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Probably not up to code but works great for us.

January 26, 1932, To bypass Prohibition laws, a U.S doctor writes a note for the visiting Winston Churchill, saying his "post-accident convalescence... necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits, especially at mealtimes."

Well we got about 2 inches of sleet. I'm not complaining because our power stayed on and we're safe and warm. Had the generator and alternate heaters all staged and ready but we didn't need them this time. Luckily very little freezing rain for this area. I'm very thankful! Temps will stay below freezing for the week. Roads were brine sprayed but they are now solid sheets of ice. We got plenty to eat so we'll stay home and wait it out.

Last night I replaced the transmission drive belt with what I believe is the proper one P/N 7473 on my 417-A. Today I took it out to blow the driveway and it worked fine for about 15 minutes. Then I heard a noise and knew something wasn’t right, so I headed back to the garage. I found the belt had jumped off the pulley and was wedged between the transmission and the pulley. I’ve never had this happen before? There’s two different part numbers given for that belt, I want to confirm this is the correct one? As I was investigating this problem my pager went off for a mutual aid fire call. This was in the height of the storm, to a neighboring department. A department that rarely calls for our help, stating a garage and multiple structures on fire. I am one of the senior members and truck drivers so I was the operator for this alarm. We actually had to follow the town snowplow to get there. The young man in the passenger seat got on the siren, so I yelled at him and said you idiot do you want me to pass him so we can get stuck and not get there? He apologized and I told him in this case slow and steady wins the race. We didn’t get done until dark so my driveway will have to wait until tomorrow, I wasn’t going to have trouble with the tractor in the dark with it still snowing and sleeting. That’s me in the blue coat, I don’t wear turnout gear when I’m driving as I find those big clunky boots unsafe to drive with. IMG_4058.mov

We got about 18” with drifts 2-3’. I’ve had the blower attachment for years, but most of our storms are ink the 6” range so never really had to use it. The beginning of this season however, I said what the heck, and put it on the 416-8. Well I am sure glad I did, that single stage on a 16hp Onan throws the snow unbelievably far. I probably could have done everything with the blade, but my driveway would have been 33% narrower. Had so much fun, I helped my neighbor too.

I have just three words... I LOVE HYDROS!

I like that. I have a Gen Tent on mine. I works great Generator Covers - NFPA Rated | GenTent Safety Canopies

Nowhere near the original forecast here. We're currently setting with 11" of very fluffy snow on the side deck. Driveway likely has a touch more. It appears that we won't see much more.

Go with an 8 speed open diff. This is what can happen to the 6 speed 10 pinion with limited slip if you push it too far. The 10 pinion lasted 3/4 of a pulling season. I replaced it with an 8 pinion open diff from a 520H, this diff will be starting it's 3rd season this year.

12v defroster. Don't believe some of the pics with fire coming out of it like it gets real hot. It was just a quick search. 150-200 watts isn't much but mounted on the roof and pointed at the windshield it works for keeping the fog down. Connect to the switch so you don't leave it running by mistake. https://www.ebay.com/itm/306627065285

Flew some parts and red for 520 FEL fuel pump install. Some slight mod to the pump mount it goes right in existing holes.

Sorry, I keep posting the same tractor…first pic was sometime this morning, last pic was this evening. Snow is still coming down

I don't switch oil. I switch tractors. Winter tractors use 10w30 and summer tractors use 30w.

Looks like it came with the super rare cutting board belt guard !! 😂👍🏻

Made a make shift weight bar and used some old weights that were kicking around so I could get around with the 44” blower. Didn’t have a problem going anywhere but definitely had to watch backing up. Probably going to seek out some wheel weights this year though.

We don't get near the lake effect here as we did just northeast of here but it does happen. The bulk of the system snow stayed south but the lake effect hit overnight. By this morning it was just east of us so I got some playtime. Maybe 6" and very light. The county pulled the plows off the roads last night but got them out there this morning. I got most of the drive done but the plow hasn't made a pass yet. I didn't bother doing much at the end of the drive. I came in to unfreeze my fingers and will wait on the plow before I go back out. I thought about getting some of those one use heat thingys to slip in my mittens and I'm thinking about it again. But I still don't have any.

Tie rods ready to be installed. Outer ends stock with new Heim inner joints. Tie rod outer ends greased. I worked it in as much as possible. Tie rods installed. I used non-locking nuts for now on the outer end until final alignment is done. Inner tie rod ends are held tight using lock washers for now at least. Greased spindles and axle pivot. Now out to plow or blow snow.

Pretty slick Bar ...

I like how you think sir!

Maybe a 2 or 3 sided "dog house" type structure. Maybe wheels on it so it can be moved and or turned easily. They sell little generator cover thingys too but... https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=generator+covers+while+running&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2332490.m570.l1311

At the moment (10:15) PM Sunday) there's about 7 inches (measured) of new snow on the driveway, and a bit more on the lawn, which is hard to measure, as there was already snow on the lawn. It's still snowing steadily, but it's nice dry snow so far, and not much wind (yet). Instead of plywood, I dug out some sheet metal that I had stashed in our garden shed to use as a temporary lean-to over the end of our backup generator. It appears to be keeping snow from building up against it, but I'd like a more permanent solution. Perhaps some kind of metal shed over the generator with adequate room around the generator for servicing and meeting any code clearance requirements, as well as providing enough ventilation. Some fireproof acoustic material could be added to the interior, not that I'm all that concerned about noise, as it would only run during a power outage, and it's over a hundred feet from the closest neighbor's house. Or maybe some kind of metal semi-open snow-break fence with staggered slats and a 'roof' of some sort. I'll have to do a bit of research, including calling my local code enforcement officer.

IMG_4058.mov

It was 5 degrees today, so I use 5W30.

