1972 CG-8 for light snow removal?

[Raider69 65]

Is anyone using avertical shaft tractor for snow removal? If so are using a blade or blower and what tires, how much additional weight, etc.?

 

The reason I ask is that I have a 1972 CG-8 automatic with a blown VH-80 and a later Tecumseh OVXL120 that I had in a 1970 Commando V-8 for several years. The OVXL is an almost direct bolt in for these tractors IF you can find one and really improves their performance and fuel consumption believe it or not. Mine went "boom" a couple years ago after many years of hard use but I just found a NIB OVXL120/125 shortblock on Ebay and hit the "BUY IT NOW" button. I REALLY liked that engine and have been looking for a decent used one ever since. A NIB shortblock was a no brainer for me. Mine has electric start and I added a recoil start as a back up. I had just bought a new carb for it which is still in the box. I  have a snow blade attachment and a 6-7211 32" snow blower with very little usage for these tractors. In fact I bought the blower and OVXL which was mounted in a CG-7 from the same person about 15 years ago. The  CG-7 became a parts donor for the Commando V-8 over the years. My wife talked me into letting our teenage son use it to mow yards for one summer......  I needed a LOT of parts that summer. I had the blower on the Commando for about one snow fall but the original VH-80 just didn't have enough OOMPH plus I could only raise the blower about an inch off the ground. In retrospect I think I may have had the linkage set incorrectly but as it was grossly underpowered for the task I pulled the blower off and never looked back. Until now. 

 

I don't "need" the CG-8 for snow removal or mowing as I have a riding mower, a '75 B-100 with a 42" blade and an Ariens ST824 2 Stage blower but I want to do something with the CG-8 for the heck of it. It would be more of a "toy" or backup for the other snow removal equipment. With an OVXL120 transplant I know it would have plenty of power for the 32" blower or the blade. Just curious if anyone has any experience with a similar combination that could offer more insight? The blower in particular, it seems to be me it should have raised a few inches higher than that. It's probably been a good 15 years since I had the blower on the Commando so I really don't remember that much about what it was like. I do recall that it badly need more weight on the back as steering it was next to impossible. Any input would be appreciated. If it turns out my experience with the snow blower was fairly typical then I'll put the snow blade on  it and use it for cleanup and light snow. Thanks.

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Not familiar with your model,but I would assume it would work.Light fluffy snow is easier to plow and blow than heavy and wet snow.I have seen other brands of tractors with vertical engines and they did OK,depending on the snow conditions that I mentioned.I really think that these tractors were meant for mowing grass,but I guess WH wouldn't have sold plows and snow blower attachments that fit them if you weren't supposed to use them.

[littleredrider 409]

i used to plow with a lawn ranger. I swapped in a Kohler 8 horse, and the way the plow bolts on under the motor, which i think urs would be the same, when you get traction you will lift the tires off the ground. It was fun, shocking, impressed, and a PITA at the same time cause couldn't steer lol. Throw some chains on the back, extra weight and have it!!

[squonk 41,164]

I had this 210-H for 20 years. bought it new in 1990 with a factory snowblade, plastic weights and chains. After the superstorm in 93 I bought a used Simplicity blower from my neighbor. I used to clean a large area in front of my house along a state highway. You can imaging the amount of snow the state boys left in the spot. This little tractor never let me down.

 

[Raider69 65]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

I had this 210-H for 20 years. bought it new in 1990 with a factory snowblade, plastic weights and chains. After the superstorm in 93 I bought a used Simplicity blower from my neighbor. I used to clean a large area in front of my house along a state highway. You can imaging the amount of snow the state boys left in the spot. This little tractor never let me down.

