Snow machines

[slim67 2,735]

I have plowed with my b80 worker in a couple different configurations over several winters and even used my RJ a few times. Since my collection is growing I can see a few more seeing snow duty in the near future. My 1054 that I bought earlier this winter has a 54 inch blade so if all works out, that will see some action next winter and the RJ was fun to use so that will see some work. Do you guys and gals try something new once in awhile or use the same machines every year. My thinking is so many tractors, so little time.

 

[squonk 41,161]

Once I get something that works well I stick to it. 953 with a plow that had a PVC pipe for an edge to roll over the stones. C-160 Auto with a blower that has pneumatic tires again for the stones and a short frame 857 with a plow and solid link to scrape down  the leftovers

[briankd 817]

 

 

last few years just use my 857 been leaving it with plow and chains on it just sits same spot year after year i start it once and awhile . have a single stage blower in parts was going to get it going and put it on my c120   but the lack of snow we get here i don't see the  point so it sits outside behind my shed  in pieces   

[pfrederi 17,741]

my snow horses are dedicated and only used in winter.  I have been making a few adjustments more weight, plow aligning pin and this year a bigger 54" blade.. 

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

My snow clearing options have been always about the same. My old rat rod plow bolens, and my 310-8 with a single stage. Recently however I’ve been mostly using my plow truck because work has me away from home for most snow storms. No time for using the old tractors I’m afraid.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

Idk why redsquare always makes my photos sideways, but I did recently convert my bagger mounts to a weight bracket. The more aggressive tires also help with my muddy ice pit driveway 

[Pullstart 62,917]

@Ifixoldjunk twinning!  I’ve got a short Shute currently, but it still performs quite well!  Still need to install the wings and skids of some sort.

 

it doubles as a nap tractor too!

 

 

[Achto 27,609]

I use my walk behind Ariens blower and my C-145 automatic with a blade. Blade stays on the C-145 all year around.

 

[EricF 589]

Just put the 520H back in its garage bay after clearing the first real snow of the year.

 

 

Last year, we'd just moved in and the tractor was still in storage on the East coast until Spring. That winter we watched the county plows take one swipe on the road which curves past out house, and one turn through the cul-de-sac across from us. And that left the neighbors getting stuck trying to get out of their driveways, or the Post Office van getting stuck outside mailboxes almost weekly when it snowed. Cleared it all out nice and quick with the Wheel Horse today! 

[ebinmaine 67,670]

We've run a few over the 4 (?) Seasons we've had Horses.  

 

My first was a '74 B80. 

I've also tried to setup a 1267/87. 

'74 C160-8 Cinnamon Horse. Used that for 2 seasons.  

This year I've got a '75 C160 Automatic. 

 

Trina's used her trusty 867 for 2 or 3 seasons now. 

Just today we got the 856 (repowered with a Tecumseh 10 horse engine) Military Tribute Tractor "Millie" back in the line up. That'll be tried out for plowing as well.  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,604]

C 105 and a C “6.5” predator swap with blades… no weights no chains no problem… 3 flat concrete drives… Michigan snow. Works for me!

 

 

[Redav72 227]

The lighting was great this afternoon so I thought I'd take a couple pictures after finishing up.  Definitively need to get some chains on this.  I'm planning to add a rubber wear strip this summer, it's biting on the cracks too often.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,604]

3 minutes ago, Redav72 said:

it's biting on the cracks too often.

Is your blade tilt adjustable? I have mine set with the top a bit forward so the bottom drags and doesn’t bite. Really helps skip over joints and cracks…

 

 

Nice rig! 

Edited January 23, 2022 by SylvanLakeWH

[slim67 2,735]

32 minutes ago, EricF said:

Just put the 520H back in its garage bay after clearing the first real snow of the year.

 

 

Last year, we'd just moved in and the tractor was still in storage on the East coast until Spring. That winter we watched the county plows take one swipe on the road which curves past out house, and one turn through the cul-de-sac across from us. And that left the neighbors getting stuck trying to get out of their driveways, or the Post Office van getting stuck outside mailboxes almost weekly when it snowed. Cleared it all out nice and quick with the Wheel Horse today! 

That’s a nice set up Eric. I’m sure that will clear a driveway in no time.

[ebinmaine 67,670]

1 hour ago, Redav72 said:

biting

 

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Really helps skip over

 

I'll second that. 

