Help from John Deere Employees

[JDCornFlakes]

I know this is a full snowmobile question. But really could use some help please.
Have a John Deere walk- behind snowblower model 524D that is about 5-6 years old.

To make a long story compressed. I bought it used for $575. Prevoius owner unknown to me replaced shear bolts in auger
with grade 5 bolts. I sure he did not really realize what he was doing. I never really thought to look that closely at them to see if were shear bolts.
Well result was brass gear broke and screwed worm shaft and broke gear case on one side.

This has resulted in now John Deere parts here in Canada telling me to get left hand side of gear case must buy whole entire front drive auger assembly @$661.00
But can get gear and shaft for $115.00. To spend the dollars for gear and shaft is fine but the $661 for 1 case side is nuts. Tried to 3 different places to see
if can be repaired and they say is a mag-zinc alloy which they cannot fix.

I have heard that these were actually made by Ariens for John Deere. This John Deere model is actually a Ariens ST524.

As I can buy just a gear case side through Ariens for less then $33 and replace gear/shaft for $68 makes it a bit more realistic. Here is a pix of the Deere it is
not very old and not much use

Can anybody help me out PLEASE ??

Thanx dave

Attachments:

• IMG_1805a.jpg (169.28 KB)

[Rodimus Prime]

ok if you have traced down the parts and can buy them what are you asking?

[kenwaters]

Dave,

Look on Craigslist for a parts Ariens machine, rob the parts you need off of it, put it back on Craigslist. Could you do a blow up of the dealer sticker on the snowblower? It looks like it might be interesting to everybody.

[JDCornFlakes]

Rodimus:

Well I was told by a non Deere dealer that he thought Ariens and Simplicity made blowers for Deere. Then when doing Googles on "Deere 524D" a few sites I found were showing bearing, bushing and shear bolts. They showed fitting a Ariens ST524, Deere 524D and MTD 524 for a bunch of different parts. Then I went to Ariens website the exploded view for the their ST524 looks very simliar to the JD parts website exploded view for the Deere 524D. So I am assuming more then I am sure that it is the same unit. Just do not wish to order a $100+ worth of parts that do not fit.
What I am asking is if someone in John Deere could help me confirm that they were made by Ariens ?

Ken :

Did some searching on Kijiji and Craigs for units, but there are either way to far away or already have front drive damage.
I just wish I would of checked those auger drives but just never really thought.
An 0.86 cent part did over $700 dollars damage to my unit I paid $575 for !
Do not really feel like scraping this thing.

Yes I do a blow up of the dealer sticker for you once home.

Thanx guys for the help.
Dave

[78440liquid]

Rich: I have a 79 vintage 1032 Deere blower. It is built like a tank-cast iron auger gear case. It just needs a valve job and cylinder honing to run right but as long as my neighbour keeps blowing my lane out with his compact tractor it will sit in the driveshed collecting dust.

[harleysportster]

John Deere built a very high quality snow blowers "back in the day"...Model 824 & 1032. These units used 8 HP & 10 HP Tecumseh "Snow King" engines. They were originally built at Horicon but were assembled in Ottumwa for a short period. When Deere started with the low end units they were built by a company in Canada (I forget the name). Eventually, even the new 824 & 1032 were built there (may have added the D to the model #). I am not certain who builds the current units.

Ariens also built a very high quality snow blower in the '70s & '80s. They also used the Tecumseh "Snow King" engines (the same as Deere) but the unit was their own. I would not be surprised if, targeting market share, they have also outsourced manufacture of snowblowers and may be using the same company that John Deere is using.

Like an old 210 or 212 L & G Tractor, these original Deere units will be functioning long after todays product has been melted down for steel.

In regards to your unit...I would purchase just the housing half FIRST...then go from there.

-Rich

p.s. I think that Harley has one of the original quality units

Rich,
I do have the "oldie but goodie" 826. The sad thing is that most of the auger parts are now obsolete.

[Rodimus Prime]

Btw MTD is the manufacturer.

Original made jd machines are simply LONG lasting, always have been.

[Hawkeye]

My father is a retired John Deere employee (Dubuque Tractor Works), I remember a few years back when he went to get a new snowblower, Deere had run out of production units very early in the season. They substituted an Ariens machine and allowed him to receive his employee discount. So while I can not say for sure if your unit was built by Ariens, this would seem to be an indication that Deere and Company had some sort of relationship with Ariens at some point in the past. Have you thought about calling Ariens to see if they made the unit or if they know if the parts will fit. Also it is not uncommon for many components to be manufactured by a third party and sourced to many different manufacturers. This was the case with the transmission in my John Deere 180, made by Eaton Corp and also used in MTD, Wheel Horse and others.

[bennyv_3_8]

MTD has never made deere's walk behind snowblowers. Now briggs makes deere's snowblowers

[JoeRainville]

My long time friend back at home is a parts manager for a Deere consumer Products dealer.

He says the "D", "DE" and "DDE" snowblowers were made for Deere by Aries. Older units were built by Noma and then Murry after the Deere built line ended. New walk behind Deere branded 2008-09 unit are built by Simplicity, while the newer Frontier units were supplied by Murry (now owned Briggs) and Simplicity.

Clear as mudd, but MTD never supplied walk behind snowblowers for Deere. MTD did supply tractor mounted snowblowers for the "Lowes/Home Depot" tractors.

BTW, he didn't think repairing the unit was cost effective. Bummer Dave.

-Joe Rainville

[Liquifire84]

At one point in the early 90's MTD and Noma were one company. I worked for a company that sold them parts for the blowers.

Brice

[Mr. Deere]

We have a old Noma Canada Snowblower. Its bulky and is kinda crappy. It doesn't throw as far as these new guys do but it plugs right along.

[Dator76]

when buying a snowblower i only recommend buying a cast iron gearbox this would be the 826 and 1032. however in 5 years of repairing them i only ever opened 1 gearbox, cast iron or aluminum. i no longer know how parts availability is on the 2 models i recommended but those 2 are almost bulletproof provided the fuel is draind every spring.

[JDCornFlakes]

Well guys I amazed how helpful everyone has been here on this subject for me !!
Once again the dedication everyone has helping out a Deereaholic never ceases to amaze!

I called local Ariens dealer and he said with a 100% commitment that it very well could be a Ariens with JD green paint. But with out seeing no guarantees.So Rich I took your advice and ordered the gear case housing from him. I can eat the cost of it is not right.

I just feel like an idiot of not checking the shear pins but just never really dawned on me. Until took it apart and seen the GR.5 bolts and said why are these not shears ?

Yes wish to find an old Deere unit if this does not work out. The comments from those with experience and involved in the snow blowers tells me the older unit will be the way to go.

Sorry the post was kinda not snowmobile related, but was snow related. Hehehe !!
I will tell if I save the life of the ole Deere 524D....stand by.
Thanx very much Dave

[kenwaters]

Dave,

The reason for the dealer sticker blow up, is that the blower was originally sold by the Enns Bros dealerships.....I'm kind of surprised this hasn't become a collectors piece (to members of this site, I know I have contemplated asking for it), maybe Bob Enns sold it!