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Factory Parts |
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Repair Parts for Your Gilson Snowblower |
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Gilson snowblowers built from the mid 1960s through the mid 1970s used a steel roller and bronze liner running on a polished race to apply tension to the V-belts. This design worked well for over this time years as long as the rollers were opened up and greased every few years. The earliest ones used a solid smooth race. Beginning in the early 1970s a grease grove was added to nourish the oil impregnated bushing. Even neglected they would last quite a while. If your bronze lined idler rollers have not failed to the point of ruining the steel roller or the inner race but are showing wear we offer a rebulid kit for these.
In 1976 the roller maker plated the rollers incorrectly and the oil was sucked out of the bushing causing very premature failures, like in a few hours of use. In response to this fiasco a ball bearing upgrade kit was created, it is still available below.
Machines built after the mass bearing failure used a stamped steel or molded plastic body equipped with sealed bearings. They mount onto a threaded stud that is welded to the arm and are secured with a lock-nut.
The following features detail these configurations and offer service, repair and replacement options.
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This original configuration consisted of the following:
Maintaining Bronze Bushing Idlers
Early versions of this assembly (~ pre 1972) had inner races without
the grease reservoir groove as shown here.
If your machine has the bronze bushing liner idlers regular
maintenance is very important. I recommend servicing them every 2
years. Remove the snap ring and clean all parts. Using a socket or
other driver press
the bronze bushing out through the flat side slightly (.010") so that
it makes contact with the arm before the main roller can. This reduces friction, heat and wear. Repack the
groove with good #2 bearing grease. Be sure to
apply a film of grease to the back of the idler and to the recess
where the retaining washer will ride. Given regular care these idlers
will continue to provide good service.
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This design was an original Gilson field upgrade introduced in 1978 as Gilson part number 89400 which became LawnBoy/Toro number 742687. The genuine kit is still available but the OEM price has climbed steadily. Many owners have written to tell me that they just can't justify the investment. I went to work on this and I'm now offering an identical kit for 2/3 the cost. You can save even more if you buy a pair! The pricing for a pair incudes a $4.00 discount and the pair ships as 1 item reducing your shipping cost. Be sure to use the pull down menu above the "Add to Cart" button to get the pair price.
This kit replaces the following Gilson & LawnBoy part numbers; 10472, 704179, 10474, 700812, 1042, 700097, 10473, 10532.
Take your old arm (blower or traction) with a usable snap ring groove and a recognizable inner race.
Add a shell idler kit
You have salvaged the arm and slashed maintenance on your machine.
$44.50 or 2 for $85.00
The plastic version was Gilson # 31625 updated to 89380 and latter LawnBoyToro # 742678. The stamped steel version was Gilson # 201982 and latter LawnBoyToro # 740006. All have been discontinued. We have taken our Shell Idler and equipped it with a core that makes it a drop-in replacement for both of these idlers. It can be ordered below.
$54.50
As a replacement part we have re-created this arm and outfitted it with our heavy duty sealed ball bearing shell idler roller for long trouble free life.
If you need the tensioning spring used on 3 and 4 speed models (#9087) you will find it below.
This spring is also used to preload the shifter on some single speed 2 stage models.
Click here to see the arrangement this kit fits. If your blower is controlled by the small lever near the chute then this kit is for your machine.
In addition to Gilson branded snowblowers these parts can be found in an number of other Gilson built brands. Gilson built machines under the many brand names shown here.
1) The blower idler arm mounting sleeve is connected to the idler control rod with a spring pin. When this pin shears the ability to disengage the blower is lost. This kit includes a heavy duty coiled type pin that is a stronger than new replacement.
2) The traction idler arm is supported by the idler control rod and rides on 2 flanged bushings. These can wear or become loose allowing the idler arm to flop around. This can result in belts getting tossed from pulleys or the idler falling behind the belt. New bushings and an ampule of Loctite to ensure a solid mounting of the bushings are provided.
In addition to the stated parts, replacements for cotter pins that may be spoiled in the disassembly process are provided.
They are also used in Gilson rear tine tillers and compact front tine tillers.
OTHER GILSON SNOWBLOWER SPRINGS
Gilson # 4996 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 704088 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 9087 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 703329
Gilson # 10445 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 704171 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 10452 is now LawnBoy/Toro 703365
Gilson # 10475 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 703368
Gilson # 11707 is now LawnBoy/Toro 703377
Gilson # 12996 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 704318
Gilson # 14952 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 703624 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 23156 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 703674
Gilson # 27683 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704565 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 33315 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704701 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 33323 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704702 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 35584 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704775 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 35586 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704776 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 37320 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704904 DISCONTINUED
Gilson # 37387 is now LawnBoy/Toro 704906
Gilson # 37575 is now LawnBoy/Toro # 702418
Gilson # 218372 is now LawnBoy/Toro 706216 DISCONTINUED
$18.50
$15.00
$18.50
$15.00
$15.00
It can also be used in 3 speed Gear Drive models without the brake that are prone to disengaging the blower drive under heavy load.