We keep both ours tilted forward more than normal. 

Zoom in to see it in this pic of the C160 Automatic.  

 

[EricF 589]

On 1/23/2022 at 5:59 PM, slim67 said:

That’s a nice set up Eric. I’m sure that will clear a driveway in no time.

The two-stage snowthrower makes pretty short work of any snowbank you can point it at.   When I lived out East, the town's plow used to bury the narrow strip out next-door neighbors to park in front of their house, plus the end of their (really short) driveway. I used to clear it out for them all the time... I'd basically cut the bank back by a car-width and a half in front of my house so my kids could park there safely and not have their cars in the street, then I'd just keep going and dig out the neighbors' parking in one sweep. Pretty sure the 20 HP Onan running full-out into a snowbank rattled windows across the street, though... 

 

This year I learned just how much of a difference the forward-swept front axle makes with the heavy snowthrower. When I was clearing out the cul-de-sac I had plenty of room to maneuver at higher speeds than I'd use while clearing the closed-in spaces I normally worked with. The swept axle does a nice job of keeping the tractor stable and controllable while swinging that snowthrower around the way a commercial operator would in a parking area. Kind of hard to describe, but "surefooted" is probably the best way to put it. The heavy weight of the blower on the front doesn't pull the tractor around when it swings, and if you want to make a hard turn to make a tidy cut in the snow, it won't wallow or swing too wide; the axle is in the right place to shove that weight around where you want it. Nice to be able to put the big beast to work the way the Wheel Horse engineers intended!

 

[ebinmaine 67,670]

3 minutes ago, EricF said:

put the big beast to work the way the Wheel Horse engineers intended!

Niiiiice

[TJ5208 1,824]

This won't always have a blade on it but here's my snow machine till Summer then I'll stick it on if I need to push dirt and gravel

[D_Mac 8,623]

[slim67 2,735]

19 hours ago, EricF said:

The two-stage snowthrower makes pretty short work of any snowbank you can point it at.   When I lived out East, the town's plow used to bury the narrow strip out next-door neighbors to park in front of their house, plus the end of their (really short) driveway. I used to clear it out for them all the time... I'd basically cut the bank back by a car-width and a half in front of my house so my kids could park there safely and not have their cars in the street, then I'd just keep going and dig out the neighbors' parking in one sweep. Pretty sure the 20 HP Onan running full-out into a snowbank rattled windows across the street, though... 

 

This year I learned just how much of a difference the forward-swept front axle makes with the heavy snowthrower. When I was clearing out the cul-de-sac I had plenty of room to maneuver at higher speeds than I'd use while clearing the closed-in spaces I normally worked with. The swept axle does a nice job of keeping the tractor stable and controllable while swinging that snowthrower around the way a commercial operator would in a parking area. Kind of hard to describe, but "surefooted" is probably the best way to put it. The heavy weight of the blower on the front doesn't pull the tractor around when it swings, and if you want to make a hard turn to make a tidy cut in the snow, it won't wallow or swing too wide; the axle is in the right place to shove that weight around where you want it. Nice to be able to put the big beast to work the way the Wheel Horse engineers intended!

 

The king of the horses

[D_Mac 8,623]

Work of art.

Edited January 28, 2022 by D_Mac

[squonk 41,161]

11 minutes ago, D_Mac said:

No plow but a comparison 

 

[D_Mac 8,623]

I remember when you all talked me into getting that tractor. No one knew what it it was. Was sitting outside for some time. The owner of the property knew nothing about it, he just wanted it off the property. I dragged it home, fell in love with it, and with a little carb cleaner it was running. Turns out it was a collection of parts and pieces. Some even made by hand like the plow and trailer. Speedex frame, Bonanza hood, Borg Warner transmission. Alling Landers gear reducer. Powered by a Tecumseh engine. Sadly I never got to try it in the snow. I remember when it finally started and I drove it down my driveway for the first time. Im grinning ear to ear now thinking about it as I was on that day driving it.

Edited January 28, 2022 by D_Mac

[TJ5208 1,824]

Pushed 2 inches of snow today with the 520-8 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,344]

I’ve been plowing with this one for over 10 years now. Perfect combo of 48”/ 5 sector plow, wheel-weights, grippy traction tires and HP.