You could build those upper arms easy enough with a welder and grinder... just sayin

Very true. I am going to try it without it. I can lift the blower up to "6" out of 8 on my lift bar. I threw the show chute extension on and it still cleared. The interference is definitely the arms hitting the frame, but I think I have plenty of lift to start. We shall see.

Thanks to all who have given me some pointers. I'll post up some pics of the thrower with the right belt and pulley as soon as my McMaster order comes in today.

So I finally pieced the blower all together. I ended up with a 34" 5L belt. It tightened up okay, but towards the bottom of the adjustment so I have a 33" on order as I expect the 34" belt to stretch a little once put under load and I may run out of adjustment.

I swapped the pulley out to a quality cast iron 3.5" 5L. I soaked the old stamped steel pulley for two days with PB Blaster and it still turned into a pretzel when using the 3 jaw puller to take it off, but it came.

I also took the opportunity to try improving the performance by fastening pieces of truck mudflap to the throwing portion of the auger to reduce/eliminate the gap of the auger to the drum/shell. This coupled with the speed up pulley should hopefully really throw some snow.

Added 260 lb of wheel weights (had them made out of 1.5" thick steel and I had a couple lifting weights too) to a Xtrememotorworks weight bar. I fixed the head/taillight wiring too (it was all jacked up).

Pics of the progress:

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...521D2A4F5A.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...85C78480A3.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...079328BFAD.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...f2487b3939.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...D01E21191D.jpg

Looks like to me you need a longer lift rod....

Yes I do, but what I have will have to work for now. I've been ordering too many tractor parts and the wife is becoming suspicious. :biggrin2:

But those tractor parts get her out of the driveway:)