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New John Deere for the new place

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Hatchdog
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by Hatchdog » Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:25 am

Just earlier this week I helped my son install the blower on his garden tractor he bought used this year. Thought it was going to be a big deal but it wasn’t. He had done a lot of the prep work before I got there but I suspect it was pretty straight forward as he’s not very mechanically inclined. He would love to have a cab like yours. Fortunately his driveway isn’t too long so he can tough out the cold.
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daytime dave
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by daytime dave » Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:58 am

graywolf wrote:
Wed Nov 09, 2022 9:08 pm
When I retired, I decided to downsize tractors since I wouldn't be farming. I sold my full size tractors and went with the JD 1025R. I was interested in the 700 series but I wanted a bucket. These smaller garden tractors are work horses. I still like your Craftsman garden tractor.
I like that Craftsman a lot. I have a snowblower for it and think it would do well on level driveways. Mine is a hill with a curve. It would do fine going down, but probably wouldn't make it back up.
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daytime dave
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by daytime dave » Sat Apr 01, 2023 3:55 pm

daytime dave wrote:
Wed Nov 09, 2022 11:01 am
Dave,
I stand corrected. The impeller on my 54" blower is metal. The whole blower unit performed very well last year, only breaking a shear bolt once. It ate a rock it didn't like at the end of the driveway, near the road. There were no impeller problems.

Last week I changed the transaxle fluid. It was a bigger job than I had thought for. I'm glad I didn't hold off and wait till it was time to switch over the accessories. I know these things will get easier as I gain experience on the machine.

Last year was very easy to prep the garden tractor for winter. I simply made arrangements at the end of October and got a last day of November appointment for a serviceman to come and do it. I was laid up with a broken leg and there was no way. As I said, it was worth every penny. He was here just over an hour.

Fast forward to yesterday. I did the same job myself in 50'sF weather. It took me about three hours. Taking the cab off in the Spring made assembly this Fall much easier. I had lubricated the snap buttons where the metal tubes attach last year. It paid off. Somewhere between spring and now, I managed to lose the snowblower manual book. It's a pretty straight forward operation, but another will need to be ordered. Of course, I took the granddaughter on the "maiden" voyage for the year. She loved the caution light I had on the roof. We drove it to the house and parked it.

Here is the finished product this year.

Image
Well, it was a nice day today, about 65 and sunny for about 5 hours. I took the snowblower and cab off and put the mower on. It didn't take as long as last year, only about 1 and 1/2 hours. As you do it, it gets easier. Now I'm ready for grass.
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dave77
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by dave77 » Sat Apr 01, 2023 5:19 pm

I'm leaving my plow on the Cub for a couple more weeks after last years April 14th 12 inch snow fall. Previous April record for the entire month of April was a 1/2". Luckily I hadn't taken the plow off, it's not hard to put on but I'd rather not do it with a foot of snow on the ground. Since I'm just mowing with it I don't bother to take the chains off.
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Hatchdog
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by Hatchdog » Sun Apr 02, 2023 10:46 am

Just yesterday I serviced and put the walk behind snowblower in storage. I also took the blade off the Ranger but it is a quick mount so can be put back on in a heart beat. I’m starting to use it for other purposes and the blade gets in the way. I did buy filters and oil for the lawn mower but I won’t need it for some weeks now. Sure hope this transition to spring continues.

:D
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daytime dave
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by daytime dave » Sun Apr 02, 2023 12:55 pm

I leave the chains on the Craftsman year round. The turf tires would get stuck too much on the uphill slopes. I also leave the chains on the 650 until spring is over as it has turf tires too. The ground water seeps until late spring around here in some places.
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JEBar
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Re: New John Deere for the new place

Post by JEBar » Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:52 pm

dang .... looks like it time to service our Cub Cadet :roll:
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