A Murray ELECTRIC 20 Snow Thrower

A roadside find.

Overall from the outside, it looks to be in remarkably good condition. It's a 12A, 20 inch swath single stage machine.

Model No. is 620000X30NA
S/N 735492872S2C050C
D.O.M. 2002.10.14

- - -

Something looks and feels fishy about the 'On' trigger though. There appears to be a missing safety interlock key, and the trigger's action doesn't feel right.

And sure enough, plugging in the snow thrower and trying it results in nothing. 'Time to investigate how the mystery interlock operates.

- - -

It turns out that that hexagon at about the centre of the above photo has to be turned slightly in the CW direction to enable the switch lever. The machine does run with that detail attended to. So, now I know that the machine only needs a replacement key (P/N 583356) in order to be operable. The next question is, "What's the condition of the drive belt?"

If the belt is good, this may be a saleable machine. If belt replacement is called for, a new belt may be too much money. (Belt P/N is 760976MA.) We'll see. 'Time to get the belt cover off for a look see.

Belt Cover Removal

It's quite an array of fasteners that hold the belt cover in place.

1. At the front there are five 10-24 x 1/2" hex washerhead bolts, 5/16" across flats (A/F) with 3/8" A/F prevailing torque hex nuts.
2. At the bottom-front, there is one 10-24 x 1/2" hex washerhead bolt, 5/16" A/F with a 3/8" A/F prevailing torque hex nut.
3. At the upper-rear there are two 1/4" x 3/4" hex washerhead threading screws, 3/8" A/F.
4. At the lower-rear toward the front, there's a 1/4"-20 x 1/2" hex head screw, 7/16" A/F, with a flat washer. It's important that this 1/2" long screw be reinstalled at its correct location. A longer screw here might interfere with the drive belt.
5. At the lower-rear toward the rear, there's a 1/4" x 3/4" hex washerhead threading screw, 3/8" A/F, with a flat washer.

And with those ten fasteners removed, one has access to the drive belt, like so.

And as it fortunately turns out, the belt is in fine condition, and all is in good order with its pulleys.

- - -

So, if I can obtain a safety interlock key, I'll have a saleable machine here.

# # #

FEEDBACK

# # #

A Zippo Lighter Fluid Hack

If you're an incorrigible smoker, and you're buying your lighter fluid in 12 ounce or smaller containers, you're paying way too much. Here's a work-around that saves money.

Get yourself a Yankee gallon (3.780 ml) of Coleman camp fuel, and you'll have plenty of lighter fluid for way less^[1] than you've been paying for the little bottles of Ronsonol or Zippo lighter fluid.

You will need a small Ronsonol bottle for the sake of its convenient cap/spout. The Ronsonol bottle pictured above is the 341 ml size. Its cap can be pried off with a suitable plain slot screwdriver. Then, with a suitable small funnel,^[2] the Ronsonol bottle can be refilled from the big can of camp fuel. Snap the cap/spout back on the Ronsonol bottle and you're away.

- - -

Notes:

[1] I won't bore the reader with the math, but the camp fuel is less than half the price of the lighter fluid.

[2] The funnel pictured is an elderly Coleman No. 0, which I don't believe is available anymore. Try a dollar store or a hardware outlet for funnels.

# # #

FEEDBACK

# # #