$18.50
It is also available as a new factory part through M and D MOWER at this link.
$17.00
Created September 2002 **** February 12, 2023
Sealed Ball Bearing Idler Upgrade Kit #89400 (742687)
If your machine has the original style bronze bushing lined idlers and they have failed or if you want to make your idlers maintenance free this is the solution. All you need is a decent snap ring groove and the 1 inch stationary race (with or without grease groove). The race may be scorched, scraped or galled but it must be there for the bearing to mount on. This kit will end your idler woes for good.
One shell idler kit rebuilds 1 arm
Kit Contains:
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Sealed Bearings in Plastic or Stampled Steel Bodies
Replaces 31625, 89380, 201982 (742678, 740006)
Late model Gilson machines utilized a next generation idler design.
The arms remained essentially the same except that a threaded stud
was welded in place instead of the stem with snap ring groove. Sealed bearings were mounted in plastic (1977) and later stamped steel housings.
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18133, 207157 (742172, 705433)
This arm replaces several generations of traction idler arms used on 3 & 4 speed UniTrol models as well as many compact single speed friction drive units. The arm is hung from a bolt on the engine. The original arms were # 18133 (LawnBoy/Toro # 742172) and 207157 (LawnBoy/Toro # 705433) each of which has a complement of bearings, rollers and hardware to form a complete idler arm assembly. Since this arm is under load at all times it has the highest failure rate and the demand has outpaced reclaimed used parts.
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Discontinued Versions
Gilson # 9087 / LawnBoy/Toro # 703329
This spring is used on the UniTrol traction idler arm that is hung from the engine crankcase cover on 3 and 4 speed models. It is part number Gilson # 9087 / LawnBoy/Toro # 703329. The loop will sometimes wear from decades of vibration. It can also get damaged from repeadedly being hooked and unhooked during periodic replacement. Sometimes they just get lost while the unit is apart for repair. We have taken the original specifications and had these custom formed for a drop-in fit. This spring fits models from 5 through 10HP.
$15.00
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Shown installed
For 1 and 2 Speed Early Gear Drives
As the Early Gear Drive machines age the pivot bushings that the belt idlers run on can loosen. This will cause erratic belt tracking and result in the roller falling under the belt or the belt getting thrown from the pulley. This kit includes the parts to restore the pivot motion to like new condition (maybe better!) including a precision shaft, bushings for each arm, an ampulel of Loctite to secure the bushings in the arm for a wobble free fit and fresh cotter pins. Instructions are included.
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(1) Shaft - Idler Arm # 10470 (LawnBoy Toro # 704176)
(4) Idler Arm Bushing# 10516 (LawnBoy Toro # 703369)
(2) Cotter pins
(1) Cotter pin
(1) Loctite Bearing Mount Compound
Instuctions.
For 3 Speed Gear Drives
This kit is desinged to address 2 common wear/ failure modes of the 3 Speed Gear Drive Models.
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(2) Idler Arm Bushing# 10516 (LawnBoy Toro # 703369)
(1) Loctite Bearing Mount Compound
(1) Coiled Spring Pin
(1) Cotter pin
(1) Cotter pin
33632 (740051)
This idler roller tensions the Snow Cannon drive belt. It is also used to tension the blower belt on the vertical shaft single stage models.
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The following are ordering links or status for other Gilson snowblower springs. I have used springs available and plan to offer more reproductions. Email me with your needs and I'll see what I can do.
This spring tensions the traction idler in 3 speed Gear Drive models. It links the bellcrank to the traction idler arm. It is also used in some 1 and 2 speed Early Gear Drive models. These are new reproduction springs.
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This spring is used in 1 and 2 speed Early Gear Drive models to tension the blower idler roller. It is used for the same purpose on early gear drive models before the addition of the impeller brake. It has been discontinued as a new part.I have a supply of good used springs available. All coils are solid and ends true.
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This spring is widely used in Gilson snowblowers. These are new reproduction springs.
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This spring is used to load the forward / reverse lever on early model Gear Drives with the Foote Transmission. It has been discontinued as a new part. I have a supply of good used springs available. All coils are solid and ends true.
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This spring is used in latter models of the Early Gear Drives. It limits the force when holding the Foote transmission in reverse. I have a supply of good used springs available. All coils are uniform and true.
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This spring tensions the blower belt in the 3 speed gear drive units that have the impeller brake. These are new springs, custom wound to the original specifications.
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This spring is used to tension the blower idler roller on latter model 3 and 4 speed Unitrol models. These are the models with the impeller brake. I have a supply of good used springs available. All coils are solid and ends true.
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