Newbie Alert - General Questions

[GEnd 7]

Hi all,

New to the group and hoping to tap into your knowledge.  Also hoping I'm posting in the right place.  Please excuse me if not.

I live in NE Minnesota, and am looking for a WH tractor for mowing and snowblowing.  

I have a couple of questions I'd like your opinion/knowledge on, mostly about snow blowers and steering:

 

Did all 520H/C models after 1991 have gear reduction steering?  How do I know if a machine has gear reduction or not?

Do the newer xi series have gear reduction?  I think the 520/2/3xi offered power steering as an option, but do non-power steering models incorporate gear reduction?

I'm leaning toward 2 stage blower, just because it seems heavier duty, and it snows a ton in NE MN.  Are the 2 stage units worthwhile?

 

 I was lucky enough to work for Toro for a few years, and really want to find a red machine.  Lots of green around here, but hoping to stay RED.  Thanks for your help.

 

Greg

[Stormin 9,978]

 Greg. Can't help you with your questions I'm afraid, but some of those who have knowledge of the tractors you ask about, will no doubt have the answers.

[stevasaurus 22,409]

Welcome to Red Square.

   I can help on one thing.  The 2 stage has definitely got it over the single stage blower.  Some of the guys have messed with them a little and can blow the snow over a house.  Where you are...you want a 2 stage.  Enjoy this thread and video.  

 

 

[JCM 8,826]

@GEnd   You will never regret having a 44'' two stage blower on a 520 H. If it has been regularly serviced and or if you are willing to bring it back mechanically to where it should be, once you use it you will be praying for snow. I find the gear reduction steering works great. I know my 91 has it and I think they all did up to the last one's in 1997.     

[WHX?? 47,607]

 Greg 

All 520's except for the very early one's I believe had gear reduction and are a snow moving and mowing machine! 

Not an xi owner and pro but from what the guys say here just an awesome mowing & blowing tractor. Only thing I do know about the xi's is attachments are tractor specific. 

The good news for you is both models are fairly common in MN and western WI. Keep an eye on CL and you will find either. 

The guys are right about a deuce but I keep one of each on hand! 

There are many threads here on mods to a deuce to make it even better. 

 

Plunger ther snapped them trees right off with a deuce! 

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by WHX24

[JCM 8,826]

Thank you @stevasaurus  for the snow chucker video. Any project that came out of Duke's garage was top notch and I mentioned that in a PM a while back, just checking up on a fellow member to see how he was doing. A man of many talents and I miss all the info I absorbed from him in all his posts. Wish I could meet him in person someday.     Thanks again Steve

[SylvanLakeWH 24,780]

[scWHhauler 96]

Welcome to the square 

[953 nut 53,595]

Looks like your question has been answered. Hope you have lots of room in your shop, these Wheel Horses tend to multiply.

[Pullstart 61,436]

@GEnd Greg, 

 

Under the dash tower, you’d see the gear reduction sticking out towards the engine, if ever a question.  I saw one in person for the first time this past weekend and couldn’t believe the ease of steering big meats!  

[Pullstart 61,436]

15 hours ago, JCM said:

Thank you @stevasaurus  for the snow chucker video. Any project that came out of Duke's garage was top notch and I mentioned that in a PM a while back, just checking up on a fellow member to see how he was doing. A man of many talents and I miss all the info I absorbed from him in all his posts. Wish I could meet him in person someday.     Thanks again Steve

Yes indeed, he doesn’t do anything half @$$ed... he always does it full a$s!  I’m excited to get on that FEL project and finish it up on my 1054 some time soon, and am glad that he did the majority of the sorting and figuring to make this bucket scoops above the rest!

[Tractorhead 9,004]

[jay bee 826]

  

[GEnd 7]

Thanks for the welcomes and replies!  After reviewing the parts diagrams on The Toro website it appears the xi models do NOT have a gear reduction. I think I want to stick with a 2 stage blower, so I’ll need to find a 520 C/H or an xi with power steering. Can’t wait!

Edited June 30, 2020 by GEnd
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