Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Thank You for WoodMaxx SB-60 Snow Blower Setup Advice!!

[KennK]

I just wanted to come back and thank those of you who gave me advice related to my purchase of a WoodMaxx SB-60 Snow Blower!!!

First, let me say two things about the snow blower that might help others:
(1) I hadn't noticed that the snowblower has a large steel loop at the top center, which might help those without pallet forks move the unit when it arrives, and while stored.

(2) I have a gravel driveway, so I flipped the scraper edge to be more gravel friendly and raised the skid pads one notch. I had read that someone's scraper bolts came damaged, but mine were very clean, and with the help of a 1/2 inch socket & a breaker bar the bolts were very easy to remove. In hindsight, I wish I would have added some anti-seize lubricant to those bolts and the shoe bolts. I'll probably do that later.

My JD 3320's rear hydraulic connections - originally installed to lift/lower a mid-mount mower - worked perfectly to rotate the chute. I'm so very happy with it!!!

The two hydraulic hoses come female connectors for the snow blower side, and generic male connectors for the tractor side. I had to go to the John Deere dealer to buy properly fitting quick-attach connectors. I brought the WoodMaxx supplied hoses with me and took several pictures of both existing rear connectors along side a measuring tape to help the dealer. I luckily also remembered to purchase two connector covers for summer storage.

I'd never installed hydraulic connectors before, so the JD dealer recommended using Loctite Thread Sealant 592, whose description specifies use with hydraulic fluid. I followed the instructions to keep the sealant away from the first thread, and it seems to have worked great. I think the WoodMaxx assembly instructions should advise use of thread sealant when connecting the hydraulic hoses.

I also never had hooked up brand new (empty) hydraulic hoses before. I'd looked online and found advice to let the engine warm up before operating, and to go easy on operating the hydraulics. With the chute rotation there is really only Off/On Clockwise/On Counterclockwise, but regardless the hoses seemed to have filled quickly and rotation was amazingly smooth. My wife joked that I'd quickly learn not to rotate the chute to full forward while operating my non-cab tractor. Hah! I assume there is something in the hydraulic pump/system the auto-bleeds the air in the system.

Finally, after getting a lot of advice, I decided to go with using the WD-40 Roller Chain lube spray (I love their new folding spray tubes!!), I used WD-40 White Lithium Grease spray on the chute bearings & chute surface, and I sprayed the interior of the auger housing, the fan, and the chute liberally with Fluid Film (oddly, my slightly older unused can's sprayer chose not to stop spraying, thus the quite liberal amount of coating. I figure it is no harm.

I have a case of anti-freeze spray and an extra Snow Joe snow blower shovel to help me remove snow & ice after each use (I'm a bit concerned that over use of the on-board shovel's clip will cause the clip to break in the cold - we'll see).

The chute rotates nicely and quietly. The snow blower seems to operate nicely and reasonably quietly - no snow yet to test it. I couldn't be more happy.

The next step is to find out how it works on the gravel. Of course I plan to the gravel freeze up and drive over the initial layers of snow to create a base. Time will tell. Oh, and I have a set of snow goggles in case I need them. Somewhere I read that as soon as I get frustrated by snow blower spray in my face, I should stop the tractor and start shoveling by hand until the snow blower spray doesn't seem so bad anymore. I'm told it won't take long.

Thanks again!!!!

 

[seville009]

Sounds like you’re ready for snow.

Regarding goggles, what I used to use was a snowmobile helmet. Keeps your head warm and dry, helps muffle the noise, and the viser can be opened and closed as you see fit.

If the blower has shear pins (vs a slip clutch), checks their locations before snow cones, and make sure you have the proper wrench/socket with you (so you don’t have to search for it when needed), and also get a large supply of shear bolts to keep on hand.

 

[RjCorazza]

X2 on the shear bolt prep. I've only broken mine once, but sure was glad I had spares on the tractor with the tools to replace them! I am sometimes remote from my home, and driving the tractor a mile or two home would have been a drag.

When I had an open station tractor I wore a motorcycle suit with heat, ski goggles, and an old fire helmet. Sounds goofy, but it was a great combination.

 

[KennK]

Sounds like you’re ready for snow.

Regarding goggles, what I used to use was a snowmobile helmet. Keeps your head warm and dry, helps muffle the noise, and the viser can be opened and closed as you see fit.

If the blower has shear pins (vs a slip clutch), checks their locations before snow cones, and make sure you have the proper wrench/socket with you (so you don’t have to search for it when needed), and also get a large supply of shear bolts to keep on hand.

