Finally counted my money. Got a check from one grateful older gentleman on New Rd for $100 (wow). And my next door neighbor apparently gave me $40 twice so $180. Not bad.
However, had a close call yesterday when doing my next door neighbor the second time. He wanted me to make more of a path around the house (it's all a dirt driveway). Easy enough. But after clearing what he asked (including some of the previous storm PLUS this storm, which is still too easy for this machine with the chains), he wanted me to clear a little more in front of his Ridgeline. So I did. He would mark it out with a shovel and I'd clear. Well there was one pass where I went in and the blower sort of picked up kind of like it was on a rock. I looked down after backing up and there was either a mini-sledge or at least a mallet on the ground. Almost sucked that in. But it gets worse.
I went in again in the same general area and again the blower sort of picked up like there was a rock. I backed up and looked down and there was some kind of handle looking thing buried in the snow. He went in to pull it out and it was......a full-size hydraulic floor jack. Now THAT was a close call. That would have really done some damage to the auger and impeller. The mallet, too. He seemed frustrated and said his dad leaves that shit all over the place but, I mean, he does live there, too. Anyway, no issues overall and he was very appreciative. I still cannot believe how effortlessly I can just plunge into the full 35" snow fall amount and it just eats it. I can also take a bite out of a bank with multiple storms and it eats that, too.
Garden tractor acquisition
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Snow blowed 1 mile from my driveway and back to widen the road yesterday afternoon. Just now I saw the plow truck make multiple passes so hopefully my job there is done. I feel it's pretty abusive considering the salt, extremely heavy engine load and various rocks, etc.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Ordered 6 qts Valvoline Type F and a Wix 51410. I think it deserves it and I've never serviced the transmission. It is reportedly a Sundstrand 15U.
Manual says change fluid and filter at 400 hours and it is around 36x so close enough. I'm sure more frequent changes wouldn't be a bad thing. No hydro issues whatsoever.
Manual says change fluid and filter at 400 hours and it is around 36x so close enough. I'm sure more frequent changes wouldn't be a bad thing. No hydro issues whatsoever.
Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Impeller flaps looking pretty tattered.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Ended up replacing all my impeller flaps. I cut new flaps from my mudflap. Also had another galling (?) issue with my stainless bolts. It froze up from light impacting and I had to replace it.
I tested it after and it really throws the snow a lot farther. I wish I had this for the blizzard.
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Re: Garden tractor acquisition
Then I dropped the transmission fluid, replaced the filter, and refilled with Valvoline Type F. Very easy.
Oid fluid was probably sheared down a bit and there was some metal on the drain plug magnet. Otherwise I think this was fairly routine. It ended up taking 5 quarts to get the vent tube level about where the manual wanted it (I think 1-1.5" up from the case). Steering seemed easier.
378 or I guess 379 hours. Definitely put some hours on it this winter.
Oid fluid was probably sheared down a bit and there was some metal on the drain plug magnet. Otherwise I think this was fairly routine. It ended up taking 5 quarts to get the vent tube level about where the manual wanted it (I think 1-1.5" up from the case). Steering seemed easier.
378 or I guess 379 hours. Definitely put some hours on it this winter.
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