Ready for snow?

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,277]

Megan didn’t buy her house this year, so I guess I am stuck with the 310-8 I got for her.  A short time ago, I picked up a beautiful plow (barely used) so I decided to put it on the 310-8.  Debating whether I want to put on my craftsman wheel weights or not?  If I had a spare set of WH weights I would do it, but Craftsman??  The HD spindles and thrust bearings make steering like there is nothing up front.

 

 

 

[Bill D 2,355]

Beautiful setup.  Do you have any pictures of the thrust bearing setup?  Thinking about doing this on my 416H's. 

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,277]

12 minutes ago, Bill D said:

Do you have any pictures of the thrust bearing setup?  Thinking about doing this on my 416H's. 

 

I don’t, with the HD Spindles the top shaft is slightly longer allowing the thrust bearings, 2 bearing washers and a top washer to fit without any modification to the spindle.  From what I understand, with standard spindles if you want to use thrust bearings you need to shave the axle a little bit to get everything to fit properly.

[953 nut 62,000]

The leaves are still coming down so the 418 has the leaf blower on it for now. Thanks to Wheel Horse's attachment system even an old codger like me can swap it over to a snow plow in a few minutes.

[Handy Don 14,595]

1 hour ago, nylyon said:

Craftsman??

Weight is weight, right? Get Terry to do you a set of the WH decals to cover the “other” brand name!

 

1 hour ago, nylyon said:

From what I understand, with standard spindles if you want to use thrust bearings you need to shave the axle a little bit to get everything to fit properly.

Yes, correct.

Also, as others have discovered as well, the bottom bearing surface of the axle casting is not always perpendicular to the spindle bore and nor are the stock spindle washers always welded perpendicular to the shaft!

It helped a lot to make these correct when I added thrust bearings to our 312-H. (with a "tip ‘o the hat” to @ri702bill).

And yes, along with making sure the toe-in is correct, these upgrades greatly reduce steering effort. 

[ri702bill 9,988]

19 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yes, correct.

Also, as others have discovered as well, the bottom bearing surface of the axle casting is not always perpendicular to the spindle bore and nor are the stock spindle washers always welded perpendicular to the shaft!

Don is right - the high spot on the spindle washer tends to wear a radial groove into the softer cast axle boss. Fly Cutting the underside of the boss for either a thrust type linear bronze bearing or the thrust  / washer stack removes that worn spot and trues the boss to be perpendicular to the bore.

 

[peter lena 9,431]

@ NYLON    lucas X TRA HD , GREEN CHASSIS  GREASE , polyurea rated , 550  flash point , all my bearings have the swap , effortless  engagement , that  blade , swing quadrat  area / related , slide pin  is the KEY  of  swing , even thou , plow is new , the squeeze lever  point , should show you the way, for effortless use, also like lubrication on the blade face , for  easy slide off , my  plowing horse is also ready  , just add  200 lb  vacuum pump rotor  , pictures 3 / 4 , slides right oh a  6 "  piece  of channel steel . pete        

 

[Ed Kennell 42,978]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

 old codger like me can swap it over to a snow plow in a few minutes.

Everyone should have dedicated tractors, especially us old codgers.

[ebinmaine 74,409]

Ready for snow? 

 

Yes. 

 

All year 'round.  

 

Nice setup Karl!

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,730]

Slap those weights right on…you’ll be glad you did if you have to move deep snow. 
 

And “stuck with”… Haha! Admit it you love that machine 

 

3 hours ago, nylyon said:

 so I guess I am stuck with the 310-8 I got for her.  

 

[1987_WHEEHORSE312 27]

Rumor has it, Cub Cadet wheel weights work too, if you need a set. I am currently looking for a set of wheel weights for my tractor. 

[1987_WHEEHORSE312 27]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

Everyone should have dedicated tractors, especially us old codgers.

That Cab is awesome!!

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,730]

35 minutes ago, 1987_WHEEHORSE312 said:

Rumor has it, Cub Cadet wheel weights work too, if you need a set. I am currently looking for a set of wheel weights for my tractor. 

 Pretty much any weight for a 12” garden tractor wheel will work. The wheels and the mounting holes don’t change between brands. 

[1987_WHEEHORSE312 27]

9 minutes ago, Sparky said:

 Pretty much any weight for a 12” garden tractor wheel will work. The wheels and the mounting holes don’t change between brands. 

That's good to know, cause I have seen some cheap sub $100 Craftsman ones for the old GT Tractors. 

[squonk 44,527]

Just  put WH decals over the Craftsman

[Bar Nuthin 1,426]

7 hours ago, nylyon said:

with the HD Spindles the top shaft is slightly longer allowing the thrust bearings

 

Where does one find HD Spindles?

[mrc 991]

bar nuthin,

 

the heavy duty spindle kit is NLA i think.   it came with the gusseted 3/4 spindles and new front wheels.  the wheels have a larger bearing in them.   about 20 years ago i bought a kit and it was $200 back then.

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,067]

 

5 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Everyone should have dedicated tractors, especially us old codgers.

 

I've got the 308 plow tractor ready to go. I think... Hopefully the AG tires do well in snow. It beats the old skinny tires that the chains i have were a PITA to put on. I've got chains and a neighborhood small engine guy with a graveyard full of tractors that may have wheel weights I could go see if needed. If it comes together before snow flies the C-141 Auto will probably take over plow duties.

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:13 PM by MainelyWheelhorse

[953 nut 62,000]

5 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Everyone should have dedicated tractors, especially us old codgers.

Guess I need to give strong consideration to getting another Wheel Horse with a hydro. Snow plowing and leaf blowing both go better with a hydro on my steep driveway.           Here I was attempting to downsize and Ed @Ed Kennell is pointing out the need to look for more.

[Brockport Bill 2,045]

I used my 312-8 for decades to plow since bought new in 1989  --- but few years ago graduated to a wh with hydro to save my unhappy lower back lumbar from lifting that manual lift lever -- was wise decision.

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,277]

I also have a snowblower, saving the 416H to run that if needed, certainly don’t want to manually lift that thing.

[wallfish 18,614]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

 Here I was attempting to downsize and Ed @Ed Kennell is pointing out the need to look for more.

You know this place makes the addiction worse. It's akin to holding AA meetings at the strip club during happy hour.

[c-series don 10,519]

I’ve always plowed with a hydro with hydraulic lift, until I got my 418-8 with electric lift. I figured I’d give it a shot just to see how I liked it. Well after one storm I switched back to hydraulic lift and automatic transmission. I believe 8-speeds have their place, like rototilling. But I think the automatic is better for plowing snow. As always just my opinion……

 Threw in a few extra pictures for the heck of it, I know you guys like pictures as much as me!! 

[wallfish 18,614]

5 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Threw in a few extra pictures for the heck of it

Sold my sweeper a while ago but have you tried that for snow? 

It was nice after snow blowing and give the driveway a lap with the broom or even those small storms, it was fairly quick to just run it instead of a blade. 

[c-series don 10,519]

@wallfish Yes I have used it in the snow and it works great. In all honesty though I have only used it in a light snowfall just to see how well it worked. I was very happy with the results, as it swept the asphalt clean. I’ve never tried it in more than an inch or two of snow because I have the plow or two stage blower if it really gets deep.