Snow Cabs

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Over this summer I managed to acquire 3 snow cabs in various states of condition / completeness / & PO "modifications".

Between the 3 I can make a fairly nice one with only a couple of parts I have to fix.

 

The cab I will be using only had one rear upright / door latch support, parts donor is about an inch longer because of different model #, easy enough to shorten...

I love the back mounts on this model, no drilling, bolts on under seat pan.

 

 

Next is the right fornt crossbar support, PO had cut it for whatever reason, once again, easy enough to make a new one...

 

 

I'll be using the windshild & lower front panels from the donor cab. PO had taken lower front panel to an upholstry shop where they removed the lift arm bump out & chute rod zipper which is perfect because the snow beast has hydro lift & electric chute control.

The doors from the cab I'm using have some mouse nibbles on the bottom, but in otherwise good condition & the Wheel Horse printing is in great shape.

The doors from the donor are in great shape but the Wheel Horse logo was dyed over, PO had put it on a little IH. 

Gotta go with mouse nibbles, gotta "represent" ya know !

 

 

Odd man out is an older model soft top cab, windows are shot, but otherwise pretty much complete & in fairly good condition.

I'll have quite a few leftover parts & "odd man out" available when I'm done if anyone is interested, just PM me 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Shortened the door latch leg & made the missing piece of the front inner mount today.

Test fit the on the C-81 in the shop, it'll be going on the C-161 after some paint tomorrow. 

 

[peter lena 8,632]

@Blasterdad   opportunities  ,  https://www.amazon.com/303-Products-30305-Recreation-Protectant/dp/B00JREJ9WU/ref=asc_df_B00JREJ9WU?tag=bingshoppinga-   303 vinyl treatment , really feeds the fabric , brings it back , also a aerosol lubrication soak / rub down on that dry paint area will help out .  your shop space , helps in your fitting , good luck , pete

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Started to put the snow cab together tonight.

I got the front inside windshield mounts bolted on & centered with my laser.

Beam is through the center of the gas cap, up the center of the steering shaft, & through the center of the wheel to the center of the cross bar. 

The cross bar is 32 & 1/4" so 16 & 1/8" is the target. I love my playing with my laser, both diagnal measurements from underside of hood to the center of the outside mounting holes a perfect 17".

From foot rests to the bottom of both sides 1/8" different, oh well, can't win 'em all... Have to leave a little play in my OCD.

 

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Made some more progress tonight.

Assembled the rest of the frame, lined up the doors & mounted the front outside frame posts to the foot rests.

Now I can take the doors back off & clean them & the rest of the vinyl.

While the vinyl is off it's time for wiring, fabricating a control panel for the electric chute control, caution strobe, led's & rock lights. 

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Finished the cab today, I decided to go simple ( stock looking ) with the wiring instead of a control panel.

LED's hooked up to factory light switch, ( brand new in the box harness was broken, returning them ).

Put a cigarette lighter in the factory hole for the beacon & used the factory electric clutch hole for the chute control, nice & neat.

Still have to put on the front wheel weights & chains & wait for the snow, hopefully it will be a while...

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

I absolutely do not like the look of cabs like this on such small tractors.. that being said..

You did an excellent job of restoring and installing it. In that sense it looks great 

[Zeek 2,286]

Nice job! That would be me if I used that in a cold climate, I'm a cold sissy 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

10 hours ago, sjoemie himself said:

I absolutely do not like the look of cabs like this on such small tractors.. that being said..

You did an excellent job of restoring and installing it. In that sense it looks great 

Thank you, when the wind catches the snow coming out of the chute & blows back in your face & down your neck it's far from pleasant!

I've had to stop before because my eyes were starting to freeze shut, not to mention being covered in snow from head to toe.

I've tried wearing ski goggles but you still get snow in your face & end up looking like a snowman. 

The C-160 with the plow on it doesn't "feed" the wind, you don't really need a cab on it, + I use it when the snow is melting & the blower won't work.

I've always wanted a cab since I was a kid, & it looks a little more "tractorish" with the led cab lights on it.

I'll post some more pics in the morning.  

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

45 minutes ago, Blasterdad said:

eyes were starting to freeze shut

 that sounds.. err.. unpleasent to say the least!

I can only imagine what that must feel like.

In the Netherlands it rarely gets to minus 10C/14F and we don't really get snow.. only partially frozen rain which turns into somekind of half-frozen dirt, salt and water mixture once it hits the roads.

