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

[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.