[Deere]

I was sitting here today watching the football games when I heard the rumbling outside. We have about 4 inches of new snow since this morning. Someone that lives around here had a somewhat older small lawn tractor, chains, weights and a single stage snow blower.

It does a great job of getting the snow off the sidewalk. I had an image of those snow throwers putting the snow about 10' out, but this one only dribbled it a foot or two past the side of the thrower. (which is far enough, just not what I expected).

It was underpowered for this job, so if snow takes that much power, kudo's to all of the lawn machines putting in the 20hp vtwins. This guy needs one.

This guy is going to park his tractor back in the garage as one big ball of snow and ice. Does it thaw out in the garage or is it a block of ice until the weather warms up. I can't imagine his garage is heated. What do you do after you park it to thaw it out?

I learned something. Get 2 stage, and don't worry about the motor being a little large. It could come in handy.

Kudo's to this guy, I know he did a lot of walks around here that weren't his. He didn't get mine, but he did save a lot of people a lot of shoveling. If you got the machinery and enjoy it, feel free to enjoy it a ways down the street.

-Deere

 

[Argee]

I had the same results with my Case single stage blower. Never was able to throw it very far and I had an 18HP V-twin Onan. It's just a poor design in snowthrowers.

 

[guest]

was he going very fast or not revving the motor enough?


I have a 20 HP 2 stage for my prestige... It does a pretty good job throwing the snow...

after i snowthrow and park it in my unheated shed.. it tends to be a ball of ice...

When i start it the nexttime out, i make sure to back up an inch or so prior to trying to lift the snowthrower because it tends to be frozen solid to the floor.

 

[jbetts13]

hey

hey guys my snowthrower works great but when it is wet snow it teans to push it because it is not getting feed into the blower all in all it is a good tractor the tractor it 12 hp the thrower is a 38A thrower love it

the pic was taken before the thrower

 

[BradT]

He may not have had a very good blower, but likely as not, he was not moving fast enough. Single stage blowers will throw it out there just fine, but one has to adjust ground speed according to the depth of the snow as (unlike a two-stage) the velocity of the snow coming out the chute is dependent on the volume of snow going in the front. My single-stage will shoot it 20-30' with no problem, but if the snow is light, I have to go like [email protected]

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by BradT
He may not have had a very good blower, but likely as not, he was not moving fast enough. Single stage blowers will throw it out there just fine, but one has to adjust ground speed according to the depth of the snow as (unlike a two-stage) the velocity of the snow coming out the chute is dependent on the volume of snow going in the front. My single-stage will shoot it 20-30' with no problem, but if the snow is light, I have to go like [email protected]

Maybe that's where I went wrong. When you think about it, that design requires you to keep the "hopper full" so to say, or it doesn't function properly. I never figured that out and switched to a blade.

 

[guest]

'better late than never argee'

maybe next year you can try out that blower... but If you have a place to push the snow... a blade must not get you as covered with snow as a blower..

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by simple_john
'better late than never argee'

maybe next year you can try out that blower... but If you have a place to push the snow... a blade must not get you as covered with snow as a blower..

No, I sold the tractor, blower and blade a couple of years ago. Now I have the 46" two stage like leolavs.

 

[Argee]

SJ - speaking of blowers, does yours lift hydraulically or with the linkage that raises the mower deck?

 

[DeereBob]

I have the same single-stage 46" snowthrower on both my 425 and now X485 that throws snow 15'-20' with dry snow 4" deep or more. The snow this weekend was packy wet so my chute plugged a couple of times. When it did I either unplugged it or simply pushed the snow with auger off. This is one of the very few times in the 8 years I have had the unit that the chute plugged this way. Having 20-25 HP also helps along with a 900 lb tractor with chains and suitcase weights. I believe the single stage unit was about $400 less than the two stage when I first bought mine and couldn't justify the additional cost. However, if the snow condition I encountered last Sunday was more typical, I would consider spending the extra money to keep the chute from plugging with the additional stage.

 

[guest]

argee, hydraulic lift.. but i am assuming its still connected to the same thing that lifts the deck...

Does anybody wax their chutes? or spray wd40 or anything??

 

[ducati996]

SimpleJohn,

Is your shute out of a thermo plastic mold or metal?

Just curious...

thermo plastic seems to be more common these days...I suppose because of the flexible properties, less likely to ice or clog...

based on my useage so far this year, I tend to agree with this idea...

I like the plastic over the metal ( my 125) ....

If you have plastic, I dont think you need Wd40 or other lube...

Duc

 

[guest]

mine is metal and it already has a big dent in it where a rock must have banged going up the chute.. i would wonder how well plastic would hold up especially on a gravel driveway like i have

i seem to be shooting almost as many rocks as i do snow.

 

[ducati996]

Have you busted a shear bolt yet? a rock that size to dent your shoot could destroy your gear box I would think....make sure you shear bolt is the correct tensil strength better too light then to strong....my guess it should be 8 or under 5 seems about average.

I dont want to try that stunt on my machine thats for sure!!
I nature of plastic has more give, but that could change if it was really cold ( more brittle then) and it could shatter...

How is your augers? bent at all?

Duc

 

[guest]

augers seem to be fine.. have not lost a sheer pin or bolt as yet. They are strength 5. I have plenty of spares.. on the chute there is a metal cage that connects by metal hooking into holes in the chute... and that was actually pushed open one time.. (i am guessing its there to prevent someone putting their hand down the chute) i did not see what did it.. and i am careful, but the gravel driveway has a pitch to it so its tough not to pick up stuff.. even with the blower skids raised up an inch...

 

[BradT]

I coated the inside of my chute with Slip Plate spray paint several years ago. I think it helped, but won't swear by it, as we haven't really had a good winter for snow in several years. Therefore not a lot of experience to form an opinion.

 

[slipshod]

Spray

I think if you blow a lot of snow most any spray lube you try to use will get washed off before it does any good.I am with Brad a good smooth coat of any paint during the off season instead of rust will probably help more.

 

[guest]

mine is still shiney new... ill wait till next year.

Thanks Brad & Slip
sj

 

[slipshod]

John

Those rocks from your driveway is changing that .Inside chute will look like a Yugo after a Hail storm by spring.

 

[Argee]

John,
A simple trick of two for you when blowing a gravel driveway. For the first few snows (4-5" or less) do not blow it, instead just drive over it and pack it down. Secondly, adjust your skids down about an inch or so. On a clean, level and flat surface take a 1X and set the leading edge of the blower on it, then adjust the skid shoes down to the floor. This will help keep the stones out of your blower. Thirdly, I don't think you want grade 5 bolts as shear bolts, you need to use whatever was furnished with the machine and replenesh your stock with the same. I know a few people who replaced their shear bolt with a standard one and the order a new gear box because the auger jambed.