Vermonster CHEWS up the Snow!

[Gerry w 2]

We had dumping of about 6 to 10 inches last night, then came the high winds which gave us some good drifts as well! So I fired up the Auto20 and went at it this AM. The drifts were a good 12 inches in some areas, but there's no stopping this rig!

There is some ice under the white stuff, and a plow truck seemed to be having issues plowing the drive up the hill next to my place but not the horse! The two link chains and extra weight works really well. Didn't slip once!

The wind is still whipping and there were times when it was a white out, couldn't see anything, but was warm and cozy in the cab, even though it's 5 degrees out and windy. Thank goodness for the Hula Girl bobble sway item, kept my mind on warmer climates!

Here are some pics...

Thank goodness for my Hula Girl's sway...it made the day!!

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

Nice pictures Gerry, makes me want one of them cabs.....

[420lse 18]

Sweet. That's what u call "style". Good Job.

[rickv1957 74]

Gerry,great pictures of that big D doing its thing Rick

[dgoyette 12]

Awesome pic Jerry - that is such a nice set up with the cab.

When I get my second D (oops did I say that), it will be fitted with the blower I have sitting in my shed.

[Cody 277]

Great pictures, that D is really going to town and doesn't even look like its breaking a sweat :thumbs:

[Gerry w 2]

Thanks guys, I'll let Kathy know that you like the pics, she's the one taking them.

The cab is great, don't know what I did without one last year before I got it! A friend told me once that they give you confidence, he was right, blowing snow, wind gusts, cold, these things don't exist if you have a cab. (Until you stop the rig and get out at the bottom of the hill to check your mail! THEN you scurry back quick to the cab because you remember then!)

I just need some tunes and I'll be set!

Most of those pics were shot with the Auto20 at 3/4 speed and a slow walk, never even slowed, can't wait for some real deep stuff!

[whfan74 2,071]

Awesome Gerry!

I had the D-160 out plowing some snow for the first time and I must admit.....it is a blast! That baby really scoots and pushes just about anything!

Keep having fun up in Vermont! :banghead:

[Gerry w 2]

Thanks Scott,

They ARE fun arn't they!! I've REALLY got to thank Pat if I ever meet him, buy him a drink or something, for finding that blower and fixing it up and everything!

The story behind that thing and it's trip to Vermont, THAT'S the fun in this addiction....(I mean hobby) the people.

Use that blower Darren and you won't use anything else, no more snow banks, none! Just get a cab!!

[Curmudgeon 28]

Lookin' good there, Gerry! Nice having the snow OVER the fence instead of piled up against it, isn't it? That's exactly why I ALWAYS take a blower over a blade.

bye bye snow!

[defed 0]

i need a cab for my D-160. got it out for a quick job in the dark tonight after work. only about 10F, luckily not too windy.

just need to figure out why the blower hangs a bit unlevel.....likes to dig in on one side if i'm not careful w/ the height position.

[Gerry w 2]

Check your front tires air pressure! My doesn't lift completely level, I've adjusted the feet to make it level. They are heavy beasts!

[defed 0]

it's not tire pressure....in fact, the one tire that does get low is the HIGH side. it was suggested that maybe the arms on the rockshaft could be bent or have broken welds, but they look good too. i suspect a bent blower frame. will probably get thru this winter before i study it real close, unless we get a warm spell.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Looks Great Gerry yep Thats A Rig Ya Got There..... I recieved a Christmas Card From The Hula Gal In Your Tractor... She Says that its Aweful Cold In Your Rig, And Was Wondering How Warm I Could Keep Her? I Wrote Back and Told Her I would let her decide that but I could also offer her some Captn Morgan! In her Coffee I think she is gonna jump ship! Better put a Ball -N- Chain on her!

Defed, my blower sags a bit on the right side left side lowers and touched the ground last. hmmmm it doesnt seem to hurt anything as the skids both touch the ground. And I dont see any uneven pattern on the drive when finished or while blowin. Ya got me thinking tho, and will investigate this further.