Could not handle another day of boredom so I decided to warm the shop up & do something. Took a bit to get it from 7F to 60F but once there I was able to get the sheet metal blasted. Started the filler work on the hood. It was littered with several dings.

Sissy...

WWHHAATTT. At 4:30 this morning it was - 14⁰ ... but now it's MUCH warmer. 2 above.

I woke up this morning to the sound of my neighbor firing up his Kubota. All the driveways were packed tight with 3-4 feet of snow from PENNDOTS plowing. He used the Kubota with the FEL to remove the packed snow so I could get in with the 520H to plow the driveways. We just finished all seven driveways. We had about 10 inches of snow then several hours of sleet creating one of the heaviest snows I had to plow.

It has been a few years since I got a storm that we’re gonna have that last two days. So hope everybody that is affected by this stay safe get plenty of warm-ups hot chocolate whatever keeps you moving. Here’s a couple pics that I just took.

That is awesome!

Still snowing here since early Sunday morning. Cleared driveway & already 2" accumulated. Gave the 702 quite a workout. Snow was pretty light yet still almost a foot deep so it did a pretty good job. Took today off so I had time to play on tractor instead of using Toro 2stage walk behind.....thats not as fun🤪 VID_20260126_101329.mp4 VID_20260126_101359.mp4

Had this happen on a tractor & turned out PO had monkeyed around with the idler tension and wrong spring on. Too much belt flop. Check the spring for being proper. 7473 shows up as the belt for a 417 hydro and gear jammer. Guessing you have these but just in case ... Belts for Riding Mowers.pdfChart Belts Tractor drive.pdfBelts_Mower_spindle_and_drive_belt_charts.pdf Gotta be a tough one in this kinda weather Don ... hats off Pierce rigs ... made right here in Appleton WI. Been in their plant many times.

All good ideas. The generator covers/tents have given me a couple of ideas. @Bar Nuthin, your generator shed looks great...lots of thoughtful features! Since our Generac generator is permanently wired to the house, I'd probably have to jump through more hoops to build a permanent enclosure. At the moment, I'm envisioning a simple metal extension of the top of the generator that's about two feet wider than the generator, extends out over the intake end a few feet and down to the ground, and is open on two sides. Maybe it could be attached to the cover with a couple of thumb screws. If I don't want to drill any holes in the cover, a couple of screws could be welded onto two plates, which could be adhered to the cover with double-sided foam tape. I have some special VHB (very high bond) 3M tape that would certainly do the job. The extension could be left off except when a snowstorm is approaching. Now off to see about some snow clearing. Looks like around 12" of new dry white stuff out there this morning. Might be a bit breezy today, but not much snow on the trees due to being such cold, light snow. NWS says maybe another 1 to 2 inches today and another 1 to 3 inches tonight. No power outages in the area at all. Being on the coast, sometimes we pick up some extra snow from the proximity with water, depending on wind direction and other conditions...sort of like a 'lake effect,' I suppose.

All will physically bolt up to your frame. BUT, there are differences between the 6 and 8 speed versions. Your 1976 tractor is a long frame style, uses two pedals - a clutch and a brake? If so, you should be looking for an 8 speed - the brake works the same. Earlier 6 speeds are different, similar to early 3 speeds. You will need to deal with the HI-LO shifter - a hole would need to be added to the sheet metal. Same for the Dipstick / tube. Look for an 8 speed from an early C series, like a C81. That has the 8 pinions and 1-1/8" axles. The later 300 series use the 1" axles.

Bought this one in 2002. 1991 520-H. Same oil as the 312-8. Still own it. Twin cylinder.

Being locked in was boring (not that I'm complaining) so I put this lady back together, and fired her up and readjusted the hydro cam. I didn't take it for a drive yet but I will in the next day or two. I absolutely love the new height of the steering wheel. I also can understand why Wheel Horse came out with reduction steering. Might be a pain to mow with, but I like it regardless. She needs a bath, but that can definitely wait...

This afternoon at 4:00 my snot rockets were hitting the ground already frozen. I don't know what that is in degrees, but it's cold.

I have used Valvoline 10W-30 in this 312-8 since new in 1989 year round. Never an issue. @bo dawg

take some heat tape for pipes, wrap it around the engine, starter and battery, hopefully you've already got some 120v in the area for the battery charger, plug the heat tape in and the next time you need it., the battery and the engine should be warm enough to spin right over on a moments notice

I agree changing the oil to 10w30 for winter would be best for engines but I was gona try to get it out of the barn to warm up and change the oil so i could plow but crap i would have to dig my way to the barn and then plow 3' drifts for almost 1/8 of a mile just to get to my primary drive way. So heck with that, I called a guy with a truck/plow to do it.

I wonder if you have some water (condensation) in the oil that frosted up the breather and built up the pressure. Check for milk in any opening to the crankcase and milky oil.

I do not switch oil either. Snow horses get 5w-30 synthetic .... Summer horses Rotella 30w

you probably have a 1:1 ratio of tractors to implements.

Trina's 8 HP engines use HD30 all year. My big blocks 12 to 16 HP get switched over from HD30 to 10W30 for the winter. ❄️

I just watched my neighbor pushing one of those tiny blowers. He made one path to the road then disappeared into the garage. His is one of the 7 driveways I usually plow. I called all the neighbors that I had numbers for to let them know I will not be plowing until Monday morning. It is sleeting here now and I want to keep all the ice on top of the snow so I can plow it off.

I sure hope this ol’ girl fires up later when it’s time to plow out . Was there a heated seat option ??

I'm sure shoveling snow would be a pleasure with a couple of Wheel Horse Jr. snow shovels.

Next time I have to shovel I will have to remind myself of the fact that snow on average is 90% air.