 

Your cab is about as comfortable as you can get plowing snow.. unless you let someone else do it while watching them from your rocking chair indoors next to the fireplace 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Got the cab lights & dash light mounted & wired yesterday.

I drove it outside to see if just the stock headlights with led bulbs in them would be enough & couldn't see S*** inside or out. 

The led's I finally picked out definitely solved that problem & to me don't look overly big or stupid & will look even better when when I get the WHEEL HORSE sticker I ordered from Terry to go in between them. 

Since I really don't like drilling holes in my 's I mounted a led license plate light to an old Hide-A-Key box I had laying around for the dash light.

The amount of light inside the cab is just right, without causing a reflection on the windows. 

 

 

 

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Tonight's progress, made a pair of markers out of Home Cheapo driveway markers.

Mounted them with 1/4" wire clamps.

[c-series don 8,718]

I just started following this thread, and found out that you and I think a lot alike! Great job I must say, and on one of my favorite tractors. Once you blow snow with a warm cab and lights at night you’ll never want to be without a cab. To me the C-161 Automatic is one of the best tractors Wheel Horse ever made. I have most of the ‘78-‘79 C-series. Here’s an older picture of my snow fleet. I put the plow on my C-160 Auto when I got a Sweepster C-48 broom for the C-141 which works great in light, dry snow. Since this picture was taken I’ve added LED lights to the snowblower tractor (417-A) and use it in the dark just because I can 😜

Edited December 10, 2022 by c-series don

[Blasterdad 2,692]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

 you and I think a lot alike!

 

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

 To me the C-161 Automatic is one of the best tractors Wheel Horse ever made.

Agreed! My first  was a '78 C-81 Eight speed my Grandfather bought new in '79, ( Which I still  have ).

I grew up always wanting a C-161 Automatic & finally picked this girl up from @jay bee about 10 years ago.

Payed my dues many a frozen winter with the blower on the C-81 & manual lift.

& yes, '78-'79 C's are my favorites. 

Your collection is AWESOME btw....

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

I picked up a pair of cast iron front wheel weights this summer but they were too deep & hit the end of the axle & hub.

A little time on a friends milling machine & good to go. ( notice upside down they say WH, lol ).

 

 

Went to Tractor Supply & bought 10' of #40 roller chain & new bolts.

I had parted out a snowblower a few years back & thought I'll use the chain from that for the right tire, put a new chain on my blower & put the old chain on the other tire,

that way I end up with another new spare chain.

The plan is going great, the parts chain was the perfect size. 

Put it & the weight on...

 

 

Started to take the chain off the blower & noticed this right away...Top idler sprocket bearing is shot, so far the plan is working to my advantage, probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

 

 

Spare parts to the rescue...

 

 

The paint is still drying on the other weight anyway so I'll change out the sprocket & chain tomorrow.

Accordind to USPS tracking my  sticker for the cab should be here tomorrow too, & hopefully I'll be finished. 

 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

She's done for now, I will take the cab off in the spring & paint the frame.

Until then, let it snow. 

Idler sprocket & new chain on...

 

 

Left side weight & & chain on...

 

 

& for the final touch I got my  sticker in the mail today...

 

 

Oops, forgot about this, leftover vinyl edging from the carport to go around the fiberglass edge. 

Oh well, tomorrow night... 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,596]

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Got home from work tonight & put the trim on the cab, looks much better, that raw edge was working my OCD.

Waited till dark & pulled her out to try out / aim the lights, no aiming necessary, spot on, (pun intended), all I can say is WOW !!!

 

[kpinnc 12,078]

On 12/13/2022 at 7:35 PM, Blasterdad said:

Waited till dark & pulled her out to try out

 

Never had the need for a cab or blower down here, but I gotta say this thread almost makes me wish I had a rig like that. 

 

Very nice job on getting that cab and blower back "in service". 

[Handy Don 12,233]

On 12/13/2022 at 7:35 PM, Blasterdad said:

Got home from work tonight & put the trim on the cab,

Nice work on the cab. Color me envious of your convenient and well set up shop!

[Red-Bovine 309]

That's a really nice restoration. The Wheel Horse cabs are getting scarce. Enjoy!!

[peter lena 8,632]

@Blasterdad  nice job on that !  knocking off all the details , suggest  some kind of hood to cab fit anti / scratch  protection . that blower sprocket , / chain specific chain / open gear lubricant , would also touch up  related sprockets , I  typically re grease those , with  red grease or green grease . lighting looks killer , 303  vinyl  boat spray , for vinyl  refresh . scary , we are on the same thought page ,  what is going on ?   stay on it , pete