#@%$ing snowthrower!

[Craneridge Cub]

Well, after correcting wiring issues that I thought I already fixed and a surprise PTO issue I finally got my cub ready to clear my driveway. BUT, I now had quite a bit of wet, heavy snow accumulated. I found that the I could only keep moving at a speed that was too fast for blowing snow and i I slowed down I would lose too much momentum and it would dig itself in. I finally had to surrender and plow my driveway with a truck. I don't know what the deal is, I assumed this tough old tractor would chug around effortlessly and tackle anything a Buffalo winter could throw at me as long as I didn't go to fast and overload the single stage 'thrower. Come to find out, this thing is damn near helpless! I need to increase my traction and the tractor's ability to creep along so I need to "poll the audience" for improvements. First, I have chains on my wheels but would I be better off with Ag tires (or can I put chains on Ag tires?)? Will wheel weights make that much of a difference or should I go straight to a weight box? I also saw a thread about a Cub being off to the races allegedly due to a worn trunion, would that or anything else to do with the Hydro unit affect my ability to crawl along at a slow but steady pace but remain at WOT to crank the snowthrower? Finally, perhaps the 42" thrower is just too big for my 127. Would anyone have a QA36A in good shape and be interested in trading me for my very nice QA42A. I will set up a thread in the for sale section with photos but if anyone has interest feel free to PM or reply to this thread ahead of time. I NEED to make this Cub more capable in the snow since I do not use it in the summer and live in ski country so it's useless to me otherwise!

[drglinski]

IMO chains + turfs > ags. Wheel weights > hanging weights.

As far as a thrower goes, I have no place for them. I don't get enough snow to justify me using one where I live. I've seen a lot of people use throwers on 127s and they work just fine.

[Muzzy]

I think you need more weight and it sounds like you've got some mean snow there.

[cmatthew]

i used the qa42a on my 123 and it workd great. just a little too heavy to lift manually. the 36 is designed better for the narrow frames. you roll the weight of the thrower back off the ground vs dead lifting the whole thrower of the 42. chains and turfs work just fine. my chains and ags work better. a look at the trunion would be a good thing to take care of. i had no trouble creeping at wot.

[riesedesperado6170]

turf and chain and loaded tires and wheel weights I had a qua 42 on a 73 cub cadet it work good in heavy snow here WNY

[Cub Cadet 123]

I have spun with my turfs and chains, but haven't yet with my ags and chains, so if you already have the ags then I would just put chains on them. The 42" thrower adds a lot of weight to the front, so any weight that you can put in the back is going to add to the traction of your tractor. I saw where someone had welded a steel rod on a X bracket that bolted directly to the rear axle, using the lugs and then he slid store bought weights onto the rods and collared them (like a barbell set up). He was able to add a lot more weight where it belonged and of course, filling the tires would also be a good idea. Anything that helps you counteract that weight up front is going to be a plus for you.

Cub Cadet 123

[4SPEED]

x2 weight, ags and chains. and you'll be climbing trees with it.

my 0 has 8.50's turfs on it with no weight other than me and spiked chains. I drove it in my yard the other day in 10" of packed snow. it did spin pushing the front tires , but it didnt get stuck.

[72-149]

i live in buffalo too i say get a super with a 45" dual stage thrower beatjuice in the rear wheels & chains there aint nothing you wont do with it .i cleared a FT. & half of the snow we just had with a 42" wide blade locked in dozer mode on my 982 it has ag's & beatjuice no chains.heres a pic of my buffalo snow killer !!!

[R Bedell]

Living here in Michigan, I also find that a heavy wet snow isn't much good for a snowthrower. This is when I use Plan B.......a push blade.

[Jumper]

Craneridge Cub: I live 30 mi. due south of you and know your pain, just adding chains made a world of difference, add weight and your ready to kick butt ! Heavy wet snow is always a problem for any kind of thrower or blower that's why I use a loader on my cub............. LOADERS RULE !!!!!!!!!!! (sorry, bad habit). Check your chains make sure they have a cross link every other link around the tire like in the picture (which I'm sure our sponsor's can help you with if needed). Used IH chains used cross links every fourth link, they worked ok but not as well. Even with all the weight on the rear of my loader I would not get more than ten feet into this snow without a good set of chains.