Snow Mid-PTO Troubleshooting / B2782 Snow Thrower Weak Stream

[amroth]

Hello All,

I have a 2005 B3030HSDC, and currently, have a B2782, front mount snow blower hooked up for the Winter.

I'm trying to diagnose my B2782 snow thrower's weak stream. I used it, last weekend, with no problems. Got into the tractor, to blow snow, got into the cut and the snow was only being thrown about six feet. Stopped, checked the shear pins (all good). Backed into the shop, double checked everything, and it all seems to be in order. Went back out, got into the cut, and it repeated. As the snow piled, the stream got to where it only, barely, cleared the chute. Back into the shop, take a second look. The lever seems to be throwing the linkages correctly. I was watching the linkages move, while throwing the lever, back and forth. It appears to go into the top of the transmission housing, on the end of a shaft. Looks like it rotates the shaft about a quarter of a turn, when you throw the PTO lever.

Took the blower off the tractor, took the gear reduction cover off and found nothing broken in there. I can turn the entire drive train, easily, by hand. Moves real easy, and smooth. This leads me to believe that the mid-PTO clutch is slipping. Am I missing any other checks, before I bring it in for repairs?

I can wrench, but splitting a tractor is going to be new to me, and I'm a little worried that I can pull it off.

Thanks for any input.

 

[moship]

Before breaking into the clutches, I'd have some one from a safe distance watch to see if the auger or fan speed slows during operation.

Maybe make certain the large sprocket that drives the fan/auger input shaft is not slipping on the shaft. It's held on by a tapered hub and augmented by a square key if memory is correct. It's a very long shot this would be the problem, but it's much easier to rule this out before spending hours repairing clutches.
Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

[mikester]

Was it wet sticky snow by chance? Wet stuff doesnt blow very well.

Do you store your machine outside or in a heated garage? If stored outside your PTO lever might not be fully engaging. On Friday we had high winds, blowing snow and negative double digits temperatures...my HST pedal started acting up and not returning to center because of ice/snow build up on the linkages. Parking in a heated garage freed everything up.

Do you have an RPM gauge (tachometer) to verify the PTO output speed? Id be checking that first.
Digital Laser Tachometer | Princess Auto

 

[amroth]

Before breaking into the clutches, I'd have some one from a safe distance watch to see if the auger or fan speed slows during operation.

Maybe make certain the large sprocket that drives the fan/auger input shaft is not slipping on the shaft. It's held on by a tapered hub and augmented by a square key if memory is correct. It's a very long shot this would be the problem, but it's much easier to rule this out before spending hours repairing clutches.
Good luck and let us know what you find.

It was real light, fluffy lake effect snow. Usually, I throw that stuff 30 feet. I took the blower off and pulled the cover, everything was fine. Will update, when I get to the bottom of this, so if anyone else finds this post, they'll have a reference.

 

[amroth]

Was it wet sticky snow by chance? Wet stuff doesnt blow very well.

Do you store your machine outside or in a heated garage? If stored outside your PTO lever might not be fully engaging. On Friday we had high winds, blowing snow and negative double digits temperatures...my HST pedal started acting up and not returning to center because of ice/snow build up on the linkages. Parking in a heated garage freed everything up.

Do you have an RPM gauge (tachometer) to verify the PTO output speed? Id be checking that first.
Digital Laser Tachometer | Princess Auto

This tractor has a good life, indoor storage. I may look into the PTO tachometer though. Thanks.

 

[seville009]

Engine sound normal? No lugging? Pto shaft connection to the blower shaft tight?

 

[amroth]

Engine sound normal? No lugging? Pto shaft connection to the blower shaft tight?

Yes, and yes.

As far as I can tell, everything looks, and sounds, good.

Machine goes into the cut, just fine, and then falls on its face, as the snow starts to pile in front of the augers & fan.

 

[aczlan]

Yes, and yes.

As far as I can tell, everything looks, and sounds, good.

Machine goes into the cut, just fine, and then falls on its face, as the snow starts to pile in front of the augers & fan.

Does the engine bog down or change sound when this happens?

Aaron Z

 

[seville009]

Maybe set up your cellphone in a spot where you can videotape the front of your blower going into some snow so that youcan watch it and maybe see if you can spot anything when you view it.

 

[crazyal]

Do you have any rear PTO attachments? As far as I know there isn't a separate clutch for the mid PTO. Also if the clutch is slipping you should smell it.

 

[amroth]

Does the engine bog down or change sound when this happens?

Aaron Z

No, the engine maintains RPM just fine.

 

[amroth]

Do you have any rear PTO attachments? As far as I know there isn't a separate clutch for the mid PTO. Also if the clutch is slipping you should smell it.

I have a rear mount chipper. I've never smelled any clutch material burning while running the tractor.

I've been thinking... a few times a year (Winter), I'll have to blow the accumulated snow shed, that comes off the metal roof of the house, and out buildings. Most of the time, I have to break this hard packed snow up, and then run through it with the blower. I'm wondering if that was just too much for the mid-PTO to handle?

 

[ruffdog]

FIRST....check your clutch pedal free play at the top. Maybe all you need to do is adjust the linkage a bit.

 

[crazyal]

If I power into too much snow my front mounted blower will stall the engine. I think it's been suggested to have someone watch the PTO shaft going to the blower and see if it's still spinning at speed or if it's slowing down. That way you can figure out if the tractor or the blower is the problem.

 

[moship]

There is no clutch on the B3030 and no clutch pedal, but I"m assuming it is HST.

There is a clutch for the PTO and this could be slipping, but it is a wet clutch so hard press to smell it.

 

[sandyc]

Are you running at wot?

 

[amroth]

Are you running at wot?

I typically run at the orange band (540 rear PTO) readout, on the Tach.

 

[amroth]

I got my WSM, in the mail, the other day. After reading through it a little, I wonder if there is a fluid restriction somewhere? Poppet valve at the PTO manifold?

This is a HST equipped tractor, so I wonder if it hydraulic pressure related? And not clutch disc related?

After reading through on how to remove the cab, I'm a little hesitant to do this on my own, without evacuating the R1234 from the AC unit first. If I have to do that, I may just bite the bullet and send it into the shop for the repair. I'm not equipped (specialty tool wise) to mess with that.

Anybody have an idea as to where I can source a hydraulic system pressure gauge set?

 

[aczlan]

Anybody have an idea as to where I can source a hydraulic system pressure gauge set?

Surplus Center, Ebay Amazon or Tractor Supply for all have them.
The only question is what adapters you will need to connect them to your tractor.

Aaron Z

 

[Jaylegger]

I'd take a close look at the fan shear pin again and put a wrench on it or just pull hard on the fan to see if it spins. Quite sure I had something like this occur many years ago. The shear bolt was painted over therefore adhered to the shaft on both sides. It sheared but both sides looked fine. There was enough drag internally that the fan still spun up with no load but immediately would slow and stop under load.