Finally got to use the Snow Gobbler

[formariz 12,048]

Finally there was enough snow to use newly acquired 520 with blower and snow cab. A little intimidating at first specially by being enclosed and not having lot of visibility since its a little tight around here. It absolutely awesome. Makes plowing afterwards so much easier since I get rid of most of snow rather than just pile it on the sides. It looks like the big Ariens is going to be retired.

 

 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

Cass, I told you from my experiences how I felt about the 520s running a snow chucking unit...now I see I've made you a believer. 

[formariz 12,048]

Yeaph. There is no going back from this one. After using it for a while today, I can see already a few more improvements in the near future. The glass and wiper kit will be next. I am thinking about some good mirrors also. That will make it safer up on the street when backing up or turning. A little frustrated with the roller chains on the front tires. Sooner or later eventually they pop off regardless how much pressure I put in tire. I wonder if a tri rib tire will have the same effect? It will have a narrow contact point, therefor more downward pressure, but it wont have the friction of the roller chain?

[wallfish 18,244]

Glad you got to go out and test it!

Your front chains are too long. take a link or 2 out. They should go on a deflated tire pretty tight . On mine you can see a curve in the tire where the chains are, they don't budge.

Took me a little while to get used to the cab because of the restricted vision thing as well but just used to it now.

[formariz 12,048]

14 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Your front chains are too long. take a link or 2 out. They should go on a deflated tire pretty tight

I did that to the point that I have to totally deflate tire to get them on and that is hard to do. Then I filled tires to 30Lbs. Perhaps more pressure?

[WHX?? 51,920]

Tri ribs won't help Cas.. I went to V61s thinking that would be the cats's meow but they still just skid on well packed snow or ice. I can't run chains due to driveway damage. Just lift a bit on the blower and things straiten out.

My kid had the cab off on his 416 and was whining about the visibilty. I have no idea what you guys are talkin about as I have no problem  with vis even when the front gets covered with blow but somtimes could see the usefulness of the hard front and wiper.

Just remember when in the cab keep your head on a swivel. Especially with that beast in tight quarters. Good topside lighting is a must after dark. 

Do you have Matts pedal kit? Another must as it leaves a hand free for othe duties and a wheel spinner is a must.

I have been long hooked on blowing with these rigs! Have fun!

[wallfish 18,244]

Don't over pressure the tire. It could blow!

Remove the valve core from the valve stem which makes it quicker and easier. You can get a little tool to take them out. 

https://www.amazon.com/Slime-20088-4-Way-Valve-Cores/dp/B0020T17J2/ref=asc_df_B0020T17J2/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid={creative}&hvpos={adposition}&hvnetw=o&hvrand={random}&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl={devicemodel}&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583795260686221&psc=1

 

 

Edited March 5, 2019 by wallfish

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,541]

Cab in nice and cozy.... Good deal

[wallfish 18,244]

3 minutes ago, WHX22 said:

I can't run chains due to driveway damage

I see chains on the back!

The front chains could cause damage if it's in full steer and you're skidding them but normally wouldn't cause any more than rear chains. May leave some marks but no more than the scraper bar on the blower or plow would do.

 

[WHX?? 51,920]

Yah I know "Fish... Already got some character on the concrete where I got a little rambunctious but just gotta learn to watch the tail spin. Now covered with an inch or better with ice but still have to be careful. She'll still dig right down to asphalt ya let her. 

Yes be careful with the tire pressure Cas... Thirty might even be a little much. I run 15  & have my skids set a little low to avoid what John mentioned so that explains the ice base. This has been a weird winter for us tho.

[Pullstart 67,097]

That 520 is so shiny.....

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

8 hours ago, formariz said:

Yeaph. There is no going back from this one. After using it for a while today, I can see already a few more improvements in the near future. The glass and wiper kit will be next. I am thinking about some good mirrors also. That will make it safer up on the street when backing up or turning. A little frustrated with the roller chains on the front tires. Sooner or later eventually they pop off regardless how much pressure I put in tire. I wonder if a tri rib tire will have the same effect? It will have a narrow contact point, therefor more downward pressure, but it wont have the friction of the roller chain?

My latest experiment was AG type tires on the front of my 520 Snowchucker...does better than turfs...you could go tri-ribs but you'll have to drop a size and shell out lots of 💰...https://www.millertire.com/products/lawn-garden-tires/16x6-50-8/16x6-50-8-firestone-3-rib-front-4-ply/... what I bought.. .https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F332272998410.... @WHX22, Jim so far the weighted and fluid filled OTR R1s have excellent traction without chains on my asphalt driveway vs the Nancos and old turfs with chains.

Edited March 5, 2019 by WVHillbilly520H

[formariz 12,048]

14 hours ago, stevebo said:

Cab in nice and cozy.... Good deal

Yes it is. I am so glad that "some" guy had it so close to me. As I was using it and enormous chunks of snow were falling from the trees above on top of it I was literally thanking that "guy" out loud.

14 hours ago, wallfish said:

I see chains on the back!

