TODAY'S SNOW PICS & WHAT'S THE BIGGEST MACHINE?

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

This post is two fold. Today's snow pics on the 416 first. Then my follow up question.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

Ok. Now the second part. I wouldn't mind getting something with a little more gusto. The 416 did fine. Low speed . Single stage. But the snow was light fluff. It won't be like this all the time. Did wheel horse or toro wheel horse make a big bad machine? If I recall seeing a few on here own them. 522xi. A big 44 or 46 2 stage snowblower etc. I think I am in the mood for finding one. Suggestions as to those BIG machines and thoughts from owners on how they are would be great.

Glenn

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

I had to switch the plow to the 518xi over the weekend. Thought that I would take a chance and didn't take the time to put the chains on. It actually did well on the turfs thanks to the weights. One neighbor's driveway is about 15 degrees and it walked right up. Here it is after the 5" we had last night.

 

[doc724 925]

Glenn,

 

Shop around for a tall chute single stage blower.  It will throw farther than your current blower.  You could also get a two stage blower which the 16hp will power nicely, however, they are more money, are harder to find, and get snapped up quickly.  The 5xi machines like John's are great.  However, they are more costly, harder to find (they were only made from 1998 to maybe 2005) and the attachments for the 300/400/500 series machines will not fit the 5xi series.  My 520xi has been nicknamed "the beast" by my wife.  With a single stage blower attached, this machine is close to 8 ft long and with 240 pounds of weights, the blower and me, it weighs in at over 1500 pounds.  Even in last years blizzard, it handled it with ease.

[Machria 78]

My GT14 with single stage took care of 12" this morning!

 

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

Glenn,

 

Shop around for a tall chute single stage blower.  It will throw farther than your current blower.  You could also get a two stage blower which the 16hp will power nicely, however, they are more money, are harder to find, and get snapped up quickly.  The 5xi machines like John's are great.  However, they are more costly, harder to find (they were only made from 1998 to maybe 2005) and the attachments for the 300/400/500 series machines will not fit the 5xi series.  My 520xi has been nicknamed "the beast" by my wife.  With a single stage blower attached, this machine is close to 8 ft long and with 240 pounds of weights, the blower and me, it weighs in at over 1500 pounds.  Even in last years blizzard, it handled it with ease.

Glenn,

 

I agree with Don. The 2-stage is at least another 100 pounds more than the single stage and off-season are harder to store.

 

John

[Forest Road 594]

I own a tall shoot single and a fully rebuilt dual stage. The single is the way to go for 98% of our Jersey storms. I use my dual in upstate NY primarily for the snow banks left by my plow guy.

As for getting the job done the single is much faster. Seriously no matter how slow you go it still beats wrestling a walk behind blower.

[Machria 78]

Is mine a tall or short stack single?   How do ya tell, and can you just add length to the shute?

[3Six 30]

Hey Glenn, nice roost! That 416-8  with that single stage blower is really clearing a path. I do understand your concerns though with that (500ft?) driveway in a much deeper heavier snowfall situation. Hard to fault a larger tractor with the 44" two stage blower. It's not just the width of those units, but the larger diameter auger in a higher housing. Designed for deeper snow removal work. As always add $.  I'll struggle along with my walk behind unit. See you later for a coffee.

Edited January 3, 2014 by 3Six

[js5020 111]

My late model tall chute blower on the 16 Auto is a Beast,,, I tried it out last storm on windrows from the plow, it was amazing how it cut right through, and I was surprised that I was able to steer the machine with hardly any more effort than having the blade on.  Bigger machine you say,,,how bout a 518 or a 520.

[squonk 43,843]

I was out in the dark this AM moving the 6-8". Took a video of the 160 plowing. Will post later here tonight Thought I took one of Marvin with the Tall Shoot but nothing recorded????? Maybe later or tomorrow I'll get one.

[Butch 194]

8" in S. Jersey. Love it. Haven't seen snow like this for a couple years. C-175A with plow and rubber

chains were outstanding. No problems at all. No extra weight was needed for this job!

