Latest auger install on my blower. Have video, need opinions ASAP!

[RoyJackson]

Well, the news isnt good. Woods engineers tested a new unit and it demonstrated the same characteristics. "they feel there is no cause for concern and will continue production as is"...

Although I disagree with your assessment about the unit's functionality and quality (you haven't actually used it yet...for blowing snow?) and there hasn't been a failure of any sort, I guess it's going to be up to Messick's to placate you (by return of replacement of the blower). Messick's has a great reputation.

However, I suggest you keep the unit and see how it works (when we finally get snow). I expect you'd find out it does quite well and would last many years. However, you'll have to keep an open mind about this...and I'm not sure you'd be able to do that.

I wish you the best in how this works out though.

BTW, I buy used implements for two reasons...primarily for the cost and secondly, I know it will function (although I like to see it demoed before I make my offer). I have no illusions about the cosmetics or a rattle.

 

[arsenix2001]

Although I disagree with your assessment about the unit's functionality and quality (you haven't actually used it yet...for blowing snow?) and there hasn't been a failure of any sort, I guess it's going to be up to Messick's to placate you (by return of replacement of the blower). Messick's has a great reputation.

However, I suggest you keep the unit and see how it works (when we finally get snow). I expect you'd find out it does quite well and would last many years. However, you'll have to keep an open mind about this...and I'm not sure you'd be able to do that.

I wish you the best in how this works out though.

BTW, I buy used implements for two reasons...primarily for the cost and secondly, I know it will function (although I like to see it demoed before I make my offer). I have no illusions about the cosmetics or a rattle.

My gut feeling is I'll be using this unit whether I like it or not. I dont see messicks nor woods just taking it back off my hands. If I sell it, id rather sell it as new or just suck it up and use it/not think about it. Some have mentioned legal action, but Im not going down that road. Ive had enough already. Its been 2 1/2 months of pure frustration. Best outcome is an extended warranty incase I do have problems down the road. Im waiving the white flag at this point. I have no real problems with Messicks at this point, they know im not happy and are doing what I ask of them. My real gripe is with woods. I bought a good name expecting good quality. Im still dumbfounded they cannot weld a sprocket on true. Either way I am done with them, nor will I recommend thier products as I have in the past. I also wont hesitate to share my experience. Ill leave it at that untill I hear what they are willing to do monday. Im starting to feel like the bad guy here and dont like that at all. :confused3:

 

[zzvyb6]

If it doesn't work out for snow, they make wonderful horse manure spreaders/diffusers. Let it dry out for a few days and then approach it slowly. Poop happens, poop burns (smells like burning cork), and poop flies as necessary.

Speaking of which, why hasn't anyone posted on the use of dried manure for heating purposes? I burn piles of it in the field and it tends to smolder rather than flame. But all you Greenies ought to be tripping over yourself using it for heat. Or, is it more valuable as fertilizer?

 

[RickB]

If it doesn't work out for snow, they make wonderful horse manure spreaders/diffusers. Let it dry out for a few days and then approach it slowly. Poop happens, poop burns (smells like burning cork), and poop flies as necessary.

Speaking of which, why hasn't anyone posted on the use of dried manure for heating purposes? I burn piles of it in the field and it tends to smolder rather than flame. But all you Greenies ought to be tripping over yourself using it for heat. Or, is it more valuable as fertilizer?

Probably of most value when burned in an outdoor furnace.

 

[Rockgod]

My gut feeling is I'll be using this unit whether I like it or not. I dont see messicks nor woods just taking it back off my hands. If I sell it, id rather sell it as new or just suck it up and use it/not think about it. Some have mentioned legal action, but Im not going down that road. Ive had enough already. Its been 2 1/2 months of pure frustration. Best outcome is an extended warranty incase I do have problems down the road. Im waiving the white flag at this point. I have no real problems with Messicks at this point, they know im not happy and are doing what I ask of them. My real gripe is with woods. I bought a good name expecting good quality. Im still dumbfounded they cannot weld a sprocket on true. Either way I am done with them, nor will I recommend thier products as I have in the past. I also wont hesitate to share my experience. Ill leave it at that untill I hear what they are willing to do monday. Im starting to feel like the bad guy here and dont like that at all. :confused3:

I'll reserve judgement on Messicks until he responds.

On the other end, it looks like Woods dropped the ball in making their customer happy, to me that speaks volumes. Based on this alone I'd never buy one of their implements...

