This snow blower's path is narrower than my tractor...

[NormL]

I'm looking for advice!:listen:

A snowblower will be on auction in a few days and I took some measurements of my tractor to see if the path it cuts is wide enough. The machine will clear 74" while the wheels of my Oliver are spread to 81". If I succeed in the bidding, I will need to fabricate "wings" to make up the difference. Has anyone done this successfully and did the added resistance pushing into a drifted snowbank pose problems? This would mount on the 3pth and operate with the tractor in reverse. Another issue for me is that I don't function well looking to the rear of the tractor while raking and baling so I will have to add some mirrors because blowing snow involves even more looking over my shoulder than baling or raking does.

So, does all this look do-able, or should I be running the other way?

 

[George2615]

There have been threads here on adding wings to a snow blower but I don't have any luck searching for such threads. Yes, they can be added. Shouldn't be too hard to add a 4-5" wing on each side using the same gauge metal as the blower has now. Mirrors can also be added with some fab work to mount them. A 3 pt snow blower cost 1/3 to 1/2 the price of a front mount. Just look up what a new 74" blower sells for and figure about 1/2 or less at auction.

 

[pmsmechanic]

There were "wings" available for John Deere snow blowers on eBay a while ago. You should be able to have something bent up to suit your snow blower. Why not just move your wheels in enough to do the job?

 

[NormL]

There were "wings" available for John Deere snow blowers on eBay a while ago. You should be able to have something bent up to suit your snow blower. Why not just move your wheels in enough to do the job?

I posed the same question at the local coffeeshop this morning and the consensus was that I should be more concerned with traction than the few inches the wheels will be making their own path. As for moving the wheels in a bit more; no room left, they're already crowding the fenders and if, as was suggested at the coffeeshop, I try to install chains on them, I barely have room to do it. So for now, I'll see if the blower winds up on my yard after the auction and take it one step at a time from there. Thanks for the advice and suggestion(s)!:thumbsup:

 

[doxford jim]

Here is what I did if it is of any help. My wings are three and half inch gain each side on the snow blower. I think any more than that will possibly too much - your call of course. For me my mods have worked quite well and the material was 11 or 12 gauge (0.110" thick) and cost $50 for the bent/trimmed blanks.
HTH

 

[NormL]

Here is what I did if it is of any help. My wings are three and half inch gain each side on the snow blower. I think any more than that will possibly too much - your call of course. For me my mods have worked quite well and the material was 11 or 12 gauge (0.110" thick) and cost $50 for the bent/trimmed blanks.
HTH

What you've done there is exactly what I have in mind. I have some 3/16th" plate that I can shear a couple pieces like that from. I'll have to find someone with a sturdy break to put the kinks in though. But first I'll have to get it and try it the way it is. It's that first pass through a hard drift like we often get around here that tests the mettle of your equipment.

 

[doxford jim]

I chose to go thinner than 3/16" so that the wings would be sacrificial - rather than the end plates on the snow blower.
I have bent two wings completely back when encountering something that didn't want to move - I suspect it was pieces of ice frozen to the ground (temps around -15C or lower).
Let us know how you make out at the auction and if you do buy, what the snow blower turns out like.
I would like to get a 7ft blower with a four bladed fan but good used blowers are at a premium around here. I would probably have to go to Edmonton to get a half decent deal :-( - some six hours drive each way !

 

[NormL]

I chose to go thinner than 3/16" so that the wings would be sacrificial - rather than the end plates on the snow blower.
I have bent two wings completely back when encountering something that didn't want to move - I suspect it was pieces of ice frozen to the ground (temps around -15C or lower).
Let us know how you make out at the auction and if you do buy, what the snow blower turns out like.
I would like to get a 7ft blower with a four bladed fan but good used blowers are at a premium around here. I would probably have to go to Edmonton to get a half decent deal :-( - some six hours drive each way !

Hmm...I had not thought in those terms. Even so, the end plates of the the blower are 1/4" so would not the 3/16th" be somewhat sacrificial? I will certainly keep you posted on what happens at auction. If I succeed in the bidding I will post those results here and if I go with adding the wings I'll start a thread under the "Projects " category and provide the link to it here.

 

[NormL]

Hmm...I had not thought in those terms. Even so, the end plates of the the blower are 1/4" so would not the 3/16th" be somewhat sacrificial? I will certainly keep you posted on what happens at auction. If I succeed in the bidding I will post those results here and if I go with adding the wings I'll start a thread under the "Projects " category and provide the link to it here.

Well, I missed this one when another bidder with deeper pockets got involved.:smiley_aafz: So, off to the next one in about a week. Maybe I'll have better luck there - or not.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Well, I missed this one when another bidder with deeper pockets got involved.:smiley_aafz: So, off to the next one in about a week. Maybe I'll have better luck there - or not.

Be glad. I bought a smaller blower, restored it, then wound up selling it to buy the right sized blower. Wings seemed sort of a patch type fix, and tires would ride on the banks. Do it right and you will not regret it!

 

[NormL]

Be glad. I bought a smaller blower, restored it, then wound up selling it to buy the right sized blower. Wings seemed sort of a patch type fix, and tires would ride on the banks. Do it right and you will not regret it!

You are right, of course! My theory had been that once the first pass was complete, there should be less of a problem with the tires riding up the banks, at least on one side. And...that could have made it worse by causing an imbalance traction wise. Oh well; onward and upward!!

Happy and blessed Easter everyone,

Norm

 

[NormL]

Well, I missed this one when another bidder with deeper pockets got involved.:smiley_aafz: So, off to the next one in about a week. Maybe I'll have better luck there - or not.

Same scenario again today! I'm not sure what my next move will be but shopping at auction sales has not been working for me.:irked: Maybe the best plan is to bide my time and watch for the right machine at the right price, after all, I should not be needing one now till at least November; an "ark" maybe, the way its raining right now!

 

[doxford jim]

Just bide your time and pick what you want size wise. There will be something come along - you just have to spot it
Don't know how much you want to spend and whether or not you want to buy new. I have heard the Agriease make a half decent snow blower for around $2,000 new.
Also, Allied Farm-King is out of Winnipeg so there should be lots of snow blowers used in your area. Need to use Kijiji and Craigs List a bit for the info.
Good luck with your search. If you can afford it, buy a blower at least 6" wider than the rear tires on the tractor - well worth the extra money IMHO.

 

[doxford jim]

Here is a link to one reseller - there are others around with similar offers or better.

72" Snowblower SAVE 45% OFF Spring Sale | other | Petawawa | Kijiji

Hope it works for you.

 

[NormL]

Just bide your time and pick what you want size wise. There will be something come along - you just have to spot it
Don't know how much you want to spend and whether or not you want to buy new. I have heard the Agriease make a half decent snow blower for around $2,000 new.
Also, Allied Farm-King is out of Winnipeg so there should be lots of snow blowers used in your area. Need to use Kijiji and Craigs List a bit for the info.
Good luck with your search. If you can afford it, buy a blower at least 6" wider than the rear tires on the tractor - well worth the extra money IMHO.

Hi Jim: Biding my time is the plan - its the only way with the EXTREMELY tight budget I have to work with. My best hope is finding a junker with possibilities. I have the capability to repair a fair range of broken stuff so a broken snowblower would be OK as long as it wasn't bent too badly while trying to ingest some buried "treasure" too large or solid to launch up the chute.:shocked: