Next year I put on the blower BEFORE the storm.

[TMcD_in_MI]

I admit it, I was kinda stupid. Even though the weather guys were calling for a storm, we've had three good snows so far and we just drove through the driveway and eventually the snow melted in our unusual 50 degree weather. I like to have the loader on as long as I can and I thought I could probably get away with the same laziness this time. Wrongo.

It was about 2:00 yesterday afternoon when it finally dawned on me that the wind and snow really meant business this time. In the tractor shed, the driveshaft and front carrier went on smoothly and I drove out into the snow and wind to hook up the blower.

Some things were frozen (surprise) and needed to be thawed with a torch before they would move. Also, I had moved the blower in the summer time under a lean-to that I built, and as a result, the blower was sitting higher than usual. This caused me to stupidly attempt to attach the blower in a pair of slots not meant for that purpose. It didn't even occur to my frost-bitten brain that I messed up, and I stared at the blower driveshaft for a long time, trying to figure out why that sucker wouldn't line up.

Eventually the light bulb went on in my addled mind, and I dragged the blower out onto level ground and did things right. It's amazing how easy it was then. Believe it or not, it was about 4:30 by that time, a new record for me in hours used mounting that thing. It was all worth it, though, to see that snow flying out of the driveway.

Hope all of your experiences with equipment went better than mine.

Tom

 

[goaliedad]

Most years I could have written that! I was ahead of schedule this year- like you said, a couple of storms, followed by thaws.I was beginning to wonder if I should just keep the blower on year round- kinda a good luck thing.

I don't think this one is going to melt anytime soon. At least we didn't get the wind and power outages others had. But, it still early in a LONNNNNNG winter!

 

[Farwell]

I live in Mid Michigan. I was all ready for the big storm. Had my oil changed in my walk behind snow blower. Had it all greased in the required points. Waited until there was 4 inches of snow on the ground and proceeded to go down the 300 foot driveway. I got about 50 feet down the drive when I hit a good sized rock and bent one of the blades on my auger. Put the snow blower back in the garage, opened up the roll up door on the pole barn and backed out my John Deere 2010 with the back blade already mounted just in case and removed the snow from the driveway along with a bunch of gravel and dirt. I need to put some shoes on the blade, chains on the rear tires, and turn the blade around so I will be ready for the next big storm.
David

 

[JackIL]

I was lucky that I had listened to the warnings from the weather forecasters about the big snow predicted for last Thursday night across the midwest and had my new Ventrac snowblower mounted. We only had 8 inches here but within 30 miles they had 15 inches. The blower worked great! It is 52 inches wide and with the chute tip set fully open, the snow was blown about 50 feet.

JackIL

 

[sandman2234]

I feel kind of guilty, out working in my garage all day with short sleeves, and you guys up there freezing your shifter knobs off.
Stay warm as you can,
David from jax

 

[hwp]

I got my unit ready for winter this past week. Mower deck came off, ROPS came off, cab went on, snow blower went on, and spreader went on. It only took a couple of hours but now it is ready. I haven't had a need for it yet and I hope it stays that way. If it sits in the garage all winter and doesn't see any action that is fine with me.

 

[cp1969]

I cut it close this year, too. I got the mower off and the blade on one day before we got 1/2" of ice topped with 13" of snow. Admittedly, taking off a rear mower and putting on a rear blade isn't must of a task, but relative to some of my accomplishments...it is.

I used to use the tractor to even do the sidewalks but since the blade knocked a couple of chips out of the concrete, I decided to use the wife's snow shovel instead. I made it about four feet using that method when I decided this method really sucks and to see if the neglected walk-behind 3 1/2 hp snow blower that hasn't been started in several years would start. It had no gas in it, so I put some in and it started on the second pull. My compliments to Chief Tecumseh--it saved me a bunch of shovelling. The only casualty was some kind of plastic ornamental rabbit of the wife's who paid the price for hiding under snow in the flower bed when we made an unintentional excursion off the sidewalk.

As a reward for starting, I am now going to change the oil in said snowblower. I'm thinking 0w-20 or 0w-30 Mobil 1. It will be it's second or third oil change in the 20+ years I've owned it.

 

[TBDonnelly]

As a reward for starting, I am now going to change the oil in said snowblower. I'm thinking 0w-20 or 0w-30 Mobil 1. It will be it's second or third oil change in the 20+ years I've owned it.

Careful not to overdue the oil changes....don't want to ruin a good thing.

We dodged the bullet in the southeast corner of MI. We got all rain, no snow.

Don

 

[ksmmoto]

I made the same mistake, TMcD_in_MI. I had the loader off and was in the middle of my 600 hour service. Plus I was going to hook up the lights I added and several other modifications. And I work on the tractor outside my shop as it is too full to get inside.

Well I got a minor stomach virus and was kind of slow get the work done and the weather was great at the start of the week, in the 60's! I really didn't think it would be too bad. But on Friday we got about 6" of snow and lots of wind.

I do snow removal for a local church and several residents plus myself so I was behind. On Saturday I had several things going on in the morning so I was going to get setup for snow removal and do the work in the afternoon.

But I had lots of trouble, my loader had pressure buildup in the lines do to the temperature change and of course I had oil shoot all over. Then I had a new light material bucket I bought for snow that needed the cutting edge bolted on. Also the snow blower needed greasing and a check over.

By the time I was done I had to go to my daughter's collage Christmas concert she was singing in. By the time I got to the church to remove snow it was 1:00 am. Didn't get to bed till 4:00 am. And I still needed to remove the snowblower and loader again to finish my projects on the tractor. And did I mention that it is now 18 degrees out with the wind chill at 6 degrees and I am working outside?

I need global warming to hurry up or need to move south and just deal with hurricanes, gators and snakes?!? I hope it warms up soon!

ksmmoto

 

[TBDonnelly]

Oh...BTW since most of the heavy snow, in recent memory, seems to fall 'north and south' of me, I'm selling my snowblower. It's a 51" rear mount (see picture attached).
PM me for details....

Don