Huh, I live in snowmobile heaven (northern Wisconsin) but don't own a snowmobile. I'll look into if they make a snowmobile helmet big enough for my giant head.

The WoodMaxx SB-60 has two shear pin types: one in the pto shaft, and another in the jack shaft that runs from the gearbox to the chain sprocket (I can never say that word without thinking of the Jetsons!!). I purchased 100 of each type of shear bolt & lock nut!!! I'm hoping that because I have the snow blower lifted - because clearing a gravel driveway - that it might be less likely to shear a bolt, but I'm ready if it does.

 

[seville009]

Surprisingly, I think I broke more shear pins on ice chunks (from partial thaws then refreezing) than on rocks and branches.

I switched to a skid steer blower about ten years ago - don’t miss the open tractor blowing snow backwards; my old body didn’t like that.....

 

[RoyJackson]

And definitely spray the snow blower's auger housing, fan and fan housing and most importantly, the chute with some kind of anti-stick spray (Pam, vegetable spray or silicone spray)
If I recall, Woodmaxx covers the inside of the chute with a polyurethane sheet now. Maybe you blower has it...still hit the bottom of the chute (where it enters the fan housing) at minimum.
Chipping out frozen snow and slush is not a happy chore...take my word for this.

BTW, I have a Woodmaxx chipper (WH-8). I bought my snow blower (Frontier brand sold by Deere) before I'd even heard of Woodmaxx. If I'd heard of Woodmaxx first, I'd have have probably gone for one of their units.

The first, and only time I broke a shear bolt was clearing my neighbor's drive (last winter) and snatched a frozen door mat...replacing the shear bolt was easy...getting that frozen mat untangled from the fan was a serious (and cold!!) PITA!!

 

[grsthegreat]

And definitely spray the snow blower's auger housing, fan and fan housing and most importantly, the chute with some kind of anti-stick spray (Pam, vegetable spray or silicone spray)
If I recall, Woodmaxx covers the inside of the chute with a polyurethane sheet now. Maybe you blower has it...still hit the bottom of the chute (where it enters the fan housing) at minimum.
Chipping out frozen snow and slush is not a happy chore...take my word for this.

BTW, I have a Woodmaxx chipper (WH-8). I bought my snow blower (Frontier brand sold by Deere) before I'd even heard of Woodmaxx. If I'd heard of Woodmaxx first, I'd have have probably gone for one of their units.

The first, and only time I broke a shear bolt was clearing my neighbor's drive (last winter) and snatched a frozen door mat...replacing the shear bolt was easy...getting that frozen mat untangled from the fan was a serious (and cold!!) PITA!!

thats nothing. About 20 years ago i was blowing snow off a neighbors driveway. They of course told me... dont worry, theres nothing in the road. I wrapped a 10’ stick of either #3 or #4 rebar all throughout the 1sr stage auger before shear bolt broke. I had to drive home and use cutting torch to free up auger. And people wonder why i choose not to clear other peoples driveways anymore.

 

[RjCorazza]

My list includes a length of garden hose (pain), a pile of firewood (instant shear bolt), and a car mirror (splattered right out). All on customer's driveways.

 

[oosik]

I was able to quit using a blower when I got the 2009 Kubota M6040. Big & heavy enough and with the HD Rhino rear blade - any berm formation can be easily cleared. My neck & shoulders greatly appreciate this change.

For 25 years I used the 3-point blower on my first tractor - Ford 1700 4WD. It simply was not heavy enough to clear the snow berms with the rear blade.

The first pass down my mile long gravel driveway always resulted in blowing a shear pin or two. Thereafter - one, maybe two pins for the remainder of the winter.

Early, first snows can be wet & heavy. Don't get discouraged if these snows prove difficult.

I've even waited a day or two after a snow. Wait for the temps to drop and the snow to "crisp up".

Same situation with the rear blade. Wet, heavy snow does not blade well.

Like many - I could not wait for my driveway to freeze up - rock hard. My lowered blower skids would dig into the partially frozen gravel and I'd be blowing gravel. I finally had wider strap metal welded to the skid bottoms. This solved the problem.

I also used the blower as a trash pump. Back the tractor out into a seasonal pond down at the driveway. Turn the chute in the right direction - lower the blower - up to PTO rpm's - let her rip. After a couple hours it lowered this pond enough to get water off the driveway. Now - with the blower gone - got a 3" trash pump. Should I need to do any "pond work".