I for one appreciate you sharing this freek show with us and hope you get some kind of satisfaction. :2cents:

 

[grsthegreat]

If it doesn't work out for snow, they make wonderful horse manure spreaders/diffusers. Let it dry out for a few days and then approach it slowly. Poop happens, poop burns (smells like burning cork), and poop flies as necessary.

Speaking of which, why hasn't anyone posted on the use of dried manure for heating purposes? I burn piles of it in the field and it tends to smolder rather than flame. But all you Greenies ought to be tripping over yourself using it for heat. Or, is it more valuable as fertilizer?

My dogs like frozen horse poop.... poopsicles.

 

[5030]

My dogs like frozen horse poop.... poopsicles.

Mine aren't that praticular. They like 'em fresh or frozen......:laughing:

Makes for baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad breath.....

 

[Don87]

My gut feeling is I'll be using this unit whether I like it or not. I dont see messicks nor woods just taking it back off my hands. If I sell it, id rather sell it as new or just suck it up and use it/not think about it. Some have mentioned legal action, but Im not going down that road. Ive had enough already. Its been 2 1/2 months of pure frustration. Best outcome is an extended warranty incase I do have problems down the road. Im waiving the white flag at this point. I have no real problems with Messicks at this point, they know im not happy and are doing what I ask of them. My real gripe is with woods. I bought a good name expecting good quality. Im still dumbfounded they cannot weld a sprocket on true. Either way I am done with them, nor will I recommend thier products as I have in the past. I also wont hesitate to share my experience. Ill leave it at that untill I hear what they are willing to do monday. Im starting to feel like the bad guy here and dont like that at all. :confused3:

I've refrained from posting on this because I don't have a Woods blower, but I have been following it.

The runout I saw on the video wouldn't bother me one bit. I've seen much worse last for quite a few years.

But I will add that I have a front mount blower on my Massey. It is a little different design......my chain is in the back of the blower, and was made by RAD.

But........and this is the big but........mine sounds the same as yours, and my blower shakes from side to side when in the raised position. When set at full throttle, it shakes the tractor when the blower is raised.

Am I worried, not in the least. It kinda bothered me at first, but then looking at the design led me to realize that the auger design itself will cause an imbalance.

Not trying to start an arguement with anyone on here, but I haven't seen any PTO driven implements that don't shake the tractor. Any motion on the implement will be magnified by the main vehicle.

There will almost always be runout with chain drives, especially with the design of these blowers.......metal expands at different rates with heat as we all know, gonna be real hard to get things perfect.

As far as the extended warranty you are seeking...........better ask for a 3 year, just in case this warming trend caused by the La Nina continues thru next year.


EDIT: I went back and watched the video twice more, and the chain noise is either from the chain being too tight, and/or is lacking lubrication. Mine quieted down a lot after lubing it.

 

[arsenix2001]

I've refrained from posting on this because I don't have a Woods blower, but I have been following it.

The runout I saw on the video wouldn't bother me one bit. I've seen much worse last for quite a few years.

But I will add that I have a front mount blower on my Massey. It is a little different design......my chain is in the back of the blower, and was made by RAD.

But........and this is the big but........mine sounds the same as yours, and my blower shakes from side to side when in the raised position. When set at full throttle, it shakes the tractor when the blower is raised.

Am I worried, not in the least. It kinda bothered me at first, but then looking at the design led me to realize that the auger design itself will cause an imbalance.

Not trying to start an arguement with anyone on here, but I haven't seen any PTO driven implements that don't shake the tractor. Any motion on the implement will be magnified by the main vehicle.

There will almost always be runout with chain drives, especially with the design of these blowers.......metal expands at different rates with heat as we all know, gonna be real hard to get things perfect.

As far as the extended warranty you are seeking...........better ask for a 3 year, just in case this warming trend caused by the La Nina continues thru next year.


EDIT: I went back and watched the video twice more, and the chain noise is either from the chain being too tight, and/or is lacking lubrication. Mine quieted down a lot after lubing it.

Thank you don, I appreciate the input/personal experiences. No joke about not needing a blower for a while! The noise is actually the chain slacking and tightning and a mild off camber tilt due to the sprocket having both radial and lateral runout. Both the dealer and woods have admitted this. Will it probably be okay? I guess/hope so. Would I expect quality like this from woods, never. Ive seen videos and had involved parties tell me theve witnessed cheaper units running smoother. Its disgusting to me just from a business standpoint that for a 5k machine, they cant and or dont care about welding a sproket on true, which isnt Fing rocket science. But im a fool and bought sight unseen and will deal with what comes. As ive stated before, woods took thier stand, im done with this and done with them. On to another day. I will post what I hear tomorrow. I swear I wasnt looking for trouble, all I wanted was a smooth running machine. I actually feel bad for messicks having to put up with woods BS. Its a crock.

