Theroundhousernr 589 #1 Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) Well, FINALLY got some good snow in eastern PA. I have not had much time to post about my new toys and additions but I figured this video would be a good time to bring up the blower. Been wanting to find a tall chute for a while now. I was perfectly fine with my short chute but I have plans to add electric chute rotator and chute deflector. The tall chute is an easier platform to add these items too. I found one in all but mint condition with these heavy, heavy steel wheel weights that came along with the deal . Some other things I like about the tall chute is the replaceble scraper blade and the thicker jack shaft which allows you to use a standard bearing and not having to modify things just to replace the bearings. Heres a short video from this morning! Throws the snow just fine! Calling for another snow storm on Monday! http://youtu.be/0Fyb0NUmvk0 Kyle Edited January 24, 2015 by Theroundhousernr 18 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #2 Posted January 24, 2015 Looks like the blower was doing a find job, and you were staying dry! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 616 #3 Posted January 24, 2015 Nice video and sound. How would you compare the performance of the tall chute to the short chute in terms of snow throwing ability? TIA 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,559 #4 Posted January 24, 2015 So that's what snow looks like! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #5 Posted January 24, 2015 Nice video and sound. How would you compare the performance of the tall chute to the short chute in terms of snow throwing ability? TIA I pretty much agree with everyone elses views as far as performance. My short chute would send it just as far. The tall chute keeps the plume of snow tighter and less of a spray pattern effect, which may result in a few more feet of distance. I like the replaceable scraper bar which allows you to set a tight tolerance between blade and pavement. Also allows you to maintain that tolerance by adjusting the skid shoe adjustment height. Yes, you can always weld or add a blade to the older models but it will not be as easly replaced. And the knotched bar adjuster for the scalp wheels will most likely never match your blade height or wear to the blade. However, I do miss the quick adjustment of the scalp wheels for switching from blacktop to grass. To compromise, I nudge the hydro lever until i see the blower lift just a tiny bit. As I understand it , there is some short chute blowers out there with the skid shoes and replaceable scraper that where improvements made before the switch to the tall chute. I am more then content with the tall chute. At the end of my driveway I blew through wet slush about 18+ inches thick packed snow the plow truck left to the power lines. The neighbor was impressed with that move. The simplicity and performance is so well balanced , I see no need to own the heavy , two stage blower. The singles break down nice for storage and are super easy to fix and find parts for. I have found no snow that clogs or slows down the single stage blowers to date. Thats my story and Im sticking to it! lol 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #6 Posted January 25, 2015 Yea! You were dry! I was soaking wet. And I snapped my cotter pin just before I was done. Had to walk back to the garage, grab a new pin and washer then lay down in the snow/slop to get it back on after jacking the blower up on some firewood I brought with me. Yea! Your cab looks real nice to me now! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #7 Posted January 25, 2015 good job shes doing,i agree that the singles are easy to source parts for,ive rebuilt 3 and can get every thing fot it at one place(my local bearing shop) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #8 Posted January 25, 2015 Man, that looks great. It was just the opposite for me. We got a bit over 3 1/2" of snow. But it started raining very lightly in the morning. When I went out into the garage, fired up the 520 with the tall chute single. Out the garage door I went. 5 feet into that heavy wet packed snow I knew this wasnt goung to work. The snow would just pack and dribble 3 to 4 ft out the front. I said nope, it was over the tractors limit. A FAR CRY from the 416-8 with the "normal" snow. That stuff flys out the chute. I was very glad for the plow being on the jeep. Its how I ended cleaning the driveway. Oh well, I bet differant results for next week. Glenn ps, I just wonder if the 2 stage would have given me the edge.? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #9 Posted January 25, 2015 Glenn, the first time I used the blower this year we had 3 inches of that same crap snow. Brought down trees everywhere. It blew the snow no problem. A good fifteen foot. I was surprised and I hear others with the same issues you are having. I run the blower on the inner pulley of the pto full throttle. It's important for the blower to be same temp as the outside temp. And I usually shoot some wd40 in the shoot. Also another thing is to not go slow in wet heavy snow, especially when it's only a few inches. This keeps the pressure and the blower full. A few times in that snow it plugged up but all I did was push into the snow a little faster and it opened up on its own. This snow was very heavy but deeper so it kept the blower full which is important with these single stages. The more snow I feed it, the farther it flies. Maybe I'm just lucky but I think if you keep these things in mind it will surprise you. This is the first year with a cab. It might be a little harder to get in the tractor but when I see that snow fly over the hood and the windshield ,I feel mighty lucky to have it. On top of that, I was in there with just my long sleeve thermal with my t shirt over it and was still hot. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #10 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) I can only reply, the auger and shoot are coated. Either wd or snow shooter spray. My blower is not the same temp, I have a modine 60 btu heater in the garage. Keep it at 60 most of the time. Maybe being warmer? Never had the problem before, but never had the snow this heavy and wet. If i come across snow like this again will adjust my technique and report back. Never thought of the temp differential. Thanks,,,,,, Glenn edit,,,,,,,by the way, the cap is the best. One day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Edited January 25, 2015 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #11 Posted January 25, 2015 I have some stainless bent up for a light bar and high power led floods for the cab yet but just have not got them mounted yet. Cant wait to use those at night! Figured it would make the blower tractor useful in the summer months to shed some light on the subject. It would be nice to have some bright lights where you need them for chores around the house. