Another BX25 snow option question

[donn12]

It might only be for the B series but I remember seeing two models and the bigger one for the front is the same unit as the rear 3pt unit.

 

[VermontWacko]

I've have now had the FE blower for a couple of weeks and we keep getting more snow -- so I have used it for about 6 hours. It has done everything I wanted it to do. I will post pictures soon. I don't believe I could have done the needed work with anythng other than a front or real blower.

Like just about everthing else in life, it is not all 'sweetness and light' though. In particular, swaping back and forth with the FEL is a real exercise. In particular, reconnecting the male blower drive shaft to the female drive shaft that is part of the front bracket (i.e., getting the shafts to mate -- so that the snap ring could seat) took me an hour. They just wouldn't go together. The well greased teeth (the interlocking channels that run the length of the shafts) seemed to grab right off, and no matter how I realigned them and adjusted the height of the blower, the shafts would not slide together and mate. Very awkward access to these parts when the BX25 is on the ground (and I'm lying on a piece of cardboard in the snow).

Pissed off, and as the sun set, I drove the tractor back to a garage where I have lights. With the blower height adjusted so that all of the shafts were horizontal, I reached in one more time and they went together like Valentines day. Go figure? Has anyone got a trick that makes this easier? (I know -- don't wait so long to drive around next time. :laughing: Or plan beter so I don't need to swap once the blower is on for the season. :laughing

The only other operational negatives are very small (have extra shear bolts and the wrench ready in your pocket and, like other PTO equipment, keep your grease gun handy).

The machine is a beast. The pictures will make this pretty evident.:thumbsup:

 

[dennisgw]

My blower is on a little dolly I built with swivel wheels so moving anywhere is not an issue, you can either leave the PTO lever in the non-mid position so that the long PTO shaft can rotate with your fingers or simply turn the auger which will rotate the other shaft a bit or combo of the two. I just drop the hitch to about the right height, push the quick female onto the male, since the blower is on the dolly you just do fine adjustments to the shaft rotations so the PTO parts can engage. Definitely does not take an hour....... minutes?

 

[irvingj]

Speaking of pics-- got any of the connection between these shafts that you're talking about? The M-F blower for my 2310 has a slightly elongated square shaft (female) on the back of the blower that mates with the quick-hitch (male), not a splined shaft.

The mid-PTO driveshaft, however, has splines, and sometimes can be tricky to get back together; perhaps yours is like that? I suspect that the splines may be just slightly non-uniform, because when it "lines up" it goes together effortlessly, but if they're not it looks like they should --but they won't.

Suspecting there was perhaps only one way to get them to fit, I took a white-out pen and made matching marks on both pieces. Match up the white lines, and it fits.

 

[VermontWacko]

First 3 images show paths leading slightly downhill and West to barn. Snow in foreground, at intersection of paths, is 30" deep.







Path leading steeply uphill (North) to back of house through 30" of snow.



Path leading to East, up gradual hill, about 20" of snow, turning North and connecting to driveway.


Driveway. Originally plowed. Big bank on left was knocked back with FEL and cleaned-up with blower.


The BX25 stays in the barn, so after a big storm, the need is to be able to remove snow while moving back up to the driveway. With the BX series, snow throwers are a way to reliably move through snow like this. The snow thrower is Model 2750D. BX25 has 2-link chains on all wheels. Rear tires are loaded with the beet juice -- no other real ballast. So far, so good.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. Very helpful in coming to an effective decision.:thumbsup:

 

[radioman]

awesome VW! :thumbsup:

 

[Don87]

Speaking of pics-- got any of the connection between these shafts that you're talking about? The M-F blower for my 2310 has a slightly elongated square shaft (female) on the back of the blower that mates with the quick-hitch (male), not a splined shaft.

