John Deere 44 inch snow blower

[leonz]

Good evening,


My John Deere LA115 was delivered this afternoon with the mower,
snow blower, rear suit case weights and snow chains.

The open station is very nice and there is lots of leg room.

I have a couple of questions:

This is the first lawn tractor I have owned with only key stock keeping the wheel in place to allow it to travel forward and reverse.

I am not a lead foot driver like the cat outrunning the dog in the GEICO commercial HA HA!! Wasn't that scene taken from "Bullit"? I thought it was anyway, and its hilarious.

Have any of you had the ket stock shear and what were you doing when it sheared? I plan on keeping the rear wieghts on simply due to the small slope I have to mow and my lack of traction there as it is wet for quite a few weeks into mowing season.

This is my first new lawn tractor in 20 years and I always had a speed control on the dash of the tractor.



I was wondering how many of you have the 44 inch snow blower and are you happy with its performance?

We get a mix of snow when we get snow and I am worrried about how it will hold up etc.

I guess I will invest in some slick liner material for the impeller drum and rear wall for sure to make it more efficient. I will be investing in the drift cutters for sure this summer so i have them and add the lights I have to install fo the rear. The rear lights will be one of my wet weather projects.


Do any of you have a strobe mounted on a pole clipped to the rear hitch for working near the road or when traveling to the next driveway etc? I have an SMV placard I will be using as well.

I will probably build a hard cab for it before winter comes as we get a lot of wind as well.




When we moved to my parents second home the tractor that came with the house was an original International Harvester 12 horse power Cub Cadet that had a 36 inch single stage snow blower and to quote Eric Cartman it was KICK ***!!!! with belt drive to a one to one gear bevel box for the single stage snow blower that it had.

The reason I ask is this that I see they have a 3 paddle plastic impeller
and I wondered how well it holds up?

I was going to install one of Clarences impeller kits on it to improve the snow casting ability but will not do it now because of the injection molded plastic impeller.

The flat rear panel on the snow blower will allow me to install pneumatic carrier tires (cylone vac brand dual pneumatic tires-not to name drop but the twin casters that Mcmaster carr has are more costly than the "cyclone rake" dual pnuematic casters) on the snow blower to make it easier to turn and place less stress on the LA 115 front end.


Thoughts on friday night.

 

[leonz]

After seeing the videos of the numerous John Deere LA115 owners and their 44 inch snow blowers I am glad I bought one when I did. I might grt to use it next week as the weather outlook sounds naaaaaaaassssssstyyyyyyyy! :thumbsup:

 

[Markcuda]

Do any of you have a strobe mounted on a pole

This is what I have for a strobe light.

 

[LongDistanceRider]

I mounted my LED Strobe light on a pole on my rear weight bracket. I bought a professional model light and it is important that it is above head height as it is blindingly bright. I couldn't get to crazy with mounting height as I have a storage barn where I keep it and the doorway is only 75" tall. I also mounted a halogen rear work light to the vertical pole so I have both work light and a safety light you can see 1 mile away in the snow.

Originally, I had made the light much taller and simply made the mounting pole two pieces and put a plug in the tube for the light so I could disconnect it by pulling a pin and sliding out the pole with the light attached to get in the doorway. I found after being in the snow for as long as 3 hours plowing, etc. THE LAST thing I wanted to have to do to put the tractor away is pull the pin and slide the light out. It is easy and no big deal in the garage at 70 degrees. Now, put on your heavy gloves and FREEZE your entire body and it becomes a challenge.

Been looking for a nice Cab for the 455. Anyone found one that wasn't either completely rusted out from being on a municipal tractor or $3,000+ dollars?

 

[leonz]

Thank you all very very much for the help and ideas,

Markuda, do you install your pole in the forward port side mounting hole used for the snow cab/summer canopy kit?

I was told the 115 would not work with a hard cab because of the exhaust pipe location apparently.

I have been under the weather from having muscle strain due to moving the snow blower to storage and as such I have not been able to examine the tractor it further as the mower deck was installed.

It has not helped matters when the dealer delivered the tractor the mower deck was installed (I WAS NOT ABOUT TO START MOWING IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH IN NEW YORK)and the snow blower and tire chains were not installed OF WHICH I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE DEALER TO INSTALL THE SNOW BLOWER AND CHAINS PRIOR TO DELIVERY.


One would think that when one spends almost $3,700.00 U.S.D., on a new ride someone would be paying attention to what the buyer says and asks.

MY whinning is done and now my cheese waits to be stolen

Makes me wish I had stopped the check when I was told I would have to wait 2 weeks for delivery..................................

