https://youtu.be/w_uTpDNTcbU
Video of snow blower and frame installation
Garden tractor acquisition
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Oil change. Did NOT change filter because even though it has been 2 years it's only been 20 hours. Also it's a larger M1 filter. 340 hours.
Cranks forever after sitting a long time. I should consider a fuel pump. This seems familiar...
Cranks forever after sitting a long time. I should consider a fuel pump. This seems familiar...
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Finally changed the mower belt on my 5212.5.
It was pretty worn. Old belt pictured. Removing the deck is easy. Replacing the belt is involved due to all the things that need to come off to route it around the pulleys. I'll try to test it today.
The PTO engagement adjustment was pretty close at 0.9". Spec is 1.0". I might tighten it that tenth of an inch just to make engagement that much more positive.
It was pretty worn. Old belt pictured. Removing the deck is easy. Replacing the belt is involved due to all the things that need to come off to route it around the pulleys. I'll try to test it today.
The PTO engagement adjustment was pretty close at 0.9". Spec is 1.0". I might tighten it that tenth of an inch just to make engagement that much more positive.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Yeah it engaged better.
But fast forward to today and I had a problem with the hydro drive belt. A big problem. I felt something odd and the engagement pedal moved so I pretty much knew right away that something was up. Then I smelled burning rubber. Drove it back to the driveway and realized two things. First, one section of the belt was missing the entire V part. Second, the belt had somehow jumped over the guard and was riding on top of it which was probably creating the burning smell. Great. Was in the middle of mowing.
Fortunately I had a spare 80" belt from my escapades with the small snow tractor, trying to find a drive belt that worked (the 80" should have but if I recall I ended up with a 79" or 78" for reasons I never discovered).
Unfortunately, the belt is buried pretty high up against the chassis and you have to push the deck out of the way. The deck is the easy part. The routing of the hydro drive belt is just annoying, with all the guards that are supposed to keep it from falling off the numerous pullies. Also it does a weird 90 degree twist (engine is vertical shaft but hydro pulley is horizontal), which means I twisted it wrong the first time as I always do. Anyway, it's fine now. Then the hour meter finally needed a battery. Takes a CR2450.
But fast forward to today and I had a problem with the hydro drive belt. A big problem. I felt something odd and the engagement pedal moved so I pretty much knew right away that something was up. Then I smelled burning rubber. Drove it back to the driveway and realized two things. First, one section of the belt was missing the entire V part. Second, the belt had somehow jumped over the guard and was riding on top of it which was probably creating the burning smell. Great. Was in the middle of mowing.
Fortunately I had a spare 80" belt from my escapades with the small snow tractor, trying to find a drive belt that worked (the 80" should have but if I recall I ended up with a 79" or 78" for reasons I never discovered).
Unfortunately, the belt is buried pretty high up against the chassis and you have to push the deck out of the way. The deck is the easy part. The routing of the hydro drive belt is just annoying, with all the guards that are supposed to keep it from falling off the numerous pullies. Also it does a weird 90 degree twist (engine is vertical shaft but hydro pulley is horizontal), which means I twisted it wrong the first time as I always do. Anyway, it's fine now. Then the hour meter finally needed a battery. Takes a CR2450.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Oil change and lube in the big Simplicity. 1.5 quarts Valvoline 10W-30 synthetic. Did not change filter. They are good for 200 hours and this one has probably 50 on it or something. Plus it's a bigger automotive M1-102A.
358 hours.
358 hours.
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Realized the shoe/skids are pretty worn so I ordered another set. I guess they lasted about 4 years.
Briggs (Simplicity) p/n 1713424ASM.
Briggs (Simplicity) p/n 1713424ASM.
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Installed.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Not that I'll find this later but here it is.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Boy did I work this tractor today. I better check the oil tomorrow.
I was having traction issues since the snow was like....twice as high as the snow blower housing. And since it was wet it would pack down to a very slick surface. Had a bunch of close calls and if it wasn't for the diff lock, I might have really been in a pickle. Ended up sideways in the street stuck at one point thinking, sure wouldn't be lucky if a plow was coming by.
Ended up snow blowing the damn street. And helping a bunch of people with driveways. But after sliding around I said, screw this, I'm calling in the big guns. So I dug out the rear snow chains and figured out how to install them. Holy shit did that ever make a difference. I have them for the front, too but my god this thing is pretty much unstoppable now. Some of the driveway work I did ended up feeding it some of the last 18" storm (which had melted somewhat) plus this new storm. It just rams right into whatever you want. Amazing. And very satisfying. My neighbors were pretty blown away watching it work. In my driveway I was able to take a full bite of the full storm and it would just sort of muscle through it. I would often engage the diff lock just to avoid slipping so I used that a LOT today.
Still have my S550 under mounds of snow. And the front walk is buried.
Oh, I did toss the right chain at one point. That was scary when I realized what was going on. It was still like kinda wrapped around the axle. I was able to get it out of there and untangled but then realized I had lost the latch that snaps the outer chain together. Shit. I began to look in the driveway and by sheer dumb luck I spotted it. Put it back on and ziptied it closed for better results.
Once I fixed the traction issue I will say another 5-10 hp would certainly help it just completely obliterate the snow. But honestly 20 hp was enough for this blizzard and once you take the full bite, you can do partial swaths. It would just effortlessly eat snow. Very impressed.
I was having traction issues since the snow was like....twice as high as the snow blower housing. And since it was wet it would pack down to a very slick surface. Had a bunch of close calls and if it wasn't for the diff lock, I might have really been in a pickle. Ended up sideways in the street stuck at one point thinking, sure wouldn't be lucky if a plow was coming by.
Ended up snow blowing the damn street. And helping a bunch of people with driveways. But after sliding around I said, screw this, I'm calling in the big guns. So I dug out the rear snow chains and figured out how to install them. Holy shit did that ever make a difference. I have them for the front, too but my god this thing is pretty much unstoppable now. Some of the driveway work I did ended up feeding it some of the last 18" storm (which had melted somewhat) plus this new storm. It just rams right into whatever you want. Amazing. And very satisfying. My neighbors were pretty blown away watching it work. In my driveway I was able to take a full bite of the full storm and it would just sort of muscle through it. I would often engage the diff lock just to avoid slipping so I used that a LOT today.
Still have my S550 under mounds of snow. And the front walk is buried.
Oh, I did toss the right chain at one point. That was scary when I realized what was going on. It was still like kinda wrapped around the axle. I was able to get it out of there and untangled but then realized I had lost the latch that snaps the outer chain together. Shit. I began to look in the driveway and by sheer dumb luck I spotted it. Put it back on and ziptied it closed for better results.
Once I fixed the traction issue I will say another 5-10 hp would certainly help it just completely obliterate the snow. But honestly 20 hp was enough for this blizzard and once you take the full bite, you can do partial swaths. It would just effortlessly eat snow. Very impressed.
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