 

 

 

I live on a busy US highway so I definitely feel your pain. This was a few years ago, that little tree in the picture is now about 45 feet tall! I'm 6' 2" to give you some perspective on the snow pile. Even my B-100 with chains and 67 Lbs. of RV anti-freeze in each rear tire wasn't up to this crap. They plowed the highway AND shoulder during the night and by the time I could get out to start the cleanup there was a pile of packed snow 3 to 4 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide at the base plugging the end of my driveway. The "Mighty B" put up a good fight and pushed snow that was well over the blade but you can't fight the DOT....... I finally admitted defeat and hired somebody with an end loader to dig out the wall at the end of the driveway. The B is getting a makeover this year, 4 new tires, a tune up at least with a possible upgrade to a K301, more weight at both ends and not least of all I'm FINALLY going to install the hydraulic lift I bought from a member here many moons ago so I can mount the 42" snowblower I have for it again. I had it on one winter and it was a snow throwing beast but it was also a back breaker.

[Raider69 65]

I decided that since there's apparently not much love for these old vertical shaft models I can have some fun with them without hurting their value. Or at least the more common Commando V-8. I have a custom made v-plow that my Dad had made for his David Bradley 70 years ago. A blacksmith ( yes, a REAL blacksmith ) made it for him from a V-plow off an old Model T truck. This was the 2nd plow for a DB he made from this same truck plow. He made one for his own DB first so there may be a mate to mine out there somewhere if it survived. I also still have the DB but it was left in the elements for many years before I rescued it and is sadly in very tough shape, too far gone to be worth restoring but I'll keep it anyway. Since the plow isn't a DB implement I'm going to adapt it to a dozer blade mount I have for the Commando V-8 and mount it to the V-8. I have an early 2000's vintage 14.5 HP Briggs about halfway swapped into the V-8 so power won't be an issue. Hood clearance is another story, there basically isn't any. I have a dented up hood from a CG-7 I may butcher up to cover most of it or at least cut off the front grille shell and mount it in front of the engine and use the back section to cover the fuel tank and battery. Not sure what to do at the engine proper, maybe just let it hang out in the open with metal rods bent around the engine connecting the ends of the hood.  I'll save the original hood since it's pretty straight.

 

I remember the old DB busting through some pretty tall drifts with just the little 1 HP Briggs so the 14.5 should be "adequate". It was great for clearing paths and sidewalks, when we got a big snow Dad would clear paths to the out buildings and then clear around the cars. Then the neighbor would finish the driveway with his old Ford N tractor. Then Dad would clear a path out to the end of the city sidewalk a block from our house. He'd plow the sidewalk for a half mile up one side of the highway and then crossover and plow all the way back down the other side. The lil 1 HP just took it in stride. Keep in mind he didn't have the reverser attachment on his DB so backing up was a bit if a chore if it got stuck but it usually bulled it's way through even the biggest drifts. The V-8 is quite a bit heavier than the DB so it should be able to do OK but I'll still add weight front an rear. I already have tire chains for it from my brief fling with the snow blower. I don't really need it for snow removal but I have the pieces and it sounds like fun. Definitely ought to get some stares rolling down the sidewalk on it. People gawked at it when I mowed with it as it was. BTW I live a block and a half from where our old house stood and will be plowing those same sidewalks.

 

The CG-8 Automatic is still getting the OVXL120 engine and I may restore the mower deck form the Commando V-8 and hang that under it. I've never seen another one in the wild, only illustrations of  on brochures so it appears to be somewhat uncommon. It apparently has no collector value but maybe it should be preserved since there appears to be so few of them around now. I still have the original VH-80 I can rebuild and put back should I ever want to make it all original.

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by Raider69

[Roger R 448]

I have an "off brand, not to be named" with a 12.5 Kawasaki. It has done all of my snow removal since '86.  Tire chains on 18-8.50 x 8 turfs and 3, 42 lb suitcase weights, for counter balance mounted on a custom made rear weight holder, more for easing the weight on the front, so it is steerable.  Handles everything I run through it, Including county banks at the end of the driveway and winter wood land trail clearing.  All I am missing is roller chain wraps around the steer tires. Definitely in the plan.