@orangputeh, again, thanks for the reply and info.
Once I get around to the auger work I will start dealing with the impeller kit.
However, my current issue is still at hand with the free axle, I attached a pic of the tension bar so I am sure we're talking about the same thing. It's the reverse screw [left side] that I broke. I've tried every bit I can lay my hands on and a few older ones and I just cant get through it, assuming it's stainless steel, I've never had an issue like this with a bolt, I've removed many of them. In any case, most likely going to just find/buy a complete replacement, again, any leads would be helpful, but I think I saw one on EBay.
Now, in regards to the final drive, which seems to be the part that, if it goes, it's done as a usable machine [unless you find a donor machine]. First, I want to make sure I'm looking at the correct item, again, pic of me pointing at it
without me pointing at it:
and finally, a pic of the underside.
As I am most likely calling everything by the wrong name let me run through what I call everything so you can correct me. I call the silver horizontal disc in the center of the underside the "drive plate", and the drive wheel [coated black vertical wheel]. Just so we're speaking the same language, I am the foreigner in this situation so by all means corrections of terminology will not be taken as criticism. I should mention now that I farted around with some of the adjustments and as previously stated, cleaned the hell out of everything with WD40 and a toothbrush and I have an overall clearance of about 1/8" from the drive wheel to the drive plate in all gears and very smooth action from the gear box down to the drive wheel. What keeps throwing me is that on most of the machines I have worked on the drive wheel moves to engage the drive plate, but on this one it is the other way around, pulling the lever rotates the plate to engage the wheel, is that more common than I am thinking, just a rhetorical question there really.
So, getting back to the final drive. Would I be able to tell without disassembly if there was an issue? As stated it spins freely, not grinding or slippage. also, is it as difficult as it looks to get it out of there? If its one of those things where it just goes [gear, gear bushing?] then it's done, would you recommend tearing it down now, or let 'er ride and when she goes she goes?
I guess at this point I have to interject a little about me and the machines I rebuild to ask you one final question for today. I thank you for making it this far and hope you continue. The thing is projects like this are mainly a time killer for me as I like to take things apart, repair them, and put them back together. Then I get bored of whatever it is that I rebuilt or don't need it anymore and I sell it or give it away. When I start a project I have a few rules to keep the cost down. The first rule is it has to be something I need [snowblower], or something that's just too cool not get [mini bike, quad, go-cart] and the price has to be under $150 [snowblower/leaf blower] $500 [Quad, Dirt bike] this is often debatable, but I do stick with teh $150 or less for any equipment. Second, I can never spend more [in materials] than I could replace it for new [labor is always free and out of the cost equation]. Third, I must be able to repair it myself, without outside or professional help and do all maintenance. Now I have some machines that are old, like my compressor [Curtis 1016] where if the air pump broke it would be useless, other pieces can break [belts, air connections] which are general maintenance items, but in a sense, with basic maintenance and use, it will last forever.
So, in a roundabout way I guess what I'm asking is this, is it worth repairing the HS50? What can I reasonably expect from the final drive? Is it a slow painful death, or a quick one? Can you baby the machine and not worry about it or is a final drive loss an inevitability? I look at it this way, if I drop another $100-150 into it, paint it, and have use out of it for at least 10 years, I'll complete the project. But, if it's something that's going to happen relatively quickly with normal use [my driveway is 100'x7' smooth asphalt], I'm going to think about pulling the plug on the project now.
Sorry for the ramble, hope it was somewhat enjoyable... or I will accept my ban from the forum with grace.