 

[rambler]

I value manure as much more value for fertilizer than fuel.

For the blower, be interesting to see what you could sell it for as 'unused'. Would the warrenty transfer to a second owner, and assuming you have a 1 year warrenty (at this time), really not worth the effort to transfer it, by next snow season it's gone anyhow.

Think you'd have to discount it pretty heavy to sell it. I look for farm stuff on Craigslist, and just have to chuckle at those ads that have an item that is "'almost new' and selling for $4000, at the dealer you'd have to pay $4500!"

Hey, it's used that's how it is, I'll be interested at 50%, I won't even look at the pics much less reply if you are at 75% of new...... Then why are you selling it, any good buyer will ask, how do you reply to _that_ question?

Don't mean to be a downer, just thinking through the selling it part.

Perhaps run it yourself until it flies apart; if that is sooner, sell it for 50% with a note of why it failed and any good welder will be happy to buy it & weld on a new sprocket and replace 2 bearings.If it falls apart later, then you got your use out of it and it was a good buy after all. Gives you a better chance of recouping what you got into it.

Another option is to take it to a local welder and let him press it/ weld a new sprocket on it, probably cost $200 or less (would here, don't know your market) and then you have the qualty that is important to you. I understand it should be Woods and not you, but lead, follow, or get out of the way sort of deal.......

Just trying to throw ideas out there.

--->Paul

 

[kiotiken]

Well, I have a Woods Groundbreaker BH-70X BH on the back of my tractor and I'm in the market for a snowblower. I'm been following this thread from the start hoping for a positive outcome, which I was thinking would have been a pretty easy thing to come to. I'm not sure anybody from Woods ever lurks in the shadows of TBN or know about this thread, but companies should realize that these type of experiences that are relayed directly to their prime target market have a very negative impact to their bottom line. I can't say I %100 won't buy a Woods blower because of this, I'm very happy with the BH, but now that I know what they think is normal and acceptable, the chances of me buying a Woods blower are pretty slim.

 

[jpm1]

Well arsenix2001 the topic has went from snowblowers to poopsicles, so i guess the time has come. We must classify the Woods snow blower as an old "wringer washer" real agataing! Through this enperience it's been a great learning experience for me! Don't buy "Woods" Buddy i think you have lost the battle so take the washing machine and roll on. did i say "washing machine?" i meant blower, go home and wait for spring. When i got it home i would lube the "bejeepers" out of the chain and then run it till there isnt anything left of it! Thats what i do with mine. Don't feel like the "Bad Guy" here, i've been there many a time years ago. I bought a Belarus tractor and loved it! then i bought a Kelley B70 BH. my tractor dealer put the BH on the tractor and made the mistake of stating it would dig like a comercial machine. He put it in the contract. To make a long story short, (long story over 4 months long now) well the dealer replaced the tractors Hydro pump 12 times at a cost of 500$ a pop! after the 2nd pump he said he was done! My problem . . .WRONG, WRONG, . . WRONG thing to say! The problem actually resulted from an error on the mechanics part that cost the dealer 6000$. i WAS REAL PI**ED OFF, went to the dealer and set down with the mechanic and replumbed it the way i wanted it done in the first place and guess what? it run over 1000 hours trouble free before i sold it. I got no bills from this nor did i pay the trucking to or from even though i was threatened with a law suit. It took a couple of years for the dealer and i to become friends again but "WORD OF MOUTH CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND " in dealing with BIG COMPANIES! Your probably not going to win, but Tell everyone of your experience with woods which you have done, Word of mouth travels FAST! hold your head high, and use this as a learning experience. Sorry friend . . .John
Pics of my dad and the Belarus BH

 

[crazyal]

If it was me I think I would take it apart next summer and fix it correctly. It could cost a few hundred but I think a machine shop could fix it. I know some don't worry but I bought a new tractor and a new blower because I didn't want to be part way done blowing 2' of heavy wet snow and have a failure just as the temp drops from 30 down to 10 below over night turning my driveway into an impassable block of ice.

New snow blower, thousands, repair work done by you and a machine shop, hundreds, peace of mind is knowing that you are ready to handle what mother nature throws at you is priceless.

 

[RoyJackson]

If it was me I think I would take it apart next summer and fix it correctly. It could cost a few hundred but I think a machine shop could fix it. I know some don't worry but I bought a new tractor and a new blower because I didn't want to be part way done blowing 2' of heavy wet snow and have a failure just as the temp drops from 30 down to 10 below over night turning my driveway into an impassable block of ice.