The mid-PTO driveshaft, however, has splines, and sometimes can be tricky to get back together; perhaps yours is like that? I suspect that the splines may be just slightly non-uniform, because when it "lines up" it goes together effortlessly, but if they're not it looks like they should --but they won't.

Suspecting there was perhaps only one way to get them to fit, I took a white-out pen and made matching marks on both pieces. Match up the white lines, and it fits.

I'm not sure, but I think you may be seperating your driveshaft in the middle. The shaft that operates the blower(from the quickhitch to the blower), is almost identical to the shaft underneath the tractor(just shorter).

The slip collar is up against the quick hitch.(hard to reach, but it's there)

 

[Don87]

First 3 images show paths leading slightly downhill and West to barn. Snow in foreground, at intersection of paths, is 30" deep.

View attachment 200287

View attachment 200288

View attachment 200289

Path leading steeply uphill (North) to back of house through 30" of snow.

View attachment 200290

Path leading to East, up gradual hill, about 20" of snow, turning North and connecting to driveway.
View attachment 200291

Driveway. Originally plowed. Big bank on left was knocked back with FEL and cleaned-up with blower.
View attachment 200292

The BX25 stays in the barn, so after a big storm, the need is to be able to remove snow while moving back up to the driveway. With the BX series, snow throwers are a way to reliably move through snow like this. The snow thrower is Model 2750D. BX25 has 2-link chains on all wheels. Rear tires are loaded with the beet juice -- no other real ballast. So far, so good.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. Very helpful in coming to an effective decision.:thumbsup:

I'm gad to hear the blower is working for you. It was the best choice for your situation. As far as the driveshaft...........sometimes it slips right on, and sometimes it doesn't(gets a little aggravating in that tight area). No easier way I know of.......just keep playing with it, it will eventually go together.

I purchased the front blower for my Massey as well(I knew I was going to need it, and I have).

I use the FEL when possible, and switch to the blower when necessary(about a 15 minute swap).

People throw trash out here all the time(bottles, cans, wire), so I use the FEL by the road, and the blower everywhere else.

 

[Trafficman]

GeorgeKG,
I did the FEL BB & rear chains on turfs thing for 5-6 Yrs, including last years' Snowmaggeddon here in the DC area. ~1200ft of 18ft road & 11 driveways convinced me. I have destroyed 2 of the adjustment links (I HATE water valves!) going backwards. Going forwards with the FEL & dragging the BB at an angle took forever. Snowmaggeddon took 2-10 Hr DAYS to clear. A typical 8"-10" of snow would take ~5 Hrs. My Neighbors kicked in to help me get a a Craigs List B2781 & the quick hitch sub-frame for $900. The QH wouldn't fit my BX22, so I converted the SB to a 3PH. The Mid-Mount PTO does turn at 2000 RPM the rear PTO turns at 540 RPM. When I converted to the 3PH, I had to remove the gear box that slowed the front Shaft down to 540 RPM.
I now have a B2781 50" SB on my 3PH & I'm keeping my FEL. I added the BXpanded lights & the The last snow we had was ~10" of heavy wet snow. I finished in 3 hrs. The balance was great with the FEL & SB. The biggest disadvantage is sitting sidesaddle. Left foot on the pedal, right foot tucked under, left hand on the steering wheel, right hand on the lift lever.

T-Man

 

[VermontWacko]

I like Irvingj's simple trick for putting the drive shafts together:


"Suspecting there was perhaps only one way to get them to fit, I took a white-out pen and made matching marks on both pieces. Match up the white lines, and it fits."

Nothing like an easy, no cost fix.:thumbsup:

If it doesn't work, nothing lost. Thanks

I would like to have the FEL available -- like in T-man's setup -- but so far I've been able to slowly blow out the end of my drive without breaking shear pins. (I break them on other stuff -- like my mail box guard-post:ashamed Driving faced-forward is a significant advantage because, even in float-mode, the blower will dig in on uneven ground and in face-forward position that is easy to monitor. Nothing is perfect.