 

[handy]

I can not see why you can not have a hard cam I had a john deer LA the only thing I did not like is where John Deer put the exhaust pipe why put it where it might catch grass on fire. I got a Buddy to remake the pipe so it went out the hood not in front of the front wheels.

but as far as the snow blower goes they are great and will Handel almost what ever is throw at them

 

[leonz]

Thanks much Handy,

you have given me more incentive to build a hard cab for it now and install an all weather radio on it.:thumbsup:

 

[handy]

np when you get your cab done can you take some pic's of it pls
might get some one to build me a cab for my tractor. and kind of looking for idea's

 

[Wyocowboy]

I have a JD X300 with a 44 inch blower and mower deck. Worse tractor I have ever owned. I have had it for 6 years now and have spent over $3000.00 on repairs. The last was a new transmission. As for the snowblower it does a great job if you have a paved drive and no ice. I have replaced the plastic chute 5 times and today just blew out an other one. This is the weakest link on the 44 inch blower. I have seen a couple of videos on line that show a steel chute mod but I can not find any more info..DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A STEEL CHUTE FOR THIS BLOWER?

 

[Markcuda]

The last was a new transmission.

That is the weakest thing on that tractor.
The shoot is a form of plastic, you should expect destruction from rocks going thru it.

 

[General Stuart]

Hello Leonz
Your Frustration about The New Generation John Deere's is not the first I have seen nor Heard. Last summer I repaired a John Deere 345 that would Not move. The reason for it, was that it Stripped out the Pulley gear teeth on top of The Hydro Transmission. It took me More time to get the floor Pan off than it did to replace the Gutted Pulley and sadly I had to Place the same cheap Made part back on the machine. John Deere "Need's" to make the center Teeth of that Pulley out of Hardended steel, not Mild Steel. My Buddy that I fixed it for was Super Pissed off when I retunred it to him and told him what I found. He asked me what I would do about it, anjd I told him to get rid of it and to go back in Time When John Deere was still Offering a Durable Tractor. He replaced it with a 318 Like I have and has No Regrets. The 318's have a 7/8" solid drive shaft to run their Hydro Transmission pump with that run's directly off the crankshaft of the engine, Not a Mickey Mouse Belt drive Pulley set up. I.M.H.O. John Deere sold their sole to The Devil when they started producing these cheaper Made Lawn Tractor's as well as their Famous Lowe's or Home Depot Models. Most People do not know what they are getting when they buy these newer machine's, But it does not take long for them to see Exactly what they got for the long Haul. Enough Ranting here but I do I laugh when I pass by The Lowe's or Home Depot lawn Tractor's and they are Placing the Hard sell on Poor Folk's that have No Clue of what they about to Finance for Five Year's or better. In Most Cases the Payment Far Out Last's the Tractor's that Lowe's ot Home Depot sold them, Leaving a Bitter Taste in the Buyer's Mouth for many year's to come. I have seen Ton's of Newer John Deere's in the bone Yard's but have Yet to come across any Dead 318's Lying there. If I was You I would keep an eye Peeled for a Low Hour 318 as they Last, & Last & Last. Most Older Low Hour 318's will cost you less than what you paid for the one you got. I am Sure I will be Jumped by owner's of The X-series Tractor's telling how much better they are than the Older one's, but it won't change my Opinion on them One Bit as I run The Gut's out of my 318 and it has Yet to let me down & I Just dropped about $1800.00 in my 1983 John Deere 318 in Restoring it fully. I took it down to a rolling Chassis, & painted all of it, including the Frame, body Panel's & wheels and Placed a freshly Re-built Onan Performer P-218 18 Horsepower Twin cylinder engine in it. Why ? Because you can't Buy the quality today that John Deere Placed in these 30 Year Old Tractors, here's mine all Fresh and Ready to serve me another 30 Years. For the record I Mow Two full acre's of Grass with this Machine weekly over a Long Nine Month Mowing season with no Break down's or failed Part issues. John Deere is Not making anything today that catches my Eye or makes me want to rid myself of my 30 Year old 318 Tractor, and I doubt they ever will again. Regards, General Stuart

 

[JD2007]

I have had it for 6 years now and have spent over $3000.00 on repairs. The last was a new transmission.

Other than the transmission replacement what other repairs did the x300 need to add up to $3k?

 

[Wyocowboy]

Well the trans axle was $1500 and the gear box for the blower was $1000 and I have put 3 new chutes on the blower at about $135.00 each. Let's see what else? Can't think but it's been 6 years.

 

[JD2007]

Well the trans axle was $1500 and the gear box for the blower was $1000 and I have put 3 new chutes on the blower at about $135.00 each. Let's see what else? Can't think but it's been 6 years.

So the transmission is the only major issues you've had with your x300? Did you tow anything with it or just mow grass before it failed?

 

[Wyocowboy]

Well in all honesty, I use my X300 hard. I tow a home made cart that I use to move horse manure and other yard debris. I also made a home made drag for my pastures and pull that with the tractor. I firmly believe that I got a lemon off the line. From day one, reverse was slow as a snail and I thought that was the way it was geared. With the new trans axle reverse is much faster and now it is a joy to blow snow!

 

[leonz]

I wonder if John Deere will ever enter the small four wheel drive tractor market for the USA?

