The JD TRS models were built by Murray, perhaps do a search under Murray.
Can you post some photos of the mechanism and chains?

 

Thanks for the quick reply, didn't know for sure that Murray built for John Deere. Yes, I can post a photo at a later date as this machine is up at my northern Michigan farm. In the meantime, I will search for chain replacements. I remember in my motorcycle days, that I used half links in my roller chains and they worked out well for some chain adjustments.

 

I am betting that the bushings/bearings that hold these sprockets or sprocket shafts are worn out, thus causing too much slop in the chains.

 

If you can can find the chain pitch inexpensive chain can be bought on Amazon however the sprockets could also be worn.

 

All good tips guys. The chains could be worn because of lack of lubrication and rust, so I ordered about 4' of #420 chain along with master and half links, and a chain breaker, just in case that the chains are the problem. It appears, that the chains were made in a complete circle with no master or half link. If it is not the chains, I will check out the shaft bushings/bearings for wear. I don't have a history on this snowblower; it was given to my grandson for scrap metal! It looks good, no rust, all original paint and the engine runs well so my guess, is that it was always kept undercover. The tires are probably original as air was leaking right through the sidewalls; I corrected that with inner tubes. Engine runs well and the engine has provision for an electric starter. The only thing that was missing was was the spring on the auger brake which I replaced. I have a copy of the technical manual, TM1466 for this TRS-26 snowblower which I am not finding very useful. This machine is up north at my farm, and I will not be getting up there for another couple of weeks. I'll post my progress here as I work towards getting this old piece of equipment back into service! Thanks for your encouragement. I hate to scrap stuff!

 

Sounds like you are on the right track .... good luck.

 

M
Sounds like you are on the right track .... good luck.

Earlier this week, at the farm, in the barn, outside temperature at 19f, I was again working on the old John Deere TRS-26 (built by Murray) (circa 1990) snowblower that the two drive/driven chains were coming off of their sprockets. Oneacer, who added a comment, was on the target with his bet that the bearing/bushing were worn out and this appears to be the case. But, to get to these two bearing/bushings, I was not able to get to the fourth 5/16" bolt that is under the metal drive disk. I did not have the necessary information with me to facilitate the removable of this drive disk as I have the TM1466 manual on my computer, back in the city. But now, with printed pages, I can see that this drive disk and other parts have to be removed to get access to this last bolt and then the countershaft and its two bearing/bushings can be removed.

Now I am searching for replacement bearing/bushings and in the driveline, I see two more of the same and I removed one to I.D. them and take a photo to aid in my search for replacements. There are some available on-line, but no good dimensions are ever given. My requirements are and please refer to attached photo; 1/2" bore, 1-3/4" between the two top 5/16" x 18 threaded holes (bottom threaded hole is not used) and 1/2" high at bearing. Could anyone supply me with the proper replacement? Also, I did buy about 4' of replacement #420 drive chain with 1/2 links and master links, if I need them. I suppose I should also replace the rubber drive wheel/disk while I am at it, although this one "looks" ok to me, while I am this far into this machine and the beginning of the snow season! Thanks, guys, for helping me out on this machine!