Snowblower Experience

[techman]

Tom:

No back, but perhaps you could mount it "backwards". Each side has a zipper along the top edge and the side will fold open as a door. The bottom edge of the "door" is meant to clip into a supplied bracket that clamps on the pan sheet metal, but the location and fit wouldn't work. Besides it would mess up the finish, so I use a bungy through the eyelet on the vinyl and hook it around the ROPS. No more hassle than the supplied bracket would be.

It will defenitely work with the FEL. I have the right side FEL mount attached for the control valve, and the left would work as well. One other thing is that the BX is wider than the intended Sears "tractor", so the front flap does not seal up 100% with velcro as intended, so there is a small opening gap. But I am 100% satisfied - it keeps 99% of the wind and snow out, easy to mount and the price was right.

I had considered a rear snowblower, but my driveway is 2100' and I couldn't see driving backwards in poor conditions over that length. The Kubota unit was a bit more money, but well worth it.

paul

 

[emery]

Here is another idea for a winter cab. this is the picture and if you search on "winter cab" you will find the thread with more info.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/2-88974-top.JPG

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Any idea what unit you got from http://www.northerntool.com? Does it have a rear window? How do you deal with the snow on the window? Can you see OK? Now that you have used it, what do you think, worth it?

Golf Cart Cover
· Tough cover help keep you dry in wind and rain
· Protects your cart from the weather when stored
· Nylon storage cover with elastic cord sewn in hem fits all carts; comes with storage bag.
· All-weather driving cover fits carts with a roof; has clear vinyl windows, zippered doors and large zippered access in rear for golf bags
· Windshield cover is clear vinyl; fits carts with front roof posts

In Stock
Ship Wt. 5.0 lbs
Item# 45050
Discount Price...$69.99
Sale Price... $59.99

Golf Cart Rain Cover
Deluxe Drivable Golf Cart Rain Cover. Best we've seen! Super clear vinyl cover fits over most golf cart rooftops to keep you dry. Zippers allow easy exit and entry. Or you can roll sides up and secure them with snap-straps. Rear zippers give you access to golf clubs. Easy on, easy off cover has adjustable hooked straps and buckles for customized fit. Storage bag.
In Stock
Ship Wt. 9.0 lbs
Item# 450502
Discount Price...$99.99
Sale Price... $89.99

 

[emery]

I got the deluxe cover and the vinyl seems very durable. It is very easy to see through. The rear panel is all clear making it very easy to watch snowblower. Snow does not seem to stick to it. There are zippers on all 4 corners as well as entry zippers in the center of both sides.

I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them later at night.

 

[JimMorrissey]

techman,

I bust about three to four pins each time I blow in early season. I actually have a large bag of grade 5 bolts and keep them with me when I'm blowing. What a pain when they break!....you have to get all greasy; your fingers are frozen solid and it's pitch black out usually. You can't even feel what you're doing after the second or third pin. -It'll get better as the snow packs and the rocks get burried. Spring storms will bring the problem back agian. Not much you can do about. I would shy away from moving from grade 5 to grade 8. Grade 8 bolts are substantially stronger than 5s and you could do some serious damage to your blower. I've been trying to find all the bigger rocks in the fall, but you can't find them all. Somehow the blower seems to find them all though

 

[techman]

Jim:

I'm not sure where the grade 8 suggestion came from, but I have no intention to change to a higher strength bolt and risk more expensive hardware.

I initially bought some bolts from the dealer. The impeller is just a plain grade 5, but the ribbon feeder pins had two notches cut into the bolt corresponding to the inner/outer shafts to facilitate shearing.

I bought a dozen grade 5's to match and put them in the lathe and cut the notches myself. I figured it was a good idea to try to match the OEM part. With a little time, they only cost me 5 cents each.

My experience with the stones is that the first couple of snows are the ones where the loose stones get removed. My old tractor/blower was a single stage unit and between the design and the years of gravel processing (we just paved our road this year, it was stone for 15 years before), it had enough clearance to not mind all but the largest rocks. Now the road is improved, but the blower is more sensitive. I'm sure things will run much more smoothlt next snow, but just in case I have now a bag of pins ready.

paul

 

[jasonf]

I do the exact same thing for shear bolts as you. After seeing that the bolts were going for $2.00 each, I took the original ones out and set them up as models for my lathe. Now I buy the bolts by the box full and spend a few minutes cranking them out. I now have enough to last a lifetime at around 2 cents a piece. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[emery]

here is picture(from rear) of home made cab from golf cart cover. Following posts show frame details

 

[emery]

front roof support for plywood.

 

[emery]

This shows where front frame bolts onto FEL frame.