Sometimes I wonder if I made bigger mistake not buying and financing the 2305 with the all
weather cab that I saw on the lot that day? It had four wheel drive too.

The other thing I have to do is decide once and for all whether to load the tires for the winter as we are just starting winter here.
I could always use windshield washer fluid and take it out during the summer and fall and put it back in before winter.

The LA115 has a lot of difficulty when trying to back up with the snow blower on the ground which is why I am buying the pneumatic casters for it.
even with me and the 84 pounds of suitcase weights on the back it has very poor traction in reverse working on snow covered frozen sod.

 

[Carl Bert]

Hello Leonz
Your Frustration about The New Generation John Deere's is not the first I have seen nor Heard. Last summer I repaired a John Deere 345 that would Not move. The reason for it, was that it Stripped out the Pulley gear teeth on top of The Hydro Transmission. It took me More time to get the floor Pan off than it did to replace the Gutted Pulley and sadly I had to Place the same cheap Made part back on the machine. John Deere "Need's" to make the center Teeth of that Pulley out of Hardended steel, not Mild Steel. My Buddy that I fixed it for was Super Pissed off when I retunred it to him and told him what I found. He asked me what I would do about it, anjd I told him to get rid of it and to go back in Time When John Deere was still Offering a Durable Tractor. He replaced it with a 318 Like I have and has No Regrets. The 318's have a 7/8" solid drive shaft to run their Hydro Transmission pump with that run's directly off the crankshaft of the engine, Not a Mickey Mouse Belt drive Pulley set up. I.M.H.O. John Deere sold their sole to The Devil when they started producing these cheaper Made Lawn Tractor's as well as their Famous Lowe's or Home Depot Models. Most People do not know what they are getting when they buy these newer machine's, But it does not take long for them to see Exactly what they got for the long Haul. Enough Ranting here but I do I laugh when I pass by The Lowe's or Home Depot lawn Tractor's and they are Placing the Hard sell on Poor Folk's that have No Clue of what they about to Finance for Five Year's or better. In Most Cases the Payment Far Out Last's the Tractor's that Lowe's ot Home Depot sold them, Leaving a Bitter Taste in the Buyer's Mouth for many year's to come. I have seen Ton's of Newer John Deere's in the bone Yard's but have Yet to come across any Dead 318's Lying there. If I was You I would keep an eye Peeled for a Low Hour 318 as they Last, & Last & Last. Most Older Low Hour 318's will cost you less than what you paid for the one you got. I am Sure I will be Jumped by owner's of The X-series Tractor's telling how much better they are than the Older one's, but it won't change my Opinion on them One Bit as I run The Gut's out of my 318 and it has Yet to let me down & I Just dropped about $1800.00 in my 1983 John Deere 318 in Restoring it fully. I took it down to a rolling Chassis, & painted all of it, including the Frame, body Panel's & wheels and Placed a freshly Re-built Onan Performer P-218 18 Horsepower Twin cylinder engine in it. Why ? Because you can't Buy the quality today that John Deere Placed in these 30 Year Old Tractors, here's mine all Fresh and Ready to serve me another 30 Years. For the record I Mow Two full acre's of Grass with this Machine weekly over a Long Nine Month Mowing season with no Break down's or failed Part issues. John Deere is Not making anything today that catches my Eye or makes me want to rid myself of my 30 Year old 318 Tractor, and I doubt they ever will again. Regards, General Stuart

WOW! That's a beautiful job.

 

[Gator6x4]

I wonder if John Deere will ever enter the small four wheel drive tractor market for the USA?

Sometimes I wonder if I made bigger mistake not buying and financing the 2305 with the all
weather cab that I saw on the lot that day? It had four wheel drive too.

The other thing I have to do is decide once and for all whether to load the tires for the winter as we are just starting winter here.
I could always use windshield washer fluid and take it out during the summer and fall and put it back in before winter.

The LA115 has a lot of difficulty when trying to back up with the snow blower on the ground which is why I am buying the pneumatic casters for it.
even with me and the 84 pounds of suitcase weights on the back it has very poor traction in reverse working on snow covered frozen sod.

John Deere is already in the small four wheel drive tractor market. In fact one could say they are in it big time. The series one units are nice. The x700 series are also nice but will cost almost as much as a series one. The LA115 was made and sold by JD for one thing in my opinion, to mow a 1/2 to 1 acres lot, period.

Wheel Horse, International Cub Cadet, Case and others used to make a robust Garden Tractor, not Lawn Tractor. Consumers would not buy them because of the cost. They wanted something of the quality of the LA115. Wheel Horse,International Cub Cadet, Case and others disappeared.

 

[rdaisley]

As mentioned by others, the weak link is the K46 transaxle. Using the snow blower on my L130 wiped mine out and that is how I started the K66 Upgrade Kit business. The K66 works great.
Regarding the axle keys: You should have no problems. The K66, with about double the torque, also uses axle keys. (3/16" for the K46 and 1/4" for the K66) There have been no failures.
/roger