Switching between 54" blower & 200cx loader

[bxowner]

It's far too cold outside right now to spend a lot of time figuring this out by measuring, so I'm hoping someone knows the answer off the top of their head.

I took deliver of my 2320 with loader and 54" blower on Wednesday (I wasn't home at the time). The dealer left the loader in front of the tractor and blower in the garage (where my wife parks!) and I have to move both out this weekend. You all know what will happen if it keeps snowing on her car!

At any rate - the blower came with the remote chute deflector kit (the kind that's on the left-hand side of the tractor with the turn-knob). Two questions:

1. Is there a way to quick-disconnect the knob assembly from the brackets - so I can just rest it on top of the blower - or do I have to unscrew it altogether? It doesn't explain in the manual.

2. Do both brackets have to come off to reattach the loader? There's the one loop bracket that the coiled wire goes through that looks like it might be in the way of the loader arms - I can't tell whether the bracket that supports the lever/handle might be in the way too.

I'm just looking to move the loader 15 feet - and trying to do as little disassembly as possible. Thanks.

 

[turbo36]

If you only have to move 15' I would suggest just moving the loader. I move mine using some 4 wheel furniture dolly's that I bought at the local HD/Lowes/Menards/TSC Store. Before I got the dolly's I slid the loader on some plywood scraps.

 

[bxowner]

Too bad for me, there's an embankment between where it is now and where it's going to be stored. Thanks for the idea, though.

 

[Deadman]

Pick the blower up with the loader and set it outside.

 

[bxowner]

Deadman -

Are you suggesting that the blower's a waste and just use the loader?

Or did you misread my question - the blower's on the tractor now. It's the loader that I'm trying to move without a lot more effort... looks like I'm going to have to unbolt all of the assemblies associated with the remote chute deflector - only 3 brackets, but still more than I want to do in 6 degree weather.

 

[kennyd]

Get yourself some dollies and roll the loader anywhere you want. Here is a 300cx:


John Deere 300CX Loader Storage on Vimeo

 

[Deadman]

Deadman -

Are you suggesting that the blower's a waste and just use the loader?

Or did you misread my question - the blower's on the tractor now. It's the loader that I'm trying to move without a lot more effort... looks like I'm going to have to unbolt all of the assemblies associated with the remote chute deflector - only 3 brackets, but still more than I want to do in 6 degree weather.

oops, thought the loader was on, and blower was in garage.....I just meant to use the loader to move the blower since it was already installed. I was wrong.... Either way, you have a real nice machine! :thumbsup:

 

[Gizmo2]

Two guys should be able to move a 200CX loader. I move mine by myself, only a couple feet. But with two guys I would think good to go.

 

[bxowner]

Well, I swapped them and it was, indeed a lot more work than I expected... I not only had to take the quick-hitch completely off, which I knew I'd have to do, but I had to unbolt the remote chute and unbolt and remove both loop-supports on either side of the engine. Not a big deal, by any means, but more effort than I'd want to try to go through more often then at the beginning and end of the snow season.

 

[Deadman]

And thats exactly why my 2520 only has a loader on it, and not a plow or blower!

 

[techwrtr2]

And thats exactly why my 2520 only has a loader on it, and not a plow or blower!

That's also why I've contemplated another tractor instead of scrounging up a blower for my 855. I use the loader all winter long, going to be fetching coal hear with it as soon as I finish modifying the wagon I store it in. Use the loader to fill said wagon.

 

[turbo36]

Well, I swapped them and it was, indeed a lot more work than I expected... I not only had to take the quick-hitch completely off, which I knew I'd have to do, but I had to unbolt the remote chute and unbolt and remove both loop-supports on either side of the engine. Not a big deal, by any means, but more effort than I'd want to try to go through more often then at the beginning and end of the snow season.

After you do it a few times the time will drop to 10 minutes ( 15 if you go get a cup of coffee)

 

[C-Range]

bx,

I wish I'd seen your question earlier..

To remove the chute angling cable, I was instructed to loosen the two opposing hex caps that clamp the actuator to the bracket bolted to the tractor. I just keep a couple of mid sized adjustable wrenches nearby for the winter to remove and reinstall it on command. Then, I just coil the cable around the chute along with the chute rotator hydraulic lines for storage when removing the blower from the machine.

I don't know about the 2320, but with my 2305 the PTO shaft angling assembly has to come off of the tractor as well, unfortunately. The 200CX loader ground stand just barely hits it, grrr. Too bad JD couldn't have designed it to just miss. Oh well.

BTW, are we going to get some pictures of this new beast?

 

[whbrittain]

Get rid of the support piece for the chute angle adjust cable. Attach a D ring to the top of the hood guard with a big tie wrap. It works better and is dead easy to open up to release the cable.

 

[bxowner]

whbrittain -

I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Here's a technical question that I hope someone has time to answer: keeping in mind the snowblower package came assembled by the dealer. The right side support loop for the hydraulic lines uses a carriage-bolt like assembly that threads into the frame of the tractor.

On the left side, however, the support loop is held in place with a bolt/nut assembly. The annoying issue being that the access to the bolt is impossibly tight - I could barely fit a 1/4" Snap-On ratchet (the size that fits in the palm of your hand) to hold tension against the nut. So, it makes for that little bit more effort that adds that little bit more time to disassemble/reassemble. Meaning, I may go the route that whbrittain suggested.

Question is: should there be a threaded nut in the frame like the other side? If it were, it would take no time at all to remove.

 

[Henri88]

whbrittain -

I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Here's a technical question that I hope someone has time to answer: keeping in mind the snowblower package came assembled by the dealer. The right side support loop for the hydraulic lines uses a carriage-bolt like assembly that threads into the frame of the tractor.

On the left side, however, the support loop is held in place with a bolt/nut assembly. The annoying issue being that the access to the bolt is impossibly tight - I could barely fit a 1/4" Snap-On ratchet (the size that fits in the palm of your hand) to hold tension against the nut. So, it makes for that little bit more effort that adds that little bit more time to disassemble/reassemble. Meaning, I may go the route that whbrittain suggested.

Question is: should there be a threaded nut in the frame like the other side? If it were, it would take no time at all to remove.

Question here. I'm a little confuse. Unless the 54'' is different from the 47'' which I have, the loop that came with mine are open loop. It permit me to install or remove the hydraulic hose and the chute cable without having to remove the loops. I just have to squeeze it in. Are your loops completely close?

 

[bxowner]

Henri88 - I can get the chute handle through the loops without a problem.

The issue for me is going between loader and blower... the loops would get bent by the loader arms if they stayed in place.

 

[Henri88]

Henri88 - I can get the chute handle through the loops without a problem.

The issue for me is going between loader and blower... the loops would get bent by the loader arms if they stayed in place.

Do you have some pictures that shows where they have install the loops on your tractor? I understand that our tractors are not quite the same, never the less, I can't help wondering if they install the loops in the right place. I've made my own installation following the instruction book and I don't have to remove the loops when I go from blower to the fel. I can also take a few pics of mine if it can help. Henri

 

[snyder_man]

I just got the 54" snowblower this winter but when the dealer was showing me how to operate it he said I could leave all the hoops and chute control bracket on when I mounted my FEL. I haven't tried it yet.
snyder_man