Snow Attachments I can testify what isn't so hot for snow

[SARG]

That just does not sound right... have you spoken to the dealer or manufacturer?

Where are you in upstate anyway? My Pop is West of Albany and they got a bit last week.

Wayne

Located 25 miles west of Albany.

 

[PILOON]

I use 1/4" grade 5, last longer and sheer nicely when needed.
I found that hardware store grade are too soft and burr when they sheer making them hard to drive out.
Also they bend b4 sheering kinda rounding the bore holes.

 

[SARG]

I am due to make another trip to TSC and I'll pick a selection for test ....... love that place cause they sell the nuts n bolts by the pound.

There's so much to read on the shear bolt topic ...... some folks say the grade 8 is better for shearing because it is brittle as opposed to the 5 which is "tougher".

 

[Baby Grand]

SARG has some very good advice - see if you can get the "body bound" bolts. Buy a length with a shank (just under .250" with no threads) that is long enough that it engages both sides of the shear joint, but short enough that you don't run out of thread when you torque the nut down. A close fit and a good, full torque on the nut will help prevent unwanted motion of the bolt in the hole and insure that it only fails in shear and shears cleanly when it does. Grade 5 would probably help, too.

Jim

 

[pitt_md]

I don't see why you should be replacing pins unless you have a mechanical problem. With the Hydro style tractor and a blower as wide as the tractor like yours seems to be you should be able to go very slow and it should walk right through it. Have you checked to make sure everything turns freely by hand? If you have bent something it could be binding just enough to cuase your problems

 

[20 20]

You are correct this snow was heavy, allmost like plowing water. Your shear bolt issue is an odd one. Allmost seems something is out of line binding etc????

 

[SARG]

I suspect the shear pin recommended is just too light for this type snow. It is especially heavy.

Just got back from TSC and now have about ten pounds of a mixture of 2s-5s & 8s.

At least now I won't run out.

 

[mbohuntr]

I use grade 2's in my 60" puma, that snow was very heavy! I went really slow on the first pass, and took about 1/4 passes after that. I did go thru a couple of shear pins, but only when I got too greedy. On mine, you can tell by the sound when you are loading it down. Had a grade 8 in the little blower, ran great till I snapped the main shaft in half... grade 2 pins are cheap insurance.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm going to be the party pooper and throw in the caution to not get too aggressive with your grade of shear bolt. I bought a hydro tractor for dirt cheap because some genius kept going with higher grade shear bolts until the guts of the tractor's tranny broke instead of the shear bolt. $750 in parts and 30 hours of labor later it's as good as new.

Check your blower for damage or alingment problems. See if others with the same tractor blower setup are having similar issues. Talk to your dealer and see if your setup should be able to handle what you're doing.

Going with larger or higher grade shear bolts is walking very close to that line between brave and stupid.

 

[pitt_md]

I have to go alone with IPlayFarmer on this. Kind of like replacing a fuse with a penny. It might get things going but your missing the problem.