Repair Parts Guide
Except where stated this site is in no way affiliated with any of the products or companies mentioned or depicted within except as noted.
Genuine Gilson Parts * Part Diagrams * Used Parts * Gilson T-Shirts * Paint * Decals * V-Belts * Shear Pins * Skids * Drift Cutter * Chute Rollers * Chute Rings * Impellers * Worm Gears * Main & Jackshaft Bearings * Roller Chain * Friction Wheel * Tires and Tubes * Snow Cannon * Idler Rollers * Idler Arm Kit * Engine Items * Fuel System * Compression * Ignition System * Tools and Manuals
These are common repair and service items that I have been using. I will give as much information as possible as to their application and compatability but I accept no other responsibility or liability. There is additional part information on my FAQ page. I will add items as I identify them.
GENUINE GILSON PARTS:
I frequently find that much misinformation surrounds the
availability of repair parts for Gilson outdoor power equipment.
Owners frequently tell me of local dealers who resist supplying
vintage parts in hopes of selling a new machine. For those of you who
do not have a local LawnBoy dealer, have one that is Gilson
phobic or just prefer to shop online I have great news. M&D
Mower is now a source for these parts.
M&D
Mower has been on the web for many years selling parts. If you
contact them by phone be sure to mention that you learned about them
on "That Gilson Snowblower Website".
M&D Mower is not equipped to research your parts needs. If you do
not have a parts breakdown you can contact LawnBoy to get a manual
using these instruction.
I am also able to provide complete sets of part diagrams and lists for most machines as described here.
If this is not practical you can contact me with your needs and
I can provide the required numbers at your risk. To help insure
accuracy be sure to include the Model Number from the tag and / or include some
photo's of the machine or the part(s) in question. There were
many models over the decades without positive identification
misunderstandings can occur.
As part of bringing the Gilson Legacy to LawnBoy all of the Gilson
parts needed to be renumbered to work in the LawnBoy distribution
system so there is a cross referencing step that is needed. M&D is
working to automate this. Meanwhile if you e-mail to me your Gilson
numbers I can provide the corresponding LawnBoy part numbers. By using
the LawnBoy numbers current availability and price can be checked by
searching here.
In general a large portion of what I consider to be wear & repair
parts do remain available certain items such as castings and major
sheet metal parts that almost never fail have become obsolete. For
items such as this consider contacting me about getting a used part. As critical parts become obsolete we are exploring the production of reproduction parts to service the fleet.
Also, by looking farther down this page you will find information
about some of the most common Gilson and engine parts needs.
PART DIAGRAMS:
Since a series of acquisitions that occurred in the late 1980s the
LawnBoy Division of the Toro Company has been the keeper of the
Gilson legacy. At the present time, some 20 years after Gilson
Brothers Co. ceased to exist many genuine OEM repair parts do
continue to be available.
Genuine part diagrams are available in PDF format. See details here.
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Now in stock for immediate shipment |
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Show your enthusiasm for your Gilson power equipment with this silk
screened T-shirt inspired by a genuine dealer sign from the 1970's.
Sure to be appreciated by owners of Gilson Snowblowers, Tractors,
Tillers, Mowers, Snowmobiles, Mini-Bikes, Log Splitters, Cement
Mixers and more.
These are professionally silk screened Gildan 100% Ultra Cotton Tee Shirts.
Plus Shipping to US and International destinations
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Click image for more Tee Shirt information. Available in S, M, L, XL, XXL & XXXL |
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| RED | DUPLI-COLOR #DE-1607 CHEVROLET ORANGE-RED ENGINE ENAMEL | |
| BEIGE | RUSTOLEUM ALMOND #7770 | |
| BLACK | RUSTOLEUM SATIN BLACK #3018 | |
| SILVER | RUSTOLEUM MATTE NICKEL #7277 (Drift breakers, control rods and linkages) | |
| PRIMER | I generally use a gray spray primer. It overcoats well and is less obvious than red when the inevitable scrapes occur. |
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 Factory original #13255 |  |
Decals, Stickers, Machine graphics
Factory stock is long gone
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This reproduction decal can be used in refurbishing any 3 speed Gilson. It can be used on both the UniTrol and gear drive models. It's made from sturdy stock and includes an adhesive backing. The center has been left solid so it can be trimmed to fit the the several console profiles used over the years. Note that the instructions refer to a late model UniTrol with interlock switching. 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. Plus Shipping to US and international destinations
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V-Belts
See my FAQ for other
important belt information.