[Gerry w 2]

Well Duke, if she DOES jump ship her name will be Barbie,cause the BIT-- wants EVERYTHING! And your rig has it!

Stay thirsty my friend!! :WRS:

[Curmudgeon 28]

I've never seen a blower/thrower that didn't lift lopsided. I THINK, IF i remember right.... one single stages, the left hangs low. Simple physics. The lift rod pushed in and up in the middle. The left side with the chain and other drive parts is heavier, thus, it hangs a bit. The frames on these bad boys do have some flex in them.

Also, tire pressure on the front won't affect it ANY. The front tires are on an axle that pivots. The rear tires are the ones that decide the equilibrium of the tractor.

[defed 0]

the D blowers don't have a single lift rod. both sides of the frame attach to the the rockshaft. the side w/ the chain and driveshaft is the high side as is the side that both the front and rear tires lose pressure. the problem w/ the unlevelness is that the right side (sitting on tractor) hits the ground while the left is about 2 inches up. either due to the weight of the unit or a bit of down pressure from the lift mechanism...it really digs into the stone driveway and flings rocks like crazy. i figured once the drive froze and got some hard pack snow on it, it wouldn't be a problem. it levels fine when set on concrete, as it can't dig in. i was going to make wider skids for more floatation, but never got to it.

i disagree that front tire pressure has nothing to do w/ blower levelness on single lift rod units. on my C-195, it sagged to the side w/ the low front tire. i could watch it get level as i inflated it. the rear had the same affect (apparently i need to fix some tires on my machines!).

sorry to hijack Gerry's thread.

[Curmudgeon 28]

Ok, keep forgetting those darn D's and D wanna be's are different.

But I see no way how tire inflation on the front can affect levelness unless the attachment is bolted directly to the front axle. The axle will pivot at the pivot point, unless something is preventing it's proper operation. The frame will stay with the rear wheels. No pivot.

The whole object of a pivoting front axle is for it to follow uneven ground, keeping both front tires on the ground while not affecting the balance of the tractor.

And we hijack Gerry's threads all the time. I expect the same of mine! :thumbs:

[Gerry w 2]

Ah, I don't mind, I learn stuff ya know!! That's fine with me! On my "wanna be" I see a difference when the unit is lifted when the front tire pressure is low. When lowered, it doesn't matter, except for turning that is.

Bigger "shoes" helps when leveling on the ground, David made me some and they work great! Now if I can just keep the bolts from turning out! Lock tight time!

[defed 0]

i made some wide 'floatation' skids today. hopefully they are not too wide to make the unit want to ride up. maybe on hard snow, but seems if the blower is filling up, it will want to push down. they are tilted back a bit when in the down position, might have to at least modify the mounting holes to make it sit flat.

did some light testing in the lawn (only place there is any snow left) and it seemed to stay down, so we'll see how it works.

[Gerry w 2]

:thumbs: We had some snow last night, a little over a dusting....12 inches in most areas with 18 plus inch drifts, had the dip stick heater in the Vermonster for 20 minutes and it started right up! Attacked the snow and in one hours time the drive and yard area were done! No problem!!

Warm and toasty in the cab, this was a good test, I'm starting to really feel confident about this big 20 horse Auto!

Here are some more pics! Thanks for looking!

[rickv1957 74]

Gerry,nice pictures!,Rick

[defed 0]

i need to borrow that cab Gerry. how cold is it there? i have some pad type oil pan heaters on the way. thought about trying a dipstick one, but it seems too concentrated in one spot to me.

i'll be trying to start mine a little later, it's around 10F today. hopefully it will!

[Gerry w 2]

It's around 15 degrees or so, but the wind is brisk!!! The cab really makes a BIG difference!

[defed 0]

the wind here is a little more than brisk....which is why i want to borrow your cab!

hope my heater pads get here soon.