44 inch snow caster mounted on LA115

leonz · Jan 10, 2012

Greetings and salutations John Deere board members,

I would like to pose a question to those of you who own the fourty four inch model two stage snow casters.

I have found that the lower mounting frame for the snow caster racks slightly to the right letting the snow caster sag to the right about 2 inches when the the snow caster is raised up and locked. The turnbuckle adjusters appear to be positioned at identical thread points/thread counts.

I thought at first it was the weight of the impeller drum but it seems to be centered properly. I did notice there is a lot of flexing in the 2 steel strap iron pieces that connects the snow caster to the tractor frame but the frame did not rack where the cross piece is mounted that holds the tensioner pulley and spring assembly.

I should probably see about purchasing a piece of channel iron and bolt it to the lower frame to stiffen it when the snow caster is removed for the summer season.

The tractor has been running fine, I use the space heater to warm it up when I need to use it in very cold weather as my garages are unheated.
I have the new chains on it and the suitcase weights have been a blessing for mowing and in the thin mud I have now. I just hope the ground freezes steady for the season. I wil hold off loading the tires with WWF this year and see how it goes, I was wondering if the larger four unit suitcase weight carrier will fit in the rear frame mounts of the LA115?

I changed the oil after twenty five hours and the air filter after 31 hours( I will be changing the air filter after 10 hour intervals from now on as the fumes are horrid even with good dust mask after 30 hours of use(probably due to the ethanol and 87 octane as well).

Thanks much

beenthere · Jan 10, 2012

leonz
Do you have a pic of a snow caster? Don't recall seeing one.

pennwalk · Jan 10, 2012

I wonder if leonz means the 44 snowblower? I'm pretty sure I have read threads about snowblowers or snowthrowers sagging to one side when lifted but I can't remember what the fix is.

Chris

Gonerafting · Jan 10, 2012

I was going to ask the same thing about casters!

leonz · Jan 10, 2012

The folks across the pond refer to snow blowers as snow casters or snow clearers (in the case of railroad snow blowers)

leonz · Jan 10, 2012

pennwalk said:
I wonder if leonz means the 44 snowblower? I'm pretty sure I have read threads about snowblowers or snowthrowers sagging to one side when lifted but I can't remember what the fix is.

Chris

Hello Chris,

Yes, I was referring to the 44 inch snow blower;
so my seeing the sag in mine is a built in factory issue
requiring stiffening at some point if not sooner.

Gonerafting · Jan 11, 2012

leonz said:
Hello Chris,

Yes, I was referring to the 44 inch snow blower;
so my seeing the sag in mine is a built in factory issue
requiring stiffening at some point if not sooner.

You might want to change the title to 44 inch snowblower since snow caster is not that common on this side of the pond. We have a tendency to think of a caster on a wheel. Just my opinion, I'm trying to keep your thread going to see if anyone has made an alteration for a similar problem. Jim

leonz · Jan 13, 2012

Well it looks like I wil be using the 44 inch snow"blower" after the temps go down tonight and I will report back about my travels with it as we have mush for snow now and it will only clog the snow "blower otherwise.

Gonerafting · Jan 13, 2012

You will have to send pictures of snow, lol. Here's my X700 with it's all new snow removal stuff. You had very little of snow this year. I posted this pic on another thread. Jim