New snow blower, thousands, repair work done by you and a machine shop, hundreds, peace of mind is knowing that you are ready to handle what mother nature throws at you is priceless.

Frankly, this would be a waste of money...arsenix2001 hasn't used this blower yet. I expect it will work fine, as is.
Pulling the unit apart, then trying to turn the auger shaft to be perpendicular to the sprocket wheel would be costly (the sprocket wheel wouldn't be much, but the auger shaft...well, doesn't look like any good way to chuck it up).
Also, the auger/sprocket is a welded assembly. Heat, as you know, can result in minor distortion. As I'd written in an earlier response to this thread (after viewing the video arsenix2001 posted), I'd like to see a nylon (replaceable) wear strip.

 

[hawkeye08]

Ship it to 4Shorts and get it fixed.

 

[arsenix2001]

Ok, heres the end of story, I'll keep it short and sweet. I have my original blower back now with auger #3. Its alot better than the first two but still not what I would expect from woods. Woods basically admitted no wrongdoing. They are happy with a wobbly sprocket. Messicks agrees its with me its not normal. Woods wrote me a letter I asked them to write stating the operation was normal. They also gave me a cleverly worded letter saying something to the fact that if something were to fail because of this they would be happy to address it next winter. Messicks letter was much more to the point. "We have extended your drivetrain warranty through november 2013." So its hanging on my tractor, im going to use it till it breaks. Cant say its been a pleasant experience. Messicks did thier best through the whole ordeal but woods dropped the ball. Live and learn. Not that it looks like we'll ever get any snow around here anyways...:thumbdown:

 

[RoyJackson]

Ok, heres the end of story, I'll keep it short and sweet. I have my original blower back now with auger #3. Its alot better than the first two but still not what I would expect from woods. Woods basically admitted no wrongdoing.

And...they all lived happily ever after...

 

[crazyal]

Frankly, this would be a waste of money...arsenix2001 hasn't used this blower yet. I expect it will work fine, as is.
Pulling the unit apart, then trying to turn the auger shaft to be perpendicular to the sprocket wheel would be costly (the sprocket wheel wouldn't be much, but the auger shaft...well, doesn't look like any good way to chuck it up).
Also, the auger/sprocket is a welded assembly. Heat, as you know, can result in minor distortion. As I'd written in an earlier response to this thread (after viewing the video arsenix2001 posted), I'd like to see a nylon (replaceable) wear strip.

But for how long? One thing I think we can agree on is they all will break, the only question is how long before it does. What I can't answer is if, or how much less life it will have if left as is. But what I do know is, at least for me, I invested over $30k in a tractor and blower to remove snow and I expect over a decade of use without any problems (as long as I keep up on routine maintenance).

It's bad enough that things like rocks and other items buried in the snow can break equipment and force me to make unplanned repairs in the middle of winter right when it's needed the most. Why not make a small investment, call it insurance, in the summer that could be a life saver in winter? I'm sure any machine shop that can plane a head can also plane the end of the auger to take care of any excessive side to side problems. They could also drill new holes in the sprocket to take care of the runout.

 

[crazyal]

Ok, heres the end of story, I'll keep it short and sweet. I have my original blower back now with auger #3. Its alot better than the first two but still not what I would expect from woods. Woods basically admitted no wrongdoing. They are happy with a wobbly sprocket. Messicks agrees its with me its not normal. Woods wrote me a letter I asked them to write stating the operation was normal. They also gave me a cleverly worded letter saying something to the fact that if something were to fail because of this they would be happy to address it next winter. Messicks letter was much more to the point. "We have extended your drivetrain warranty through november 2013." So its hanging on my tractor, im going to use it till it breaks. Cant say its been a pleasant experience. Messicks did thier best through the whole ordeal but woods dropped the ball. Live and learn. Not that it looks like we'll ever get any snow around here anyways...:thumbdown:

At least all of this happened this year, not last. Keep us informed on how well it works.

At least all of this happened this year, not last.

 

[RoyJackson]

But for how long? One thing I think we can agree on is they all will break, the only question is how long before it does. What I can't answer is if, or how much less life it will have if left as is. But what I do know is, at least for me, I invested over $30k in a tractor and blower to remove snow and I expect over a decade of use without any problems (as long as I keep up on routine maintenance).

Only time will tell, but my guess is it'll go for years.
I'm sure we'll read of more folks buying Woods blowers over the next few years....then we'll know.