MiserableOldFart
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2006
- Messages
- 544
- Location
- Delaware County Catskills NY
- Tractor
- NH Workmaster 40, Kubota GR2120
Finally had to use the snow thrower the other day. We had about 4 inches of icy, crusty, wet slushy mess that I was concerned would freeze. Considered actually taking off the snow thrower and using the back blade, but that would be too much like work. The machine did a good job throwing that mess. I have it set quite a bit (max) off the ground to prevent digging into the dirt road so it doesn't clean as clean as the back blade would, but then it doesn't throw part of the road into the side, either. Under more "normal" winter conditions with frozen ground and a packed "base" on the road, I could lower it some. These were difficult conditions, with no real base except a few patches of glare ice, and parts of the road not frozen.
I do think that on a dirt road, ski-type shoes would perform a lot more smoothly than the round ones it comes with. If I had the equipment and skills, I would try to weld up a pair. I would think it would be pretty easy for someone experienced. The round shoes tend to catch on bumpy places, which is not much of a problem for the ones on my back blade, but much more serious when pushing with the three point, and thus in much more vulnerable position.
Someone (the dealer said it wasn't them) had put two grade 8 bolts in the shear pin slots in the drive shaft, which I had removed, and after considerable thought, replaced with one grade 5 bolt. It didn't break and there where some times when it was throwing a pretty heavy load of this wet stuff, so I think it'll be ok with that. The owners manual calls for a single grade eight but this drive shaft is a little different from the one illustrated there, so I though it would be safer to move down to a five and keep extras on board.
I do think that on a dirt road, ski-type shoes would perform a lot more smoothly than the round ones it comes with. If I had the equipment and skills, I would try to weld up a pair. I would think it would be pretty easy for someone experienced. The round shoes tend to catch on bumpy places, which is not much of a problem for the ones on my back blade, but much more serious when pushing with the three point, and thus in much more vulnerable position.
Someone (the dealer said it wasn't them) had put two grade 8 bolts in the shear pin slots in the drive shaft, which I had removed, and after considerable thought, replaced with one grade 5 bolt. It didn't break and there where some times when it was throwing a pretty heavy load of this wet stuff, so I think it'll be ok with that. The owners manual calls for a single grade eight but this drive shaft is a little different from the one illustrated there, so I though it would be safer to move down to a five and keep extras on board.