Snow Attachments I want a better blower for my cadet

Steveyooper · Dec 4, 2011

Hi all

After doing the usual greasing, oil change and overall equip. check on my cub last week, I thought I was ready to rock. 6" of heavy snow today let me know otherwise. The gear box on the blower blew up again. I've got the 341 42" model. The tractor (GT2186) has never given me any trouble, but the blower has from day one. I've got a 450' well maintained dirt drive and get about 200" of snow so the blower does have it rough (I think). When I talked to the dealer a few years ago, He said the newer model didn't seem as well built as the one I had??? Does anybody have any suggestions on a better blower for this tractor?

Thanks for reading
Steve

mpham · Dec 5, 2011

Welcome to the forum. On my Husqvarna machine I ran a 42" Berco blower and it is still going after 7 years. I have only changed one drive belt and a set of skid shoes in that time. You would have to see if they make one for your machine.

Steveyooper · Dec 5, 2011

Thanks for the reply

How does the Berco do in the wet heavy stuff? Sometimes the snow packs up pretty good in my cadet blower...

So far I have only found a 40" cut. Probably not a big deal but I'm don't want ot go to small.

I just have to decide whether to spend the cash on a new one or $300 on the Auger gear box assembly...... At this point I'm pretty sure that in a few years it will go out again and I haven't been all that impressed with the blower, but it sure is cheaper to fix it....

mpham · Dec 5, 2011

Mine worked great in all kinds of snow. My father in law has it now. It should last him years and years still.

Rfisher7381 · Dec 5, 2011

Steveyooper said:
I just have to decide whether to spend the cash on a new one or $300 on the Auger gear box assembly...... At this point I'm pretty sure that in a few years it will go out again and I haven't been all that impressed with the blower, but it sure is cheaper to fix it....

If you are handy you can buy rebuild parts here: http://www.partstree.com/parts/?lc=cub_cadet&mn=341+42"+Snow+Thrower&dn=0058400001

I rebuilt my model 351 snowblower gearbox using parts from this website.

EDIT: Oops! make that a model 451 snowblower.

Rfisher7381 · Dec 5, 2011

What type of lube is specified for that gearbox?

Steveyooper · Dec 5, 2011

Hey Rfisher

The manual says the gearbox is lubricated with grease at the factory and isn't externally servicable and doesn't require checking..... However it does list Shell Alvania if it is disassembled.

It's not so much rebuilding it as it is a reliablility issue, especially while I'm sitting here watching it snow.

Not to dish Cub Cadet, I really like the tractor and have had zero issues with it. This model Blower on the other hand leaves a little to be desired. Flimsy lift and auger control levers, poor spot welds holding the nuts on the brackets etc. I probably should have gotten the next higher level of tractor/blower.....

Looks like it would take almost 2 weeks to get a berco here and I could probably get parts in few days.

For some reason, the boss (wife) gets nervious when I make money decisions when I just get off a set of night shifts so I will wait until until tomorrow...

Thanks for your time

Steve

Rfisher7381 · Dec 5, 2011

SteveYooper,

I had to rebuild my gearbox after 4 years. When I rebuilt it rather than use the lube Cub recommended I used a mixture of Mobil 1 synthetic grease and Mobil 1 75w90 gear lube. I packed it into the gearbox fairly liberally before sealing things up. I used the snowblower for another 12 years without incident. I realize mixing different lubes is generally frowned upon but I felt that I was not getting the lube moving throughout the gearbox with the Cub recommended lube. Good luck to you.

me0418840987 · Dec 7, 2011

When we lived in the city, I had an old Sears 15 hp(started out as an 8hp) that I installed a Simplicity Briggs engine(front and rear crankshafts). I was then able to install a 48" single stage simplicity snowblower with a custom mount. No gearbox to worry about, just an idler pully with a rod to engage/disengage. Wish I had pics. Ran her for 10 years, and couldn't find a transmission. Does your Cub have a crank shaft out the front of the engine, I am not familliar with them? Now I have a Ford 850 with a low tech 8' Western on the front.