[leeave96 490]

We don't get much snow around my neck of the woods, but when we do, I've got either a 314-8 or 520H ready with a single stage snow thrower.

 

Since you already got a single stage snow thrower that fits the 300/400/500 series tractor, I would recommend going with a 520H.  If you got a good running Onan 20 hp, it is a beast.  You will likely slip a belt before you stall the tractor and the more you load-up the single stage snow thrower, the further it will throw.

 

I think I have read that one of the reasons Toro went with the Onan was increased torque it when used with the 60 inch deck application.  Snow throwing really requires a lot of hp and torque if you are fully loading the snow thrower and the Onan's got it.  The Onan is also a sweet sounding engine too...

 

One question - on your 16 hp engine, are you running at full throttle?  While I prefer the Onan 20 hp to my 14 hp Kohler Magnum for blowing snow, I don't ever recall having a problem with the 14 hp struggling either, but I run full throttle with both the 14 hp Kohler and the 20 hp Onan.  What the 520H brings to my snow throwing duties is hydro lift and gear reduction steering beyond the 314-8.  With the foot control I added, the 520H should be an awesome tractor for snow blowing duties.

 

Good luck!

Bill

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

See what I like about red square. Good honest comments that give food for thought.

I guess one of my gripes would be the fact that "I" didnt scrounge up rear weights and snow chains on the rear tires.

 

In hindsight the 416 sure has the power, and I sure really like that baby to. Being as this was my first,,real test, I was the one  that was not prepared all the way.   

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

Bill, thank you for your comments. To answer you, yes, full throttle and low speed. Let the machine do the work.

 

Glenn

[squonk 43,843]

First at 5:00 A.M.  0 degrees. First with the C-160;

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3R0VTCafHE&feature=youtu.be

 

Then after work with Marvin. I'm afraid he's going to need a fuel pump. Started to die out just after I stopped recording.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmQH_wAsnGQ&feature=youtu.be

[RMCIII 838]

Ok. Now the second part. I wouldn't mind getting something with a little more gusto. The 416 did fine. Low speed . Single stage. But the snow was light fluff. It won't be like this all the time. Did wheel horse or toro wheel horse make a big bad machine? If I recall seeing a few on here own them. 522xi. A big 44 or 46 2 stage snowblower etc. I think I am in the mood for finding one. Suggestions as to those BIG machines and thoughts from owners on how they are would be great.

Glenn

 

Ok. Now the second part. I wouldn't mind getting something with a little more gusto. The 416 did fine. Low speed . Single stage. But the snow was light fluff. It won't be like this all the time. Did wheel horse or toro wheel horse make a big bad machine? If I recall seeing a few on here own them. 522xi. A big 44 or 46 2 stage snowblower etc. I think I am in the mood for finding one. Suggestions as to those BIG machines and thoughts from owners on how they are would be great.

Glenn

 

 

Glen:

 

Similar to John and Don.. You saw my video.. Although the depth was not that much, the past couple days, it has been what one would call a test of tests for a snow blower.... Drifts that were 18" to 24" high and were 10 to 12' in length.. I did 1 drive way today that the depth was 14" at it's shallow point... The single stage chewed threw it just like in my video. The funny thing was, the more snow I kept in the auger, the further the snow went. I know I had a good 18' to 20' in height and it was blowing a solid 35' to 40'... With the wheel weights, snow blower, cab, and additional weights I have in the back, it is sitting over 1650 on the scales... I was driving through snow that was over my front tires...Granted, the frame was pushing some of the snow out of the way, but the snow was covering my front tires. Could not even see them.... 518 just kept chugging through the drifts and slush like it was another day in the park. I can't say enough about the performance of the xi, or the single stage. If you think you will be going through stuff deeper than 24", just take 2 bites out of it...

[JoeMonag 1]

Glen, I have a 44" two stage on my '86 416-8. And I have a 42" dozer blade on my 310-8  that I use to clear my 400' paved driveway. I had used a 26" walk behind two stage for years for deep snow, but it required 5 passes up and down the driveway. This is my third season with the 44" two stage.  It only requires 3 passes up and down the driveway, plus I am sitting down. It really got a work out in the blizzard of Feb '13. The first six inches of the 18" storm were wet heavy snow. With the tractor in low range 1st gear I had to keep taking 3-5' bites, but I eventually go it completed.

