Woods SB74C Snow blower

onionfmr · Oct 16, 2014

I've searched the archives and haven't really found the information that I'm looking for. I have a MF 1643 cab tractor with turf tires. I recently bought the subject snow blower and am getting ready to cut the PTO shaft. Anybody have one of these snow blowers or have experience with one? With my setup, the PTO shaft will be short and I will be snow blowing up and down a couple minor hills and don't want to have any knuckling on the PTO shaft ends due to PTO shaft angle. Anyone have a similar snow setup? Did you need to add a 3 point quick hitch to lengthen the PTO shaft and reduce the angle a little. Don't really have a need for a quick hitch since I store all my implements on homemade rolling carts. So, implement hookup is easy and I would just as soon save the money. Don't want to cut the PTO shaft and then find a knuckling problem. I don't have a short enough PTO shaft or I would just try it. Thanks in advance - Ted.

onionfmr · Oct 18, 2014

No replies? Anyone have a Woods SB74C SB?

Deerherd · Oct 18, 2014

I had the same blower on my Kioti with hydraulic chute rotation. But I also had it on a quick hitch with TNT so it was an easy hookup, no cutting of the PTO shaft. It does improve the angle with the QH. I never ran it without so I can't comment on that.

I'm a big fan of the QH but it seems you don't feel like the need or expense. It would make hooking your QH compatible implements even easier. If it were me I would get the QH because invariably I would cut the PTO shaft too short or if I cut it right it would bind because of the angle and I would end up buying a new PTO shaft and QH anyways!

onionfmr · Oct 18, 2014

Thanks Deerherd for the reply. Most of my implements are old, as am I! LOL. So, not QH compatible. I've searched high and low locally for a QH and none of the local tractor dealers or parts guys have one in stock. Looking at the specs for Speeco, Landpride, IMatch and BEFCO, they all have slightly different widths and heights for the same category 1 quick hitch setup. I did take some measurements this AM in the rain and if my Smartphone angle app is right, moving the blower back 3 1/2" only improves the PTO shaft angle by approximately 1 degree. Which doesn't seem right, logically. I guess I'll do the actual math to check.

As a side note, how did the Woods SB74C work for you? Thanks - Ted

Deerherd · Oct 18, 2014

Ted

That's a nice blower, you will enjoy it. You can also get a little more height by dropping the skid shoes. Measure twice, cut once!

onionfmr · Oct 19, 2014

Deerherd - thanks for your replies and information. Ted

snowbelt geauga · Oct 19, 2014

I have a Woods SB74 also . I bought it used a few years ago. I had to build a new PTO shaft for it because it did not have one. When I bought my tiller the dealer cut the PTO shaft to match the tractor.

onionfmr · Oct 21, 2014

Thanks for the replies. I post this for informational purposes for anybody else with a similar tractor and SB setup. Ended up cutting the PTO shaft yesterday. From the centerline in the pin on the implement side of the PTO shaft coupler to the end of the tractor side coupler is 31 1/2", fully collapsed. This affords plenty of room to install PTO shaft when SB is attached to the tractor. Have approximately 12" overlap on PTO shafts. Using my Smartphone, the PTO shaft angle is less than 20 degrees in fully down mode. There is no PTO shaft knuckling throughout the range of lifting and lowering of implement. Hope this information helps somebody down the line.