| APPLICATION | GILSON # | LawnBoy / Toro # | Actual OEM Size | Generic Substitute |
| 2 stage Gear drive models, 1 speed, 5 HP traction and blower | 13009 | 703569 | 4L410 | |
| 2 stage Gear drive models, 1,2,3 speed, 6-8 HP traction and blower | 10755, 17569 | 703636 | 1/2 X 42-1/2" | 4L430 |
| 2 stage Gear drive models, 3 speed, 10 HP 32 inch width, traction and blower | 13009 | 703569 | 4L410 | |
| 3 & 4 Speed UniTrol models, 5HP, traction, 1970-79 | 16366 | 704415 | 1/2 X 36-3/4" | 4L370 |
| 3 & 4 Speed UniTrol models, 5HP, blower, 1970-79 | 14790 | 703621 | 4L380 | |
| 3 & 4 speed UniTrol models,7&8 HP, traction 1970-79 | 16146 | 703627 | 1/2 X 38-1/2" | 4L390 See Note 1 |
| 3 & 4 Speed UniTrol models, 7&8 HP, blower, 1970-79 | 16386 | 703632 | 1/2 X 40-1/2" | 4L400 |
| 3 & 4 Speed UniTrol models, 10 HP, traction, 1977-79 | 37169 | 704893 | 4L360 | |
| 3 & 4 Speed UniTrol models, 10 HP, blower, 1977-79 | 14790 | 703621 | 4L380 | |
| 2 stage, Single Speed Friction drives, 4 & 5 HP, 18 & 24 inch, traction and blower | 18055 | 703639 | 1/2 X 30-1/2" See Note 2 | 4L300 |
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Note 2: Not verified
Note 3: 1/2 inch increment generic belts can sometimes be purchased by using 5 as the last digit. Example: 4L425 = 42-1/2
Note 4: Learn more about belts here.
Shear pins for the smaller machines with gearcases as shown here are
no longer available. A 1/4" soft steel bolt which will not have any
hash
marks on the head can be used as a substitute. Install it with a
locknut but do not tighten it to the tube. It should be a slightly
loose fit.
Larger machines such as the Gear Drives and
most multi speed speed UniTrol friction drives use a 5/16" shear pin and the original part is still available. It is Gilson part number 104017 which is now LawnBoy/Toro # 700280 and can be ordered with this link.
Gear Drive Chute Roller
Chute Rings
Worm gear - Grease Packed Gear Cases
One contributor to failures is grease aging. Over time the oil
content of grease will separate from the viscous material leaving it
with the consistency of dried soap. The oil slowly weeps out through
the gaskets and parting lines of the case. Remember that the newest
of these units is now 2 decades old and some are over 35. Repack the
gear case with 1/2 pint of NLGI Grade 2 Lithium Base EP Grease. The
case is hand packed during rebuild. Repacking any of these vintage
gear cases prior to failure is a worthwhile project at this point.
Main Impeller Bearing, Gear Drive Jackshaft Bearing
On the 2 speed gear drive models such as shown below under "roller
chain" this bearing is used at each end of the 2 speed jackshaft.
On Unitrol models the bearing is listed as #12539 "bearing". On
gear drive models it is listed as #10416 "bearing asssembly, this is
the bearing and the 2 mounting flanges. In all cases the locking
collar is listed as #1426. The replacement item is Fafnir #
RA012RRB+COL and can be ordered here to the right.
More often than not there is not enough space to safely pull this
bearing out when making a repair and it gets destroyed in the
process. That being said it's best to plan on replacing it whenever
it gets disturbed.
Each part of course has a round hole that fits the shaft and that is
straight forward enough. The bearing has a boss of a larger diameter
and it is eccentric, meaning that it is off center. The collar has a
counter bore, or pocket that matches the boss in diameter and
eccentricity.
To apply the locking collar you assemble the system with both parts
on the shaft such that the collar mates over the bearing boss. This
will mean rotating it to the position where the eccentricities align
and they engage. You then locate the drift hole in the collar. This
is a blind hole, not the set-screw. Using a drift pin and hammer (or
a spanner wrench if you are fancy) you whack the hole to drive the
collar in a clockwise direction. Since the main bores of each item
are on the shaft the 2 eccentric features are in conflict as you
drive them out of phase. Since they cannot rotate they exert large
side loads binding each other against the shaft and forming a solid
union.
Note that it can be tightened in either direction but should be done
clockwise to preserve the right hand thread mentality for the next
person taking it apart. Once the side loads are established just
tighten the set-screw to safeguard against vibration. To de-couple
the system you back off on the set-screw and whack the drift pin hole
counter-clockwise looking for it to shift slightly. With a little bit
of movement it will slide right off assuming things are not corroded
and
the shaft will again be free in the bore. Be sure to dress the
slight set-screw divot in the shaft with a file before trying to
slide the bearng past that point.
It is a very effective system that does less shaft damage than set-
screws and is simpler than slip collars and other methods.
Shear Pins
Gilson 2 stage snowblower shear pins fall into 2 categories only one
of which is still available as an OEM part.
This is the most common Gilson skid and it is still available. It was used on all UniTrol machines and on Gear Drive machines starting in the mid 1970s. If your original skids have 3 square holes this is the part. It is Gilson part number 13888 which is now LawnBoy/Toro # 700285 and can be ordered with this link. NOTE: This will also fit some tractor attachments but check the part number before ordering.
These 2 slot stamped steel skids were used on the compact models. It is Gilson part number 18006 which is now LawnBoy/Toro # 700053 and can be ordered with this link.
This is the cast iron skid used on Gear Drive models from 1966 into the mid 1970s. it is presently out of production but I am looking into offering it as a reproduction item. The Gilson part number is 10381 and it became LawnBoy/Toro # 703360
Drift Cutter
The drift cutter was standard on most of the Gilson Gear Drive and UniTrol models. If yours has been damaged or your model did not come with one they are still available as an OEM part. It is Gilson part number 10382 which is now LawnBoy/Toro # 700284 and can be ordered with this link.
