The 4WD is definitely an attractive feature. Not totally encouraging that the Deere went through several transmissions. I plow snow from my driveway...not a long driveway but it gets drifted in really high - like 4-5 feet at times. Wonder if the snow blower would do the job on something like that? You say it works real well. The issue I have here is that there is no room to plow the snow and push it in the direction of the side of our yard - so for the past 37 years I've been pushing it across the street (all woods and field...no problem in that regard) but, still, it's back and forth many times - have to watch for traffic and then I sometimes wind up having to shovel out the stuff I plowed to make room for more! Wonder if the snow blower (if I get the KB) would be a good investment instead of a blade? The blade the guy wants to sell me is the 48" - really about as large as I have comfortable room to store.
Kubota vs John Deere x570
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PHILIP8N
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I had a blade and a snow blower for the JD LX188. When I got the GR2120, I only got the snow blower. With the snow blower, you can move or displace snow to another location. With a blade, you are only pushing it aside, turns to ice, snows again, push it aside into an ice pile, and the trend continues (from my experience). With the blower, I displace the snow 20 feet away to another location and do not have to deal with it again. I am not sure how well a tractor this small and light would handle a 5' drift? Probably not. Philip.
Thanks for additional info. Listed weight on the 2020 is over 800 lbs....as much and I believe more than my Cub 129 - so should do the job just as well. That old Cub, built by IH, has been a workhorse - lasted for 47 years up until the rod broke in the engine. All cast iron and steel. Still tempted to put a rebuilt engine in it. Main issue is, of course, that the rest of the tractor is as old as the engine. I'd spend probably close to $2k on it - engine, new deck spindles, front wheel, etc. Then there is still a 20-year leak somewhere in the transmission that has never been addressed.
Looked at your pics...I see what you mean...that blower looks quite impressive! How does it do with the various mixes (snow/sleet/rain/ice)...which is the stuff I hate the most to try and plow. Does it blow heavy, slushy stuff like that? I have an old Bolens snowblower that just never worked very well to begin with, but especially not with anything other than pure snow.
If I decide on the blower instead of a plow, I guess the next question for the dealer would be - does the blower use the same sub-frame attachment (perhaps not the proper term) for both?
Looked at your pics...I see what you mean...that blower looks quite impressive! How does it do with the various mixes (snow/sleet/rain/ice)...which is the stuff I hate the most to try and plow. Does it blow heavy, slushy stuff like that? I have an old Bolens snowblower that just never worked very well to begin with, but especially not with anything other than pure snow.
If I decide on the blower instead of a plow, I guess the next question for the dealer would be - does the blower use the same sub-frame attachment (perhaps not the proper term) for both?
PHILIP8N
Veteran Member
The snowblower does not work well with rain 
Sleet, cannot really comment. Snow, dry or wet, does a great job as it is a 2 stage blower. The only time it does not work well, as with all other blowers, is when I get to the end of the driveway and I am dealing with a slush that the salt truck created when he was plowing. That salty slush does not blow well and can clog up chute if not careful. Philip.
Sleet, cannot really comment. Snow, dry or wet, does a great job as it is a 2 stage blower. The only time it does not work well, as with all other blowers, is when I get to the end of the driveway and I am dealing with a slush that the salt truck created when he was plowing. That salty slush does not blow well and can clog up chute if not careful. Philip.Attachments
The snowblower does not work well with rain
I'm seriously considering the idea of buying the KB 2020 but also putting a rebuilt engine in the Cub and using it primarily for plowing - I already have the blade for it, which I know does the job (has since '81 anyway!). That way I wouldn't need to buy any front attachment equipment for the KB. Good idea...bad idea...uncertain on that but seems like a decent option. I have a local guy who's been working on Kohler engines his whole life and I'm thinking will probably give me a decent price on a rebuilt long block.
arto98607
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By the way, those Kohler engines are pretty tough but they need to have a regular oil change.
I have a single cylinder 16 hp Kohler in early 70's JD 300 and it still purrs like new! (Yes, I know it's a little rough and noisy and burns lot of fuel)
I have owned it since 1992 and change the engine oil every 40 hours.
Would like to buy a conversion kit for B&S Vanguard V2 engine but so far impossible to justify.
John Deere 3 Repower
I always changed the oil on my Cub every spring. Then, of course, in addition to that, with the amount of blow-by that was coming out of the dipstick I was adding about 1//8 quart every time I mowed! So figure that new oil got mixed in with old constantly. Same for my Cub hydro...has had a fluid leak for the past 20 years (I suspect the cork gasket) and so same thing there...have constantly been adding hytran fluid.
Was really sort of sad to see my 12 HP Kohler break the rod...especially after just doing a good bit or work on it...was running great right up till the breakage.
Was really sort of sad to see my 12 HP Kohler break the rod...especially after just doing a good bit or work on it...was running great right up till the breakage.
arto98607
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How many hours you figure using it every year?
The connecting rod (it's aluminum) is pretty easy to replace on those, I had to do it over 15 years ago. I was lucky since there was no other damage at all!
Never had to add any engine oil yet.
No idea how much more I'd use it...if I use it for winter plowing, depends on the type of winter we have. If a bad storm, I can be out there for hours with it. Also could use it for mowing an area that is not part of my property - rougher, weedier terrain. About an hour job every few weeks.
I never did any sort of major engine work, but always heard that the blocks have to be rebored, etc., that you can't simply just put another piston, etc. in there. And, I truly have no idea what actually happened. Assuming the rod broke...but not certain. All I know is that when you turn the engine the valves move but not the piston. The guy that would do the work said he'd strongly prefer if I don't take it apart, though I don't see any harm in taking off the pan. That way I should be able to see what the situation is. So, yeah, I'd love an easy fix but is that the best way to go? Of course, if there is damage to the block, then that's a whole different issue.
When you say you replaced your rod...what actually happened to your motor that led you to having to do that? Mine simply stopped with a rather abrupt loud noise (like something breaking). Had no idea what happened..thought initially that I must have run over something that stopped the engine.
I never did any sort of major engine work, but always heard that the blocks have to be rebored, etc., that you can't simply just put another piston, etc. in there. And, I truly have no idea what actually happened. Assuming the rod broke...but not certain. All I know is that when you turn the engine the valves move but not the piston. The guy that would do the work said he'd strongly prefer if I don't take it apart, though I don't see any harm in taking off the pan. That way I should be able to see what the situation is. So, yeah, I'd love an easy fix but is that the best way to go? Of course, if there is damage to the block, then that's a whole different issue.
When you say you replaced your rod...what actually happened to your motor that led you to having to do that? Mine simply stopped with a rather abrupt loud noise (like something breaking). Had no idea what happened..thought initially that I must have run over something that stopped the engine.
arto98607
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I was not driving it, my son was and he said the engine just stopped while he was mowing grass (this happened actually about 20 years ago or so).
I pulled the engine out, removed the oil pan and found the aluminum connecting rod in many small pieces - luckily the piston had stopped half way in the cylinder. No other damage whatsoever.
John Deere had a new connecting rod on the shelve in a local warehouse. The cylinder, piston & rings were fine (still are 20 years later!) and no need to change or hone etc.