Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): how to get a sheared rod out of pipe, shear pins, pb blaster

Question
Hi.the auger on my snowblower stopped working and it is not the shear pins but instead the worm gear(i think it is called) sheared off.  there is a shaft attached to the gear that threads into the rod that turns from the engine.(the rod that holds the impellor). It sheared off right where it is threaded into the other(female rod?) There is only about 1/32 of an inch to grip onto, so I cant get the end out.  Any suggestions? Are those grip it tools anygood? It looks like hardened steel so I don't think I will be able to drill into it very easy.

Answer
I don't know anything about how snowblowers are put together but I think I can give you a few ways to get this done.

The easiest is to weld a nut onto the exposed shaft.  You can weld the nut from the inside if there's not enough shaft sticking out to get the outside. That's easiest if you have a welder at least.

If you don't, then you can probably drill into it.  Use a new drill bit, a cobalt bit would be good for this sort of thing.  I doubt the steel on that shaft is too terribly hard.  There's not a lot of really high grade steel in use in outdoor equipment.  Even if it is above average in hardness, a cobalt bit should cut in okay.  Then you can use an EZ-Out or cut some left-hand threads and run a bolt into it.  Spray some PB Blaster in there to loosen things up and maybe apply some heat with a torch to the outer shaft.

Let me know if any of this helps.  If not, maybe we can think of something else.  Thanks, PK.