The front chains could cause damage if it's in full steer and you're skidding them but normally wouldn't cause any more than rear chains. May leave some marks but no more than the scraper bar on the blower or plow would do.

 

After all of these years I am not too concerned with marking pavers. Of course I try to avoid it,but after a month or two scratches oxidize and are not visible anymore. I am going to remove yet another link from chains and try it again. It is extremely important that I have traction in the front specially with this one heavy blower. Up front the driveway is very steep and not being able to steer in a thigh area with a car there is not a good feeling.

 

14 hours ago, WHX22 said:

Just reember when in the cab keep your head on a swivel. Especially with that beast in tight quarters. Good topside lighting is a must after dark. 

Do you have Matts pedal kit? Another must as it leaves a hand free for othe duties and a wheel spinner is a must.

I have been long hooked on blowing with these rigs! Have fun!

 I think I will give Matts pedal kit also a try. I love the hand control on the Electro since it is so easy and precise, but this one on the 520 is a bit awkward and insensitive. I still have not gotten used to it to the point where i am not making jerky starts and stops like on the Electro. Having a free hand with all of the things to operate here will also be good.

7 hours ago, pullstart said:

That 520 is so shiny.....

Not really a good thing. Always worried about scratching it.

 

 

 

[WHX?? 51,920]

7 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Jim so far the weighted and fluid filled OTR R1s have excellent traction without chains on my asphalt driveway vs the Nancos and old turfs with chains.

What kind of grades do you have to deal with Jeff? I think once the deuce gets operational those that's the tire I am going to lean to & move the V61s to another tractor. Load them & @PeacemakerJack gave me a set of wheel weights to fit up.  If my grades prove too steep maybe will give rubber chains a shot.

 

24 minutes ago, formariz said:

two scratches oxidize

True...seal coat will cover them up on blacktop and I am due for that this year.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

2 minutes ago, WHX22 said:

What kind of grades do you have to deal with Jeff? I think once the deuce gets operational those that's the tire I am going to lean to & move the V61s to another tractor. Load them & @PeacemakerJack gave me a set of wheel weights to fit up.  If my grades prove too steep maybe will give rubber chains a shot.

 

True...seal coat will cover them up on blacktop and I am due for that this year.

Maybe 3-5% but by the time I get home and some "Jack Wagon" has ran over and packed it, or the freezing rain before the snow gets on it, it tends be a bit slippery but these tires just seem to bite better than the Deestones/Nanco straight bars.

[formariz 12,048]

Here I am in the old days with the 551. This is the main reason I need to be able to steer. There is usually a car up top that I need to squeeze by. Any slipping sideways will be disastrous.

[Kurt-NEPA 755]

2 hours ago, formariz said:

I think I will give Matts pedal kit also a try.

 

A big thumbs up on Matt's pedal 

 

I have one on my 520H with a 2 stage blower.  It really helps.  I call it a must with a blower or blade.

[wallfish 18,244]

 You can see how tight the chain is by the curve of the tire around the chain. Another style tire beside the Ag is walk behind snowblower tires which seem to do fairly well too. Had them on the FEL tractor when that was a snow removing machine. (Now has tri ribs). But my preference is the roller chain since it works best for my situation. It appears from the video you're not scraping the driveway with the blower scrape bar and have the skids down low, so you can raise the blower just a little bit and steering is vastly improved because of the weight.

[formariz 12,048]

I kept it up about 1/2" but still have a few issues on the steep part specially if I am not going straight up. I am going to take up your suggestion and remove one more link. Even with the 30Lbs inflation mine did not bulge around chain so my chain has to still be a bit too long.

[wallfish 18,244]

Well, you know how hard they are to move on the tire now, so imagine the force required to push them off the tire.

Can't clearly remember but think I ground a chisel to dull the end and used that to pry them on. Once past the edge they moved to the center easier.

 

 

[1995 520H+96+97 937]

@formariz   I deflated tire, wrap chain on tire, put a wire tie through each ends, pull on wire tie, install master  link, 25 # air.  

[WHX?? 51,920]

Would these help put them on?

https://www.amazon.com/Roller-Chain-Puller-Holder-Size25/dp/B018826DSE/ref=sr_1_2?hvadid=174232735154&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9019451&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17565003057686233666&hvtargid=kwd-10464490807&keywords=chain+stretcher&qid=1551831664&s=gateway&sr=8-2&tag=googhydr-20

I have one .....if I could find it ...

[wallfish 18,244]

1 hour ago, WHX22 said:

Would these help put them on?

I like that. Just ordered me one. Although the zip idea is a good one too.

The guy with a 2 star review on it expected better quality for $10. probably cranked on'm with a pair of channel locks if he bent the arms and wondering why it won't stretch the chain. LoL

[seven 202]

If you want more snow to blow there's plenty here in MN 

[WHX?? 51,920]

The guy with the 2* review probably use a BFH on it 'Fish. I've used mine on scooter bikes with no prob. LIke having the third hand.

58 minutes ago, seven said:

If you want more snow to blow there's plenty here in MN 

Go to he double hockey sticks seven ..yer on yer own and can keep it!