[wifi_guy]

Hey Guys/Gals,

Not sure where to post this so please forgive me if this is in the wrong section. I just recently purchased a Brutus HD with PTO. The attachment I purchased was the snow blower. LOVING the machine but having issues with the blower.

Literally on day two of owning it I blew out the middle two shear bolts on the auger. Called the dealership I purchased it from and asked "what shear bolts should I use"? What shear rating should they be? No one could tell me. So I purchased a 5/16 X 2inch bolt with a rating of 2. First hour sheared off three of the bolts again. The two middles and 1 more middle on the right. This blower has two outer bolts and two inner bolts. So I looked at the two outer bolts and they had the markings on the head of a bolt rated for a 5.

So I went out and purchased a set of 5/16 X 2inch rated at a 5. Used those for about an hour, took one of the bolts out just to see if it was showing signs of wearing. **** near sheared these off.

I am scared at going to an 8 in fear of damaging the gear box. I have read the owners manual and I am not running the front PTO at more than 2000 RPM's, (running around 1950 RPM) and I am not going too fast through snow either. Fairly confident I am not hitting anything for I have an asphalt driveway.

Anyone with any thoughts on what in the world I am doing wrong, any insight would be greatly appreciated. Since I am shearing off bolts, I am assuming I don't have the correct rated bolt in there. But I cannot find any documentation on what Polaris recommends I use.

Thanks all

P.S. Sorry I wrote a novel.

 

[polarisfan]

Wow that's horrible, sorry to hear this is happening to you.
Are there any other dealers around that you can try instead? They might be of better help.

 

[jjohnson]

I don't have an answer, sorry. Actually I am trying to decide if I'm going to buy a Brutus, primarily for the blower.

I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to write the novel! I can't wait to see what the answer is and decide if really want one of these.

Thanks,
JJ

 

[wifi_guy]

Wow that's horrible, sorry to hear this is happening to you.
Are there any other dealers around that you can try instead? They might be of better help.

I have called 3 other dealers, the problem is that these are such new machines/products, no one has much info on them. Also the product manual/documentation sucks also!

 

[Jorts]

Grade 8 shear bolts are spec'd by Polaris. Don't waste your time with anything else, you will destroy them.

Bobcat slapped whatever they had laying around when the first attachments were shipped. I went through the same thing and was PISSED. Polaris has spec'd grade 8 all along for the two bolts in the auger blades and one bolt in the main shaft. 3 total bolts, grade 8. Be careful using non-polaris spec'd bolts, I'm Leary if warranty issues. Also follow the maintenance profile closely. As with any blower, a lack of simple preventative maintenance is the biggest cause of premature wear and breakage.

 

[Jorts]

I have called 3 other dealers, the problem is that these are such new machines/products, no one has much info on them. Also the product manual/documentation sucks also!

I hate that I have been down the same path. Not all dealers carry BRUTUS, so they may not know anything about it.

 

[wifi_guy]

Grade 8 shear bolts are spec'd by Polaris. Don't waste your time with anything else, you will destroy them.

Bobcat slapped whatever they had laying around when the first attachments were shipped. I went through the same thing and was PISSED. Polaris has spec'd grade 8 all along for the two bolts in the auger blades and one bolt in the main shaft. 3 total bolts, grade 8. Be careful using non-polaris spec'd bolts, I'm Leary if warranty issues. Also follow the maintenance profile closely. As with any blower, a lack of simple preventative maintenance is the biggest cause of premature wear and breakage.

You are correct. I literally just got off the phone with Polaris. A rep from them called me. It is 3 grade 8 bolts that are in the drive portion of the auger. I have only had the machine for about 1 week. He advised me to take things a little slower through snow until I get more accustom to the machine. He kind of hinted that the blower for the Brutus is a little small for the power it has. Which I kind of agree, so far, I have not been able to feed it snow quick enough to even make the Brutus slow down.

We just got about 3 - 4 inches of snow, which in my driveway usually means I have drifts around 3 / 4 ft depending on the wind. Time to get some grade 8's in there and go to town.

One last thing, I read in the manual not to allow the PTO RPM's to go above 2K. At full power they run around 2060, is that a huge deal?

 

[Jorts]

I'd back it down just a little to be safe and stay at or under that 2000 rpm level.

 

[wifi_guy]

I'd back it down just a little to be safe and stay at or under that 2000 rpm level.

**** it! I love how it throws with those extra 60 RPM's. LOL

 

[Jorts]

Oh I totally get it, trust me!

 

[polarisfan]

**** it! I love how it throws with those extra 60 RPM's. LOL

Many things to love about it

 

[familyguy]

When you get the snow blower chute actuator (the height of the throw) installed let me know! I have seen them on ebay.

How difficult was it to change the bolts? Are they on the inside or on one end of the blower unit?

 

[wifi_guy]

When you get the snow blower chute actuator (the height of the throw) installed let me know! I have seen them on ebay.

How difficult was it to change the bolts? Are they on the inside or on one end of the blower unit?

There is a hydro powered chute height adjustment for these that you can purchase?

Bolts are simple to change! They are the inside ones.

 

[polarisfan]

Good to hear they are easy to change, im not much of a DIY'er so it helps.

 

[wifi_guy]

The toughest part, which really isn't tough at all, is finding the pin if it's still in the hole and tapping it out. They usually come out pretty easily though.

 

[familyguy]

From the SB manual I saw more than one pin and different grade bolts. are they all being upgraded to 8? Hopefully, I am reading the manual correctly.

 

[wifi_guy]

From the SB manual I saw more than one pin and different grade bolts. are they all being upgraded to 8? Hopefully, I am reading the manual correctly.

There are 4 bolts total on the auger. Two on the out sides and two on the inside. The two on the outsides are grade 5 and they do not drive the auger. Just there to hold the ends. The two in the middle are grade 8's, they drive the auger.

There is a 3rd grade 8 on the chute fan. So the 3 center bolts are grade 8. (chute fan, 2 center auger bolts)

 

[familyguy]

thanks for the explanation it helps. What did polaris charge for the upgraded bolts?

 

[wifi_guy]

thanks for the explanation it helps. What did polaris charge for the upgraded bolts?

Give them your serial number of your blower. If you have 5's in the centers they will ship you some for free.

 

[familyguy]

Ok new machine arrived and asked dealer to double check the roll back issue with the pto rev and in high or low and the machine slowly creeped rolled backwards. Reverse is great...low and high is very slow and useless. I am hoping the fix adjustment will make a difference..can anyone explain how big of a differrence the fix will make. Or talk about how long it takes? Dealer was told to check before delivery thanks.