Unbelieveable - small rant on snowblower

[bncsauve]

Is there any chance that the pto shaft was cut too long and doesn't have enough travel? It could fit well when the blower is down, but bind up tight when raised and load the input shaft and case of the gear box.

 

[chinawall]

Cut my PTO rpm's back to 2000; haven't broken a shear bolt in 3 weeks.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Well, I hope ya'll didn't think I forgot about this thread. But it has taken this long to get any resolution. I finally got some info this past Friday 1.27.09.
But, in the end it appears that my efforts are not in vain and I'm glad I was able to help at least one other person like 494tfw. Where are you in VT by the way?
So I had to pay to get my L3400 to the dealer and have them inspect the installation. They say it's perfect and see nothing wrong. I then sent 2 busted gearboxes back to the disty. They have finally admitted that there was a production issue w/ the gearboxes and they will refund SOME of the money. I guess I should be happy I'm getting some cash back.
And no, as someone asked, you can't tell where it's made unless you pull the gearbox out of the blower frame. It's not hard to do, just takes a little time.
I hope no one else has problems, but if you do point your dealer to this thread. If anyone needs any info and I can help just let me know.

 

[radioman]

congrats, at least you are able to close a chapter on this ongoing issue.

 

[wawajake]

Although one would seem I am resurrecting a old old thread??there is a method to my madness. About a month ago I was ready to purchase a NEW 60 Meteor that was old stock at my tractor dealer here. It was well faded orange paint but he offered me pretty good deal so was about to pull the trigger the following weekend. But during that week I read here at TBN this thread and realized that potentially I might be purchasing a snowblower the same model and year as the one the original poster on this thread had all the problems and that finally Meteor admitted to having shaft/gearbox problems for that year. Meanwhile my dealer was pretty sure one I was looking at was only two or three years old. So the morning I was picking up my snowblower I asked the dealer to call in the serial number to Meteor and ask what year it was . Meteor told us it was a 2009 model (so four years old NEW) My dealer was also quite surprised and I trust him having bought lots there and he obviously was sold old factory inventory a couple years ago. I relayed to the Meteor person on the phone my concern about the shafts/gearboxes and he stated they increased the shaft size back then to 1 and quarter inch . I noticed that the one I was almost buying was one inch shaft so I hung up with Meteor and then my Dealer and I revisited the lot and I bought a heavier unit from Braber this time a 50inch one AgriEase. (It is a knockoff of AgriTrend) but heavier shafts than the Meteor one and 100 lbs heavier in steel etc. So I took a chance with that model. Hopefully I did not go from the fry pan to the fire, because I had heard nothing but good things about Meteor , but I wanted everyone here to know that there is some old stock out there to be aware of. Now I was nervous about getting a 60inch wide one anyway, because of my deep snow and smaller tractor, so this 50 inch will be just right and not take so much room in the garage.

 

[Deano]

Sounds like you did great! Let us know how she works for you!:thumbsup:

 

[AStanton]

Wawajake,
Two winters ago, we got clobbered with snow here, so I decided to get a 3-pt rear mount snowblower. One dealer had two Meteor blowers in stock. One was used, and the other was new, but had sat on the lot for five (5) years! The paint was faded and it had a dent in the top. I decided to get it and repaint it black. I would say it was the best purchase I ever made. We had a 30" snow storm last winter. The Meteor handled it like a champ. Note the snow piled behind the blower in the middle pic. That's what prompted me to buy it.

 

[HillStreet]

I have a Meteor 51 inch blower and it performs really well with my B2320. I have used it 3 winters so far. QUESTION: with about 50 hours on the blower I would like to check or change the gear oil in the gearbox. Do I need to disassemble the fan in order to get to the gearbox oil drain/ fill? Thanks

 

[AStanton]

On my Meteor, there is a plug at the top of the housing. Get one of those cheap transfer pumps from Harbor Freight to pump it out. I toyed with the idea of hanging mine upside down to drain it. Ended up using a pump.

 

[SeymourBota]

Now I was nervous about getting a 60inch wide one anyway, because of my deep snow and smaller tractor, so this 50 inch will be just right and not take so much room in the garage.

I run an older Meteor 60" on my B2410. I also own a BX 2660 and I can tell you, you made the right choice. The 60" would have been too much for the traction afforded by the 2660.

Anything over a foot of snow takes extra time with my 2410.