[db130]

This one had been for sale for weeks and was even mentioned on a recent thread here, but no one bought it.

This morning, I saw it listed for even less than the previous ad and I could not resist. I brought it home this afternoon.

Overall, it is presentable and will need a few things like the muffler, scraper bar, skid shoes, for starters.

It's a 8hp with a differential: Model number 924026, serial number starts with 03xxxx = 1978 model.

 

[SHVLHEAD]

Good looking machine. What kind of plans do you have in store for her?

 

[UNDERTAKER]

MAZEL TOV on That 1. :wavetowel2:

 

[cranman]

Those are nice machines....like you saw, they are getting cheap. I stopped buying them cause of the hard time reselling.

 

[db130]

Ideally, I'd like to have the original engine back running (it does have compression), maybe install an electric starter and a taller chute for it....

 

[classiccat]

I remember you posting that steal deal.

Glad that chunk of old iron went to someone who can appreciate it!

 

[Ian Ariens 924]

Great machine, I buy all the 924 series I can find.
With a differential and electric start,they sell right away.It’ll outlast most new ones.

Good find

 

[groomerz]

I just sold mine yesterday. I loved the differential and auger engagement stick instead of hand lever.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[db130]

The first order of business was getting the old muffler off. It was missing one of the 3 mounting bolts and the remaining one was a bear to remove... but I got it off. I also was able to remove the 3rd mounting bolt that is on the cylinder head.

I had a parts machine where I scavenged a much nicer muffler from.

That muffler was TOAST!

Next up, the carburetor cleaning.

 

[rod330]

I just finished up a similar 924039 last week. The original carb was a complete wreck so I bought one of those adjustable $10 Chinese carbs after an unsuccessful rebuild. I did make a few mods to the replacement carb. First I swapped out the bowl gasket and main jet gasket with new OEM Tecumseh parts. Next, I had to reuse the original choke shaft and butterfly to mate up with the old style ring pull choke hardware. Oddly, the bosses on the new carb were drilled but not tapped for the screws that secure the cover so that was fixed too.

Aside from the carb, all the usual stuff- brand new fuel line with shut off valve and filter, new shoes and scraper bar, new plug, oil change, greased augers, adjust speed control linkages, lithium grease on hex drive rod, etc. At least the friction disc and belts were all good.

My biggest headache was with a failed interlock switch. I decided not to spend $40 for a new switch and simply disabled the interlock. I can reconnect the wiring to the magneto kill if the new owner is willing to engage one of the interlock levers at all times to keep the engine running.

I paid $100, have at least another $50 in parts and hope to sell it for $225 in the fall. It's a good thing I don't count my labor because I'd probably make more working at a local burger joint.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Rutom]

Hey @db130. I just picked up the same blower. Got it for free, but it came with the carb disassembled and mounting brackets all off. Would you mind posting pics of the mounting brackets for the throttle/pics of the whole assembly with the carb cover off.
That third picture you posted has already helped me out. I finally get how the choke mounts!
The blower I picked up is missing a bunch of screws on the carb/bracket side so I'm just trying to sort this now. I'll start a new thread in here soon.

 

[db130]

@Rutom, mine looked identical to @rod330's post here:

https://www.snowblowerforum.com/forum/1659375-post21.html

 

[db130]

Well, I have good news and bad news....

The good news is that I was able to install the engine-mounted throttle control from a later model 924 series (a 924082) AND I was able to rebuild a spare carburetor that uses a modern choke shaft.

The engine runs pretty well, even with the iffy spark plug and engine oil quality.

The bad news is that the bottom of the bucket is TOAST! I'm laughing at myself because I should have caught that very early during the inspection process. It will need a new bottom section welded on. Its impeller bearing and axle bushings will also need replacement.

Also, the idler pulley for the drive wheel is sort of askew?! I have a couple of early 924 machines that I could probably scavenge the needed parts from, I've just never seen that before.

 

[JayzAuto1]

Hey DB, that idler pulley issue is very common on the older 924 series machines. I’ve repaired quite a few of them. It’s not too bad of a job, it now uses replaceable bronze bushings and is a lasting repair. And since you will have the bucket off anyway, now is a good time to address that issue. It’ll save your belts and pulleys. Unfortunately I’m at work on snow duty and on my phone, so I’m having trouble linking the thread and pix. I’ll post that info later this afternoon after this “snow event”

GLuck, Jay

 

[db130]

@JayzAuto1, I found your previous posts of the repair using the longer clevis pin and whatnot. thank you. That's a great repair.

I don't have access to a welder, I have another 924 frame where the idler pulley hole isn't hogged out like that. It'd be easier for me to move the engine over to the other frame.

My problem with this snowblower is the bucket... I need to find a guy who can weld on a 4" x 24" bottom section... or I find a replacement teardrop bucket.

 

[aldfam4]

Nice save and nice score db130!!!

 

[db130]

I have a lead on a 924 teardrop bucket, but in the meantime, I just found a guy selling an aluminum gearbox+augers+impeller for $20, and I have a spare 1979+ bucket, so I'll cobble up a complete front end that way.

I also brought home a free Snapper 826 this morning that had been sitting for years. The Snapper wheels are a direct fit on the 3-lug 924 hubs.

 

[db130]

Here's a long overdue update!

this snowblower has sat idle for over a year due to the the bucket issue and drive belt pulley issue as documented earlier. Last week, I found a guy with TWO non-running 8hp 924 series snowblowers and he was willing to deliver them to my house for a very reasonable price. One of them was a 924026 (8hp, small wheels, differential) and the other one is a 924040 (8hp, big wheels, no differential).

I told him about the bucket situation of my current 924026 snowblower and he sent me additional pictures before delivering the snowblowers

The serial number on the 2nd 924026 is 005xxx = 1976 model. Please note that the '76 model has the older straight chute crank that is below the nameplate, whereas the 924040 is a 1979-only model and has the multi-piece chute crank.

The 924040 has its own thread here. The 2nd 924026 has no issues with the bucket or the drive belt pulley, so it really just needs another engine. I will grab the engine/handlebars/nameplate from the first 924026 and I will get a working snowblower out of the two.

 

[db130]

The engine from the first 924026 has been removed and installed on the "new" 924026:

And here are the two 924026s side by side after the engine swap (the "new" one with the good bucket is on the left, the original with the bad bucket is on the right):

Handlebars/nameplate/chute crank/wheels will be carried over from the original to the new one.

 

[db130]

Mid-progress picture of the handlebars+nameplate+chute crank being swapped (the control panel with the twin sticks stay on the snowblower):

Here's the "after" picture:

The engine ran last year but it wouldn't start for me this past week due to a stuck intake valve. I was able to free it up and get it started.