Snapper tractor and snowblower

I'm going to look at a 11 hp snapper with a 2 year old snowblower on it. Price $650. Thats all the women could tell me, her husband was gone. Can anyone give me a clue ahead of time what it might be and opinions? I'm just looking for something that will do light snowfalls so I don't have to haul my JD between work and home so much.

 

I don't know yet how old it is, I'd assume that being a 11 horse that it's fairly old.

 

I was concerened about 11 hp, but have heard plenty of people say its sufficient. Owner figured it was an early 80's model. I bought it for $600. Has a low-high range hydro tranny of some sort. The blower is a two stage, basicly new, and has the chains and weights. If nothing else, I'll adapt the blower to my 318 JD.

 

Not to bad shape, started and ran fine. I didn't go over it very closely as it was obvious the blower was worth the price. I can have the shop kids overhaul it if needed. I have to go back with a trailer to pick it up.

 

Picked it up yesterday. Hopefully there's a picture attached. I'm guessing its an 83 as their's an 83 in the engine model #. There appears to be a AMF label, although to faded to read. So maybe it's not a real snapper anymore. Not real well built, sheet metal front axel, steering linkage a little worn, tranny is just the walkbehind snowblower type - spinning plate that a pulley rides in and out on for speed variation. Don't know if that's a good or bad think, seems to work ok, plus it has a high/low range. I strongly suspect though that only one wheel is driven . Engine runs fine. The blower is shaft drive, although there's a short v belt from the electric clutch on the engine down to the shaft drive.
Guess if I'm the only one on this forum with one of these, it makes me the resident expert!! Bring on your questions.

 

It starts right up and runs fine. The previous owner said he disconected the battery cable as it would drain the battery. I could find no evidence of a draw touching the cable to the battery nor can I imagine why it would. Not a whole lot of complicated circutitry on here. Any ideas. Am I right that only one wheel is powered? I might as well take that chain and weight off the other side. Good idea about a spare rubber disk. I'd assume parts would still be available if its the same as the RER.

 

I lifted the rearend, it does indeed drive both wheels. I'll have to pull it apart sometime to see how it works as there is no obvious differential. There is a cover on the left wheel side that would appear to just be a chain cover and the axle from the right wheel runs into that cover. Something secret is happening under that cover It is sealed, has some sort of lubricant in it. I'll just have to wait and see what happens with the battery.

 

Thanks Jodyand, I'd checked the local yokels, they'd never heard of it. At $8.60 a quart I think I'd better make sure there are no leaks

 

We had a couple of inches of snow last week so I got to try it out. Had a couple of little problems, steering was a little loose so got it tightened up, lift lever wouldn't stay latched in place so revised that. Snow was wet so it didn't throw it to well. Certainly not a Deere, but then it only cost 10 percent of my JD. Worse thing was not having a cab.

 

Durwood - does yours have the "spinning disk/wheel" transmission (what ever it's called?) Can you tell me how much grease should be in the chain drive? There's a rubber plug on the back side of the chain cover, should it be filled up to it? Boy, you got the turning radius pegged. It does have the tilt steering wheel. It is made out of heavy stuff. I'm reserving judgement on the blower until I can give it a better tryout. I have several walkways that the state snowplows like to fill full of snow. If it will open them back up I'll forgive the turning radius.