower

Hey guys,

Yesterday while at the transfer station doing some volunteer work with the boy scout troop my oldest is in I ran into a co-worker that was throwing an old snowblower away in the scrape metal bin. I remembered talking with him recently about said snowblower and remembered it still ran, but didn't quite throw the snow as well as it used to. I asked him if I could have it rather than throw it away. He agreed, and dropped it off at my house as I didn't have my truck but rather my Suburban with us.

Looking it over yesterday it was drained of fuel, so I added some. I then checked the oil, and it was dry as well. I called my friend and he said he had drained all the fluids, but didn't tell me why. It is an old Jacobson Imperial 626, and seems to be very rugged. It has a Tecumseh engine, and I have no ida what sort of oil it should take. Any idea if straight SAE 30 will work?

Also the switch for on/off/choke seems to have been changed out, and now rotates opposite of how the label says. Someone wrote in sharpie the new switch conditions. I will have to figure that out. Also the engine has an electric starter, and there are stickers saying it is equipped with that option, but there are no wires on the starter. I'm assuming it's a 120volt starter, but how can I be sure?

If I can get it started what should I be looking for as far as it now throwing the snow quite right? Of course I can't test it as we just melted our last flakes of the white stuff last week. Any help would be appreciated.

"Not blowing snow well" Are the shear bolts intact, are the belts slipping, does the engine reach it's designed rpms ? Starter is most likely 120V. 30 weight oil is ok. 10W 30 will help starting in the cold. Is the throttle opening all the way. I'm confused about the on/off choke switch. Not like my Tecumseh

My dad had (maybe still has) one similar to that, it was pretty unkillable; he only replaced it because they have a huge driveway. It was a 120v plug-in starter, guessing this one is similar.

Knowing him, he probably still has a manual for it.

After enjoying a 90 degree plus day here, I must ask. What is a snow blower?

M2Pilot wrote: After enjoying a 90 degree plus day here, I must ask. What is a snow blower?

It's used to clear the driveays of people who live in places where the men are men and the women are too.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

But that doesn't explain why Johnny #5 thought this would be an insult to the other robots.

That things a beast! Back when they made real commercial units. 99% sure You find an enclosed transmission under the sheet metal cover. A real "farm supply" tractor store will have everything you need for it. Pull the white cover and the bottom under belly cover remove the belts then try to move the main shaft up an down to check the bearings some use bronze bushings at one end other use double ball bearings, either way its off the shelf parts if you feel more then .010 play. Check the idler and tension pulleys and replace the belts (use real belts made for it not autoparts interchange stuff. Check the gearbox on the auger it takes oil but many times they leak at the seals when you snag a tarp...or extension cord, x-mass lights etc. what ever rear end oil you have on hand works fine or 30wt motor oil would be fine. if you find it leaks you could hand pack with grease but gears will wear as it will be to cold to run in to the tooth root until its run a bit so oil is best.

Congratulations on a score. people who know snow blowers that still a $700+ machine.