2520 Just keeps getting longer

[goodbyeNJ]

Thanks to all for the nice comments.

Nuru - Just went to the garage and measured the set-up as pictured at 216" - that's 18 feet.

I'll have to figure out how to do the profile thing. Anyway, we're in north east Pennsylvania near Waymart, Honesdale, Hamlin, etc. The windmills are part of the Waymart Wind Farm, of which 20, or so, are visible from here. The ones in the picture are about 2 1/2 miles away.

As far as keeping the machine clean, thanks, but I'm not a real fanatic. Gave everything a good wash after mowing and brush hogging were done for the year.
It tends to stay pretty clean in the snow and actually the snow does a nice job of cleaning the tires and wheels. I know it won't get washed again 'till Spring, unless we get a real warm spell.

 

[Nuru]

Thanks GoodbyeNJ, 18 feet, I gotta measure what mine is with that boom blade on the end of the loader arms.

 

[jd110]

Beautiful machine and beautiful country. Is the ridge that the windmills are located a natural ridge or a manmade one? It's gorgeous either way. I also like the idea of pulling the spreader behind the ballast box. It will help keep the corrosive salt from being thrown on the tractor.

 

[sandman2234]

18 foot long? My Ford 7710 is 13 foot 3 inches WIDE!!! * with duals.
Nice looking rig, but you can keep the white stuff up there!
David from jax
I also like your user name, as the company I used to work for is out of NJ, and dispite the local guys here wanting me to stay, they said to terminate me. So I told them to tell NJ goodbye as I walked out the door.
David from jax

 

[goodbyeNJ]

18 foot long? My Ford 7710 is 13 foot 3 inches WIDE!!! * with duals.
Nice looking rig, but you can keep the white stuff up there!
David from jax
I also like your user name, as the company I used to work for is out of NJ, and dispite the local guys here wanting me to stay, they said to terminate me. So I told them to tell NJ goodbye as I walked out the door.
David from jax

Sandman - I was going to get a tractor like yours, but there were two reasons I didn't, first - it didn't fit my garage, second - it didn't fit my wallet. Seriously, I wish all the manufacturers didn't make these compacts so narrow. I'd be a lot happier with another foot or so of width.

Your separation with NJ will turn out to be a good thing - count on it.

 

[tomd999]

GoodbyeNJ:

How wide is the blower with the wings? What gauge did you use? Have you had a chance to use it in real snow (foot or more) yet?

Tom

 

[goodbyeNJ]

GoodbyeNJ:

How wide is the blower with the wings? What gauge did you use? Have you had a chance to use it in real snow (foot or more) yet?

Tom

Tom - The wing opening is 54 inches. I got two pieces of 11 ga. steel (approx 1/8"). I don't know the grade, but it is quite rigid. I figured that was the max for bending, so worth a try.

Sunday's nor'easter gave it a good test. Don't have any idea how much snow we got - 850' double wide drive had anywhere from a couple of inches to over two feet when the wind got done. We had no local TV (no football) Sunday because all the antennas blew down - for real.

Blower and wings did a great job. Those hard packed drifts gave the motor all it could handle, if I took a full bite. The only problem was, on a smaller bite, with ice underneath, the wings would pull the tractor into the drift - loss of steering. Had to back-up and straighten out a few times. There is another interesting thread going about getting rid of rear ballast to reclaim steering. Wings did not get damaged or bent at all. All in all, I'm pleased. Probably will change the relief curve (bigger radius) on the bottom fronts in the spring.

I picked-up the blower this fall, assembled it, installed it and made the wings. I never used it without the wings so I have no comparison.

 

[goodbyeNJ]

Tried to attach pics on previous posts - didn't work, will try again.

 

[goodbyeNJ]

One more time.

 

[JSR LLS]

goodbye,
Nice work on the wings. Are you blowing on asphalt or gravel? Also, how do you have your skid shoes adjusted? I put mine all the way up so only the bottom edge of the blower is contacting the asphalt. The dealer left them down a bit (they told me it was all set up for an asphalt driveway) and it didn't do a great job cleaning up all the snow. Now it seems to scrape the asphalt and the edge somewhat, but I'm not sure if I'm beating up that bottom edge too much. It makes for a super clean asphalt driveway though. I just don't want to have to replace that edge every couple of years as I'm not sure how long it would take do beat it up beyond good use. I was just curious what others are doing. Thanks