  This week we got about 10" of powder and I could run in high range  2nd gear no problem. I decided to get a two stage, as I was used to my walk behind. We have only a 20" wide  area for the first 200' of our driveway, so I want to

chuck the snow as far as I can up the driveway so as not to bury my neighbors.  Having a tractor with a plow is great for maintenance, and clearing slush at the road end of the driveway left by the town plows.

                  Good Luck  Joe in Norton MA.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

Joe, dont think I dont think about a two stage. Oh yes, it runs around in my mind.For some reason, unless there are differant models of the two stage for the 416. And only in my opinion, thats looks like one big giant beast of a snowblower considering the weight of the attachment also.I often wondered if the 416 extra few horse power is used up dragging that beast arond and running it.

 

I also thought maybe the perfect combo would be the 420 double lung kohler hydro. You have the xta power of the 20 so 4 xtra horse and the kohler security, engine wise. Just my thoughts anyway, would not mind finding the 420.

 

Glenn

[RMCIII 838]

Is mine a tall or short stack single?   How do ya tell, and can you just add length to the shute?

 

You have a short chute. You can see the height of mine - hence, tall chute. Never heard of anyone wanting to add length to their chute if it was a short chute.

 

Rob

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Forget the 420(LSE ~ or Limited Special Edition) as an economical choice for a "worker".

They were exactly what their product name implies; a low-production unit (200) that sold with an MSRP of $7995 new and some pristine specimens are still getting a good portion of that now ~ if & when you find them.

 

A 418-A would be a more logical choice over the LSE, but they aren't the easiest thing to locate either, being offered only in 1987. (total production unknown)

 

A few options would be to buy an xi series, repower your 416 with a 20+hp ohv engine (Kohler Command, Briggs Vanguard, Honda, etc.), or find a nice GT-1800/1848, 520HC/H with a non-running engine and repower it with one of the afforementioned engines.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,499]

Terry, thanks. See, those are things I just did not know. Very interesting indeed.

Glenn

Edit: how about the C 195 black hood. Nice size engine in that, all though I think its hard to get the snow blower attached, some special length lift rod in the under belly, IMHO.

Edited January 6, 2014 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

 how about the C 195 black hood. Nice size engine in that, all though I think its hard to get the snow blower attached, some special length lift rod in the under belly, IMHO.

Basically the same problem as the others - lower production / sought-after model which ultimately bumps the price of a nice unit up enough that it might not be justifiable compared to the more common models.

[decksetter 50]

A good running onan 16 should be all the power you need I would think. I prefer a 416 over a 520 9 times out of 10. Only exception I've found is for running a 60" deck. I don't care for gear reduction steering much either, that's why I'm swapping 416 steering on to one of my tractors that had gear reduction.

Anybody blow snow with a D series? I was thinking the D tractors had a 48" 2 stage blower but I don't know anyone that has one.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[dbartlett1958 99]

Ok. Now the second part. I wouldn't mind getting something with a little more gusto. The 416 did fine. Low speed . Single stage. But the snow was light fluff. It won't be like this all the time. Did wheel horse or toro wheel horse make a big bad machine? If I recall seeing a few on here own them. 522xi. A big 44 or 46 2 stage snowblower etc. I think I am in the mood for finding one. Suggestions as to those BIG machines and thoughts from owners on how they are would be great.

Glenn

Glenn,

 

You said the 416 did fine, Low speed.  How slow exactly?  Snowblowing with a single stage is like dancing with a new girl for the first time. You have to finesse it to figure out what works. A bit slower here, a bit faster there. These single stage blowers need just the right amount of snow in them to make them work most efficiently, and a bit of experience will get you there. The tall shute single on a 416 is a great combination. I have a hydro which makes it easier, but you will get there.

 

Don't be afraid to lead her.