Snowblower questions.

[adsm08 2,336]

I was getting ready for winter today, and based on the tracker we were watching at work yesterday I decided to mount the blower, rather than the plow. I believe the blower is an ST-325 (Tag is hard to read, looks right to the ST-325 manual), and it's on an 855.

 

I was looking at the hand-control for the belt on the blower, and I'm not sure I'm in love. Among other things the tensioner pulley looks like it might need a little TLC, but it also looks like I have to stay bent over and holding tension on the belt manually while using it..

 

Anyway, does anyone know of any reason I can't just put a little bit longer belt on there and use the foot control tensioner used with the mower deck?

[wallfish 17,152]

1 hour ago, adsm08 said:

I was getting ready for winter today, and based on the tracker we were watching at work yesterday I decided to mount the blower, rather than the plow. I believe the blower is an ST-325 (Tag is hard to read, looks right to the ST-325 manual), and it's on an 855.

 

I was looking at the hand-control for the belt on the blower, and I'm not sure I'm in love. Among other things the tensioner pulley looks like it might need a little TLC, but it also looks like I have to stay bent over and holding tension on the belt manually while using it..

 

Anyway, does anyone know of any reason I can't just put a little bit longer belt on there and use the foot control tensioner used with the mower deck?

The belt might hit the front axle. But nothing a well placed idler couldn't adjust out

Edited December 24, 2024 by wallfish

[stevasaurus 22,962]

Do you have the guide pulley that bolts on the front bolt of the attach-a-matic?

Shown in front of the mower belt.

[adsm08 2,336]

1 hour ago, stevasaurus said:

Do you have the guide pulley that bolts on the front bolt of the attach-a-matic?

Shown in front of the mower belt.

 

No. But if I found one I'd probably grab it.

Edited December 24, 2024 by adsm08

[adsm08 2,336]

@stevasaurus

 

I just found another thread from 2016 where you posted up detailed pictures with dimensions for that bracket. It looks like that's something I can build, and Lowell appears to have the pulley.

[stevasaurus 22,962]

@adsm08  You know, I forgot that I had all those pictures.  @Pullstart was looking to put that blower on the 702 last week.  Those pictures would have been nice to show him.  Kevin, I can still send those pictures to you...you should have them.  

   @adsm08 yes, you can make that part, and if you can't find one, it is the stuff you need to make that blower work.

[Handy Don 12,974]

 

On 12/24/2024 at 4:30 PM, adsm08 said:

 

I just found another thread from 2016 where you posted up detailed pictures with dimensions for that bracket. It looks like that's something I can build, and Lowell appears to have the pulley

Would you please post a link to the thread you found in this thead? I’m curious to see that gadget even though I don’t have a blower. Thanks!

[Pullstart 63,360]

We’ve been doing Christmas stuff all day.  Merry Christmas all!  I’ll see if I can get out tomorrow to grab some detailed pictures and measurements on that pulley arm.

[adsm08 2,336]

40 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 

Would you please post a link to the thread you found in this thead? I’m curious to see that gadget even though I don’t have a blower. Thanks!

 

 

Post #4

[peter lena 8,957]

@adsm08  done a number of idler pulley set ups , between rusty bearings , rusty linkage points , that one side , pulley tracking is showing you the way , its ironic  that pully / belt driven anything , has so many issues , yet the elimination of  those issues are a step / by step , elimination . thats also a good time , to build in elimination of such a problem , personally never leave a sealed bearing untouched , why ?  ceiling  fan bearings are not rated for heat / or angular stress , bearing whyne is showing you the way . 550 flash point grease ,  pete   

[adsm08 2,336]

Well I never got that idler setup put together, but I tried it tonight anyway when my piles at the edges of the driveway got too heavy and were pushing me more than I was pushing them.

 

It "works" in the sense that the auger spins and it redistributes snow, but it looked like more of it was coming out around the auger shaft than out the chute. And of course this is a slick snow so steering with the thing on the ground was impossible.