This part is 21 inches long.
If you have a Gear Drive Gilson with the cast iron chute base as shown on the left it's important that you maintain the brass hold-down rollers. These rollers are mounted under the chute base and serve to hold the chute down on the ring while allowing it to rotate under load. Over time the rollers will stick and flat spots will develop. Once they begin to wear they no longer hold the chute down as designed. This can result in sloppy handling or premature ring failure. The increased vertical clearance also compromises the mesh of the pinion with the chute base ring rear resulting in pinion wear. Keep your chute in good condition by replacing these rollers if they are worn. It is Gilson part number 10385 which is now LawnBoy/Toro # 704166 and can be ordered with this link. Remember to order 3.
These are the rings that the discharge chutes mount to. Occasionaly after hard use a ring can fail. In order to permit repair Gilson made this component of the weldment available as a service part. Installation requires grinding the remnants of the old ring away then positioning and welding the replacement to the collector discharge. These 2 rings cover all Gilsons that have ring mounted chutes on 6 inch outlets. This excludes 1969 - 1971 UniTrol models that had an alternate mounting means.
This part is obsolete as an OEM item but we have them available as a reproduction part. This item replaces Gilson part number 10374 which became LawnBoy/Toro number 704164. Instructions are included. Welding is required. They are on hand for immediate shipment.
Plus Shipping to US and international destinations
The Gilson impellers shown here have been obsolete for a number of years now. Sometimes after heavy use or an unfortunate encounter with buried debris they can get damaged beyond repair. This has resulted in many machines being retired before their time. I am pleased to announce that in the very near future I expect to be offering new reproduction impellers for sale to replace each of the parts shown below. In the meantime I would appreciate hearing from anyone that may have interest in one. This will help me justify the needed investment to commence production. Click here to send an e-mail message to express interest.
Gilson part # 10408 (LawnBoy/Toro #741218) is the 12 inch impeller used on Gear Drives including 1 and 2 speed
Early Gear Drive
and 3 speed
Gear Drive
models from 1966 to 1987.
Gilson part # 14849 (LawnBoy/Toro #740011) is the 10-1/2 inch impeller used on the
UniTrol
and
Late Model Friction Drive
machines. This part is not practical to produce in it's original form. We will be offering a scaled down version of the 12 inch gear drive impeller shown to the left. In addition to being reproducible this design is more durable. This part was also used on some LawnBoy models built on Gilson designs in the late 1980's after the Gilson acquisition.
Targeting late November 2009
Mid range Gilson and Gilson built snowblowers utilized several
versions of a grease packed worm drive to drive the augers. The
photos below illustrate the 2 versions of these cases. In all but the
latest model Gilsons these are found only on the single speed
friction drive machines. In each version the common failure part is
the
sacrificial bronze worm wheel. In addition to being sacrificial
bronze has desirable wear and cooling properties, especially in the
original roto-tiller application. It is Gilson #18116 "Worm Gear",
cross
referenced to LawnBoy/Toro #700130. You can order it here.
Early model cases used 2 steel stampings and bushing inserts to
provide shaft support and guidance. As primitive as these seemed
compared to the die-cast version they held up better. After a number
of years the die cast case design was retired and late model
intermediate Gilsons into the late 1980s utilized this circa 1971
design. These cases are bolted together and are easy to service.
Late mode versions included a grease fitting down in the front. Use
the fitting and give the gears some grease annually, 5-10 shots.
This will insure
against the gears creating a dry cavity in the grease and going
without lubrication.
Mid year machines featured a new and improved die cast gear case that
for some reason possibly attributable to internal play had poor gear
life. These cases are riveted together at the factory. For servicing
the rivets can be drilled out. Reassembly can be done with bolts and
lock-nuts. The inset image shows a case bolted back together.
Maximum endplay for the input shaft is .060 inches. Add internal
spacer washers to reduce this if needed. A Phillips head plug on the
side of the gearcase allows the addition of a grease fitting. Add the
fitting and give the gears some grease annually, 5-10 shots. This
will insure
against the gears creating a dry cavity in the grease and going
without lubrication.
This 3/4" self aligning sealed bearing with eccentric locking collar
is used right behind the impeller on 1,2 & 3 speed gear drive models
and 5-10 HP multi-speed UniTrol models. They commonly require
replacement when the machine is 25-30
years old depending on usage.
What's that eccentric collar all about?
The purpose of the eccentric collar is to make sure that the shaft
rotates with the inner race of a bearing. Often when bearings fail
they get stiff and the shaft rotates in the race ruining the shaft.
If you keep the inner race and the shaft connected then the shaft is
protected until the bearing is really really bad at which point the
neglectful owner gets what they deserve. This sort of system allows
the shaft to be sized for a close slip fit in the bearing making
assembly and disassembly easier than if it were a press fit.
The friction wheel used in all known Gilson friction drive
transmissions is most commonly listed
as Gilson # 32222 and can be 
