Snow Attachments I can testify what isn't so hot for snow

SARG · Feb 28, 2010

After three storms last week and an accumulation of about 40 inches I can state that a New Holland T1030 scut with a Meteor 51" rear blower is over matched for the wet stuff we've gotten........... and it's snowing again.

The first evening I went through the 10 metric shear bolts and soon switched over to 1/4-20's. The snow was just too heavy for the machine to handle no matter how I tried to baby it. Made it out to acquire 20 more bolts.

Good news is I would be in much bigger trouble if it were not for the FEL. I've gone through three tanks of fuel just trying to find places to stuff the snow.

Also remembered how much I hate shoveling roofs. On a couple of the sheds and barn attachments we will see what kind of carpenter I was when I built them.

Window Geek · Feb 28, 2010

Looks like that metal roof is doing its job! Good luck with the rest of it!

Have you tried waxing the inside of the cute and the impeller blade? That should help throw some of the heavy stuff without breaking things *too* often.

Mousefield · Feb 28, 2010

I have a walk behind snow blower and the only time I had to replace a shear bolt was when a rock got jammed in it. Found when the snow was really wet I just had to go slow. The snow out here is wet most of the time. Is there something else wrong with your blower that would require that many replacement shear pins? Last winter we had lots of snow and it was the first winter with my CK35, just used the FEL to do the road and around the house and barn.
Be carefully if you are on the steel roof, could be a tad slippery.

SARG · Feb 28, 2010

Don't have to shovel the metal roofs ...... but I have too many that are shingles ..... or are very shallow standing seam which doesn't shed the snow.

Recognize the shear pin I'm having snitty fits with is on the PTO shaft ..... much different than the pins on an auger shaft ...... much greater RPMs (540)

Geek: The chute is coated with the EZ-Slide graphite spray .. what's left of the coating. Haven't had issues with any clogging. The snow has been just too hard and heavy and the pin appears to be the "weak" spot. Meteor states to use the 5.5 mm bolts for the PTO shear .... but I've started using the grade #2 ...... 1/4-20s because of availability. There's about .030 difference so the standard bolts are a little tight.....but I plan to check Dad's toolbox he left behind for a 1/4 reamer I'm sure is in there. (Pop was a toolmaker)

wedge40 · Feb 28, 2010

Dont know if this would work or not but you could try using a slip clutch on the PTO.

Wedge

RoyJackson · Feb 28, 2010

SARG said:
.... but I've started using the grade #2 ...... 1/4-20s because of availability.

Using a grade 2 bolt might be one reason you're going through so many. They are relatively soft.
If you're trying to make full passes, try 1/3rd to 1/2 (width of the blower) passes instead. Unfortunately, your first pass will be full width or you'll have to use your FEL/bucket.
I'm not sure what Sarg means by "babying" the blower, but blowing through 40" of snow is going to be a slow operation.

SARG · Feb 28, 2010

Roy ... Babying is just as you suggest .... taking 1/3 bites or raising the blower and making double passes. I had the machine out after each of the storms so I was only in a couple situations were I was really hogging the stuff.

Today I broke a pin and put in a two inch long 1/4-20 which was a body bound bolt ...... so at the shear point it is the full diameter of the body versus the threaded portion. So far it's held up OK .... but I was still being overly gentle.

This has been an unusual year in that I haven't used the machine until the end of February ... and now we have enough snow that will last until the end of April.

Wayne_H · Feb 28, 2010

That just does not sound right... have you spoken to the dealer or manufacturer?

Where are you in upstate anyway? My Pop is West of Albany and they got a bit last week.

Wayne

etcallhome · Feb 28, 2010

I was breaking shear bolts like crazy the first couple of snows...It would freeze at night and next day or evening I would go out and hit the snow , break a bolt.
Changed to grade 5 1 1/4-1/2" length (not all tread) . Went close to a mo. without breaking one...Broke 2 yesterday and 1 today.. Going to fast ,and hitting old frozen snow (Ice)..
Also started using either double nut or locking nuts ..
I've been going through 3-5' high snow