Post your winter tractor setups

[Eugen]

Looks good Noel! How's the engine though?

[propane1]

Engine is fine Eugen. Has lots of power to cut long grass , although snow throwing is harder. But I’m expecting good results tomorrow if I get it all together. If I don’t get the results I’m hoping for, it will be a grass cutting tractor only.

Noel

[propane1]

Just fit a belt now, and go for a test. 2” to 3” of fluffy snow last night. Chevy orange on pulley.

Noel

[Eugen]

Engine is fine Eugen. Has lots of power to cut long grass , although snow throwing is harder. But I’m expecting good results tomorrow if I get it all together. If I don’t get the results I’m hoping for, it will be a grass cutting tractor only.

Noel

Would be a good thing to check the engine max RPM somehow. And that needs to translate into a high RPM on the auger. When the RPM was not high on the auger on two of my tractors in the past, even what I considered easy snow to throw was a disappointment. Looking forward to see how you fare with the new pulley. Also looking forward to get home and test my 444. Though it's older snow, so it might be a tough one.

[propane1]

I’m in the process of finding a belt now. Takin just as long to do that as it was to fix up the pulley. I have a vibration tach here I might check the rpms. Although it sounds right.

Noel

[propane1]

So checked rpm and it’s good. Ok so I got it all hooked up and took the Case 224 and snow caster, which didn’t work good in last weeks storm, out for trial testing. Good news Eugen, it worked like I was hoping for. So yours should be good. To bad I can’t post a video, but the pictures will give you the idea. So Dave mention the drive pulley should be 6.5 “, well I cheated a bit and put a 7” pulley on. Works much better than last weekend. And had to get a 79” belt. A 78” might fit too. But the 79” did great, no slipping and never came off. Video on real garden tractors site , if interested.

On a safety note, had a stone hit me on my knee today that came from the chain. I’ll be putting a cover there at some point.

Noel

[Eugen]

I'm glad it worked well! I saw the movie, there's nothing to complain about that!

My 444 wouldn't start tonight. Was starting just fine two weeks ago when I parked it. Had no time to troubleshoot so

[Gordy]

On a safety note, had a stone hit me on my knee today that came from the chain. I’ll be putting a cover there at some point.

Noel

Sorry, I'm trying to figure out how to say this without sounding like a total A$$ But the first safety rule is to shut off all attachments before dismounting the tractor. Many farmers wives buried their husbands over the years, or had them crippled for life. Use the rock incident as a reminder, what if you slipped and fell with an arm or leg getting too close to the running caster After all that's why the newer machines have the Operator Presence switch in the seat,to kill the tractor not you the operator. With the older machines the most important safety gear is the grey matter between your ears

Play SAFE,

Gordy

[propane1]

I guess I didn’t say that I was sitting on the seat, moving forward, throwing snow at the time I got hit with the rock.

Noel

[Eugen]

My 444 wouldn't start tonight. Was starting just fine two weeks ago when I parked it. Had no time to troubleshoot so

EE68D542-DB96-4F34-8178-F6915680C50F.jpeg

As we came from the city the truck was full so I just carved a path in a hurry with the walk behind so I could carry stuff inside. Later on I went back to the tractor and gave it a shot of starting gas. Now again it starts on the first crank. The snow was at least a weak old, and heavy. Going too fast got the engine to bog down, so I had to go slow but the throwing distance was about 6-8 feet. Obviously this needs some more tweaking.