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fun Engineer 859 #12 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) I keep my tractor/blower in a heated garage also. I've found that if I go straight out and blow snow that the cold snow sticks to the blower housing. To remedy this I pull it out and let it sit for a few minutes so the housing cools down before I blow. I've noticed this to be a problem more on my two stage than the single stage. Once you have a cab for blowing you'll never want to be without one. Sent from my tractor seat. Edited January 25, 2015 by Fun Engineer 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #13 Posted January 27, 2015 Tinkering with my led light bar in the house tonight. Very windy and cold outside. They claim snow is coming for us but nothing yet. So I have been mocking things up. Stainless 1 inch, Led floods , and just got done wiring the lights. Can't wait to install it. Gonna use it unpainted until spring, then tear it down for paint along with cab frame. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whmaverick 54 #14 Posted January 27, 2015 Yep same with plow blade, it's gotta cool off before plowing or the snow will stick instead of rolling off nicely. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorseFixer 2,012 #15 Posted January 28, 2015 Good Job Young Jedi! Keep on Chuckin! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #16 Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) Good Job Young Jedi! Keep on Chuckin! I am trying. Busy with work and not a lot of snow yet for eastern pa. Maybe we get another chance for snow Sunday. I have a pile of ideas for the cab, but just need to slowly keep working at it when I can. Thanks! Got my lights installed tonight. This should have been the first modification. WOW. These new lights make the old lights seem as though they are a parasitic drain on the battery. I may disconnect them to save on the battery and charging system. Still need to run my supports for the light bar but its on and fairly sturdy without them . I might just blow /at night time to annoy the neighbors... I mean... to get to try out my new lights. Since I dont have a cab control panel built up yet and didnt want to rig anything. I ended up tieing into the original light circuit of the tractor. I did not want to cut / drill or disturb anything orginal on the tractor. What I came up with was to make a pigtail / adapter section to add onto the wiring. Basically unplugged the + output going to the original lights off the switch and added my pigtail to plug back in the orginal and the new lights. Works like a charm and its already fused! Heres some pictures for ya. Edited January 29, 2015 by Theroundhousernr 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,527 #17 Posted January 29, 2015 Nice setup, I love the cab. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nh rat rod 0 #18 Posted January 29, 2015 I just bought a 416 h and want to add a cab where is the best place to buy? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coadster32 793 #19 Posted January 29, 2015 Thanks for sharing the video. Looks like you were kicking butt!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #20 Posted January 29, 2015 I just bought a 416 h and want to add a cab where is the best place to buy? The company who made the cab is called The Original Cab Company. No joke. They still make one for the 300, 400 and 500 series wheel horse. Not sure for how long though. Should fit your 416 just fine. They cost about a grand. Used one's don't show up everyday but are out there. Place wanted add here, craigslist, eBay. Found mine at the big wheel horse show. Missing a door so I made a carbon copy of one. Got the material from the original cab company. Good luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #21 Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) More work on the blower today and tonight. Tore down the blower for some well needed TLC. Chain was strechted to the limits and making lots of noise. Main reason for tearing it apart. After I started on the tear down. Found one idler was bad out of alinement. Sprocket on jack shaft was completely loose and felt free to walk all over while running. Excentric collar on outer bearing was loose and ready to fly off. But good news is, blower bearings feel tight ( including idler sprocket bearings) and all teeth felt good with no sharp edges. So I cleaned all the old grease and oil off. Torqued the set screws with fresh loc-tite and installed the new chain. Noticed the skid shoe washers where all bent up from over tightening so I put some grade 8 washers on. Takes care of that.... As I stood the blower up on end to put my new scraper blade on... I realized no one every flipped the original one to use the other side. . So I put new bolts , nuts and washers on and flipped it around. I reinstalled the blower and set the skid shoe height . All is well ready for snow! To finish up the day, I was tired of reaching out the cab to crank the chute and I want to save the electric chute motor project for the summer. So I bent up some rod and made a new chute handle long enough to reach in the cab. Old rod layin on new rod installed. Sorry about pic quality. Sometimes the phone takes great pics and other times no so much. Had a cell phone car mount laying around and mounted it in the cab for some tunes. It just so happens its at the perfect height to snap photos and video while in action to! Last thing to do was to fire her up. Give it a test run and park it for the night. So I turn the key and I get a slight jolt to the starter and then dead! No signs of life..... Check voltage at solenoid and get 12 volts... hmmm starter shot? Electronic basic's tells us that just because we see 12 volts under no load, does not mean we are getting enough current through some type of resistance under load. So I pull the 30 amp fuse and its burnt to a crisp. Guess I am replacing the fuse block once winter is over too..... Oh well. Easy enough "fix". A shot of cleaner and new fuse and off to blowing snow. Hope the band-aid gets me through. Good day all in all , Kyle Edited February 1, 2015 by Theroundhousernr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #22 Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) Kyle, nice additional work and troubleshooting. Good job. Glenn edit: also, when you replace the fuse block, glen petit a vendor here, sells a custom fit fuse block cover, I put one on mine, keeps the moisture out. Check them out. Edited February 1, 2015 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 6,698 #23 Posted February 1, 2015 Keep a few of those plastic guides on hand. The tall chute will snap them when working deep or wet snow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 589 #24 Posted February 1, 2015 Keep a few of those plastic guides on hand. The tall chute will snap them when working deep or wet snow. The only thing plastic on my blower is the plastic guides that keep the chute attached to the blower housing. Not sure why those would break. Am I missing something? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites