Re: (ET) Plows suck for snow (dead blower)

[Charlie <medievalist gmail com>]

I think which tool works best for you has a lot to do with grade and
surface and access and so forth.

On my property the plow is vastly superior to the blower.  I can push all
my snow and ice downhill into one big pile at the entrance to the meadow;
with the blower it was always going every which way and ending up where I
didn't want it.   My I5 has never needed tire chains to scrape right down
to the tarmac, but it already had wide studded tires when I got it, and I
fill the weight box with 1/2" thick steel plates, not with cinder blocks,
so I imagine I am running pretty heavy.

--Charlie

On Mon, Jan 26, 2026 at 4:33 PM Chris Zach via Elec-trak <
elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu> wrote:

> Yup. Was pretty easy to punch out the old chain's broken links and count
> the links (I think it was 81 rollers or so) which I measured out on the
> new chain.
>
> Too short. At least 1.5 links too short. Oi; I know the old one
> stretched because the links don't line up but that's pretty nuts.
>
> I did get the old chain back on with a second removable link. The trick
> is to use a pair of 14 gauge wire as a "fish" on both sides of the chain
> to keep things relatively possible to thread in snow. Then with
> everything lined up I used a second piece of wire right on the end links
> and tied it together with twists. Then removed the long wires leaving
> the short one holding the chain together.
>
> Then tried the link; it did not reach. Used a long nose pliers to twist
> the wire at the links which moved them together. Tried the link on the
> open side and got it in. Then moved the link halfway out, and got a
> second link through the closed side of the chain which then pushed out
> the first link.
>
> With that, we were in business. Put on the other link end, clip (having
> a magnet on a stick is great for when it falls which it does, a lot.
> Also a rag in there so it doesn't land in the snow and crap). Chain is 
> on!
>
> I then noticed that one of the wires from motor to breaker had broken
> off at the bolt. No problem, new connector and then THIS HAPPENED!
>
> The bolt on the motor is of course rotted. And bad. And rounded and soft
> and totally stuck on the motor shaft which requires a 14mm wrench on it
> to keep it from turning and ripping up the inside of the motor. And I
> can't get a socket on it because the clearance to the blower body is too
> tight..... And the sun is going down and it's going to be 5f tomorrow
> and all of this garbage will be rock solid ice.
>
> So it's dead till spring. I was able to get one car out with the blade,
> and I'm just abandoning the thrower on the driveway till all of this
> garbage melts and the temps go above 20f. I'll roll the snowthrower on
> its end, then remove the motor and rebuild it (why not) then remove the
> auger and rebuild that, then put it away for another 5 years.
>
> *grumble* Give a mouse a cookie.....
>
> On 1/26/26 11:11, Dean Stuckmann via Elec-trak wrote:
> > You don’t need a breaker. A grinder and a punch will work.
> > Take care,
> > Dean
> >
> >> On Jan 26, 2026, at 9:20 AM, Larry Chace via Elec-trak <
> elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu> wrote:
> >>
> >> I think that the Electric Tractor Store sells the chain cut to 
> >> length,
> >> ready to install.
> >>
> >> Check the sprockets for excessive wear!
> >>
> >> Larry Chace, I-5
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Elec-trak mailing list
> >> Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> >> https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elec-trak mailing list
> > Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> > https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elec-trak mailing list
> Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: 
<http://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mhonarc/elec-trak/attachments/20260128/c33c3d9a/attachment.htm>