Blade Addition to My 782
 

Picked up a modified 42” blade with 4” extensions on each end on Saturday. It’s hydraulically activated. It was on a CC 1782 super, so the PO had extended the arms, which I removed.
Got it mounted and started the 782 to find it works as it should. Will be using this instead of my 1947 Farmall Cub to do the driveway. Will see how it does.

Looks good to me.

:ThumbsUp:

I would suggest 2 link chains AND weights AND loaded tires if you haven't already thought of it, or you will not utilize it's full potential.

Am aware of the weight issues Cub Cadets have in heavier snow. Have several sets of chains I purchased years ago. Need to sort through them, get a usable pair, and make the final fit. Have a pair of front end wheel weights from my '48 Farmall Cub that I'll be using on the rear wheels as well. Will probably hold off filling the tires for now...wait and see.

The good thing around these parts is that whatever snow we do get, it usually isn't too much at one time or sticks around very long.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Those rear tires you have on there in the back might just be up to the task without the chains in light/medium snow. Though, I'd put some rear weights back there. In heavier snow, the chains get the job done. This is my experience with 42" blade on gravel driveway. Your results may vary.

I'd put some "Arms" on it like the OEM plows, the quick hitch isn't designed to take the push load.

Help me out here. Not following ya. Got a pic?

Nice score! I have thought about adding extensions to one of mine. I really want a 54” blade, but all the ones I see for sale are too expensive or too far away.

If your picture (and Sam Mac's comment) refer to the pair of long arms going back to the reinforcement bar under the seat, then yes, mine already has that. You just can't see them from the angle in my original picture.

The previous owner used this blade on a 1872 super which is 6" longer. He welded extension arms on the ends of the original arms to use this blade. I simply removed those extensions.

Thanks.

OK :beerchug:

X2 he is talking about the subframe. That way when you whack something hard under the snow that ya don't see you'll feel it throughout the whole tractor centering under your feet where the rockshaft is. Another thing to remember is to keep the blade unlocked so it can trip if and when that happens.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding; I'm a visual learner. Can you show me a pic of what you're referring to? Circle the item so I can't miss it.

Concur on the unlocked position of the blade.

I have ended up on the hood of my (modified, many times) 72.
It is truly true, don't forget to unlock the blade release. ;) :beerchug:

Update
 

Well, we finally had enough snow to push on Wednesday of this week. The 782 did great on downhill and level areas, no so much on uphill areas when a big snow was being pushed. All that without chains. Was hoping the super aggressive tire tread would be good enough to not install the chains.

Had a neighbor call last night wanting her driveway pushed. So went out early this morning (10 deg F) and installed chains. Opened the gas valve, pulled the choke and it fired up on the 3rd try. I erroneously pushed in the choke too early and it died. After that, all I could get was a clicking sound from the solenoid. Sounded like battery was too low, but it wasn't. Put a jump on it and still clicking. Think the solenoid is stuck or bad. Had to call my neighbor and apologize for not being able to get it done.

The hydraulically actuated blade worked great though. Will get this thing running again and just put chains on in early winter to stay on all winter.

I would suggestion that you check both Battery Cables, on each end, that they are clean, brite, and tight.

Ditto on the connections, same thing happened with my 1872. I put a charger on the battery and it wouldn't pull any amps, the battery was full charged, the terminals were loose, it was starting good until I really needed it. I had just purchased mine also. Easy fix.

Good suggestion, Roland. I'll get back out there when the temps are a little warmer and check 'em out. Will let you know...

Checked all the electrical connections (including grounds) and made sure they were clean and bright. No issues there.

Each time I turned the key to the start position, I could hear the solenoid click and then a high pitched whine. I ordered a new solenoid anyway, just to eliminate that as a possibility. If that's not the culprit, then I can put the old solenoid back on and look somewhere else.

Will keep you posted. New solenoid is to be delivered on Thursday. Thanks.

I thought the same, until I saw the OP was in MO :D

Kinda sounds like a bad/stuck starter. You could try tapping it lightly a couple of times. Had the same thing happen on one of my Craftsman last year.

The whine is probably the starter motor running without the bendix engaged.

BINGO! Radioguy41 and Farmall450. Sorry haven't got to this issue sooner (fever for a week sidelined me).

Have a 4"-6" snow forecasted for tomorrow (nothing like a little snow to bring the pressure). Tried turning the shaft by hand; stuck. Pipe wrench wiggling it freed it. Stuck bendix. Fired right up on existing (old) battery and I swapped the new solenoid back out to its box and put in the old solenoid. Will save that for later. Ran good.

Now I know the sound it makes when stuck, hopefully, I won't be stuck again with that issue.

Thanks everyone!

Glad you got it squared away. :beerchug:

Yep, what he said. :ThumbsUp:

Good thing you did not wack it with a hammer, the magnets inside will break...

Added tire chains--what an improvement--knew they would be. Have a '47 Farmall Cub that I pushed snow with for the first time in 2009. Slipped around pretty good. Installed chains and never got stuck since. So, knew chains would improve the Cub Cadet.

Now, seems I've broken the shear or roll pins in the rockshaft. Was pushing snow yesterday on the second neighbor's driveway and about 3/4 through it, the blade stayed up. No longer any up or down movement. The side-to-side hydro works fine.

Would you agree that the (2) pins got sheared?

Ha! When it rains it pours!

Started taking the blade lift off and fiddling around with the hydraulic mechanism. Something must have been bound up, because I saw the pins in the rock shaft were not sheared after all. Loosely reattached everything and it raised and lowered fine.
Went out to push some leftover snow in front of the barn and after pushing a wet pile, the engine coughed, something went clang and my engine sounded half as loud as it should. Pushed it back in the barn.
This engine is a Koehler M18 which came with the 782 when I bought at the auction a few years ago. Had the heads off the engine, which I reattached and wondered how long this engine would last. Well, now I know…

That sucks!!

Sorry to hear, I like my M18s but lost a KT17 Series II and know the feeling :(

It's my fault. I was pushing (some might call it ramming) a wet snow into an existing pile. Sudden impact obviously caused stress to the whole tractor, particularly the engine. Think the old Kohler was just looking for an opportunity to "give up the ghost".

I'll know next time: slow speeds.

I understand you didn't ask for help, but if it were me before I'd call the undertaker, I'd see if something simple happened, and the "patient" didn't expire, but just has a "headache" or cold.
Stranger things have happened. :bigthink: