Snowblower SS-60 Snowblower

WayneB · Jan 12, 2007

Good Morning, I am going to go look at a Woods 3pt hitch snowblower in the morning. It is a model SS-60. I am not too sure what I should be actually looking at and any advice is certainly appreciated.

I was told the blower is four years old, but I am not sure if the person has any paperwork to show that.

What is a fair price for this? After talking to him for the past two weeks he is willing to let me have it for $800.00.

Is this a fair price. I have looked at new ones and the cheapest I have found was around $1,600 to $1,900 and not Woods.

I talked to my Kubota dealership and the guy there seemed to think that it would work fine on my B-7500.

There is some rust on the blower, guess that happens to all of them. Reading other postings I see where most people suggest painting the areas to prevent snow build up.

I have attached a few pictures of the unit.

Thanks again for any advice.

Wayne

westbrooklawn · Jan 12, 2007

Run... don't walk... to complete that deal!!!

MadReferee · Jan 12, 2007

If it works (ie. throws snow) then it's a great deal. A 5' blower should work just fine on that tractor.

SacandagaBrad · Jan 13, 2007

Wayne,

That sounds like a good price, unit looks in good shape just needs a little high gloss paint in the fan housing to keep it slick and the snow moving. I have the SS-52 on my TC-24D and have been very happy with it, although we haven't needed a snowblower in quite some time

I think my machine has a couple more HP at the PTO than yours, and I can tell you that I can bog the 52" in the heavy stuff, especially scraper banks, so don't expect yours to glide through that stuff at a quick pace with the 60". I can move right along in fresh snow, the blower throws a long way with the large fan that Woods puts in their SS series. That's the beauty of HST for speed control, I just listen to the motor. You should be fine with that blower on your machine.

A couple of warning about the SS.

Mine came with a Grade 8 shear bolt in the drive shaft that was supplied by Woods. There is a typo in the Woods manual that calls for it, and as I understand it, Woods uses drive shafts supplied by others to their specs. It stopped my machine dead in its tracks the second time out, while running at PTO speed. The proper bolt is a Grade 5, I run Grade 2 as they are very simple to replace. I bought mine as part of the tractor package in Oct, 2003. I believe that is about the time Woods brought out the SS series (snow shooter) as an improved version of their SB series (snow blower). Sounds about the same age as the one you are looking at (hopefully bought by now), so just give that a check.

The other thing is that Woods uses a 3PH mounting system that has the bottom pins facing inward. Makes sense since the unit is designed to be pushed rather than pulled, but the spacing on the arms is such that I can't figure how you would make it work with a Quick Hitch without some cutting and welding. I haven't called Woods for suggestions or ever tried a Quick Hitch, just made measurements compared to my back blade spacing and things just will not line up.

All that being said, I still think it is a well made piece of equipment and would highly recommend it. Just thought I would share my experiences to save you some surpises or problems.

Brad

WayneB · Jan 13, 2007

SacandagaBrad said:
Wayne,

A couple of warning about the SS.

Mine came with a Grade 8 shear bolt in the drive shaft that was supplied by Woods. There is a typo in the Woods manual that calls for it, and as I understand it, Woods uses drive shafts supplied by others to their specs. It stopped my machine dead in its tracks the second time out, while running at PTO speed. The proper bolt is a Grade 5, I run Grade 2 as they are very simple to replace. I bought mine as part of the tractor package in Oct, 2003. I believe that is about the time Woods brought out the SS series (snow shooter) as an improved version of their SB series (snow blower). Sounds about the same age as the one you are looking at (hopefully bought by now), so just give that a check.

The other thing is that Woods uses a 3PH mounting system that has the bottom pins facing inward. Makes sense since the unit is designed to be pushed rather than pulled, but the spacing on the arms is such that I can't figure how you would make it work with a Quick Hitch without some cutting and welding. I haven't called Woods for suggestions or ever tried a Quick Hitch, just made measurements compared to my back blade spacing and things just will not line up.

I agree with the mounting, took me a bit of time with my son helping to get things lined up and onto the hitch. Once on I am pretty sure it will stay there until spring!

All that being said, I still think it is a well made piece of equipment and would highly recommend it. Just thought I would share my experiences to save you some surpises or problems.

Brad

Hi Brad,

I went over this morning and picked up the snowblower. The guy selling it turns out is a mechanic for the local Kubota dealer and has taken very good care of his equipment. Prior to me getting there he had gone ahead and did the prep work, like changing the gear oil, greased the unit and it was ready to go.

The first thing he told me was to always use class 5 bolts said when he got the blower it was the wrong one in the unit. Made me feel good to read what you had to say! I will take your suggestion and use Class 2 bolts instead, just sounds a bunch safer!

Now if we get some snow I will be able to try it out.

By the way where in the Adirondacks are you located? We bought a retirment project up there about 7 years ago. Been working on it every since. It is on the Raquette River near South Colton. Actually we are on Blake Falls if you know where that is.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with your Woods Blower.

Wayne

SacandagaBrad · Jan 13, 2007

Wayne,

You'll like the unit, always good to find something used that has been properly cared for.

We are in the southern Adirondacks on the Great Sacandaga Lake. I know South Colton very well, I went to college in Potsdam and passed through on a regular basis. Used to come down to Higley Flow for the beach and cook-outs quite a bit.

Brad

WayneB · Jan 13, 2007

Brad, so you are also in the APA territory! Nice to see other people are involved with them. It is good in some ways, but there are times. The APA has bought up so much land and put it off limits to motorized vehicles, just makes it tough. They haven't done too much with the snowmobiles, but 4-wheelers have taken it on the chin.

A few years ago they came in and bought up all of the land on Blake Falls (Owned by the power company) and put it in forever wild. Cuts down on the development, but really raised our taxes.

My son went up to Clarkson up in Potsdam and I grew up east of there in a town called Chateaugay so it was a natural to get a summer place, but no way would we make it a four season home.

Take care

Wayne

Northland · Dec 7, 2007

Wayne- have you been happy with the SS60. I found a 2001 used SS60 in good shape (an hour south of me) that the guy wants $1420 for with the hydraulic chute rotator. I think I am going to buy it.

WayneB · Dec 9, 2007

Northland said:
Wayne- have you been happy with the SS60. I found a 2001 used SS60 in good shape (an hour south of me) that the guy wants $1420 for with the hydraulic chute rotator. I think I am going to buy it.

I am happy with the one I bought. Although last year we didn't have too much snow (Murphy's Law) it worked great!

I just looked in my manual and it states it is a rev 7/3/01 so I assume it is also a 2001 blower.

The only thing I do not like on mine is the manual chute rotator so with any luck the one you are looking at might have the hydraulic motor chute rotator assembly.

Let me know if you a copy of the manual and I can mail it to you. You can download them off the net, but it will not have the parts list.

Wayne

Northland · Dec 9, 2007

Thanks Wayne- as per your other post yes the SS60 I am buying has the hydraulic chute. The owner also has the manual but thank you for the offer.

I am going to pick it up on Wednesday or Thursday next week. We got another 12" of snow on Friday night. That makes 3 to 4 feet in 10 days so I am tired of rear blading and FEL'in the snow.

I am heading out now to put my rear and new front chains on my tractor. I have been dreading this job