Blasting through snow with vintage Craftsman 917 tractor and snowthrower.

Trying to move snow on stock OEM tires, even with chains just doesn't work. This is the culmination of about three years of trial and error, buying a new tractor for $200, better tires, weights and chains. It WORKS -- well, sort of. Still working out the kinks.

[@SF-fm7ov]

I agree. I bought an 18 hp MTD type tractor with a single stage snow blower on it for next to nothing. The tractor wouldn't run but I got that fixed pretty easily with a new carb, fresh gas, and simplified wiring. Since the no name snow blower needed a long belt that would have to twist 90°, I opted not to put any money into it. I bought a near new 2 stage MTD blower for a couple hundred. I am in the process of welding and drilling to get it mounted to the tractor. I had a blast when I was 16 on the old 1 speed, wide tire bicycle that I put an old discarded weed burner engine on. I think when I get to blow snow with this blower, it will remind me of that time in 1970.

[@Build_the_life_you_want]

Nice job… I understand your sentiments completely. I also got a free 30 year old got 6000 and a cheap snow blower to attach and of course it’s not perfect fit but I’m enjoying the process and over coming obstacles. Great little project 🤙🏻

[@HillOrStream]

Good to see you have a positive attitude about it! My old Craftsman has been a major frustration. Couldn't get it to keep its belt on. Very similar to yours but mine is just a lawn tractor. Didn't get more than a few dozen feet cleared with it last winter before I gave up. Thought I had it fixed over the summer but still couldn't keep the belt on. Had to replace one of the two bottom pulleys that make the belt do a 90 and have a welder flatten out the heavy U-shaped carrier they mount to so the pulieys would run straight. Still more fussing with the tensioner but finally, I have cleared the drive twice now without a problem. Wouldn't run without pins though, the auger gearbox can be all too fragile. Video on mine in a few days if I shot enough usable clips.

[@garyrafiq9561]

Great that the old Craftsman worked. Now try it with wet snow! I had a snowblower many moons ago and it worked fine on soft, light snow, but with wet snow, the snow would end up getting packed tight behind the augers and inside the chute. It took me half an hour to clear it using screwdrivers and a broomstick.

[@lonhoschar1943]

Nice sounding tractor!! I've got three older Sears: 1969 Suburban, 1972 Suburban, and a 1978 GT14 Variable drive. All were build by Roper. Heavy duty everything. All still running. Wouldn't trade any of them for all the new mowers. The tire treads on those old tractors had better traction than the ones that came on yours so an upgrade is not surprising. Looks like you have it in really good shape and it does an excellent job blowing snow!! Nice video!!

[@mbrenengen]

It has been so much fun. I am getting a 1993 John Deere next week from a friend whose dad just died. Excited about that. Stay tuned.

[@dancurrier374]

I have a GTV /11 I recently picked up,solid GT. Think it’s somewhere around late seventies early eighties vintage. It was seriously neglected all 4 tires junk deck is a reclamation project as is the tractor. Slowly taking parts off sand blast and repaint , rattle can . I have so much to do around the house that the GT/11 will be on the back burner for a while. Have a LT 16 Snapper a friend gave me 1985 , also I traded an old 1988 Snapper rider mower engine in the back that was given to me for an IH cub Cadet 125 1967🤷‍♀. The guy said the 125 was too fast for his children to use and it does try to run away haven’t had time to dig into it to find the cause of that symptom .

[@jeffkelly636]

That's awesome. You could almost put a charcoal grill on the back and cook up some hotdogs & burgers. But seriously, nice job. I got my dad a craftsman snowblower in 2003 and it is still running. Tecumseh.

[@aaronbale3847]

I have a husqvarna gt with 42" blower. After initial pass take only half width passes and it goes so much smoother

[@dancurrier374]

Nice video very helpful,thanks.

[@AAA-nq6bo]

A note of caution on installing excessive weight on the back of your lawn tractor. Wheel weights are ideal as they do not put additional weight on your axle seals but excessive weight that you hang on the back of your tractor may damage the axle seal…

[@mbrenengen]

Good to think about. I have towed some pretty heavy trailer. I'll be careful.

[@SPCLPONY]

Please be aware of the loaded trailer weight not exceeding you and your riding mowers weight going down a hill. Pulling it uphill is one thing, but trying to stop going downhill with a heavily loaded trailer will just push you and the rider along for a heck of a ride, or worse! You'd cringe if you saw how small your disc brake and pad is on that rider. The brake pad is tiny! About 1 inch long by a half inch wide. And that is the only brake on the whole rider. I have several of these MTD / Craftsman riders. Two have 42" snow blowers like yours on them. My other 3 riders have 42'" and a 48" mower deck. Thumbs up for your video!

[@mbrenengen]

@@SPCLPONY don't I know it. Brakes are not this machine's best feature. I make sure it is in very low gear when going down that hill pulling my boat...

[@philmorrissette]

Lower your Skid Shoes so that the cutting edge doesn't scrape the gravel drive...will minimize the amount of rocks you suck into the auger / blower. Whatever little snow gets left will compact down to a smooth sheet of ice... no more rocks. Keep full tension on the blower pulley / belt...otherwise the belt will slip when blowing deep snow. For tall snowbanks, install a pair of drift cutters. Whatever is taller than the blower bucket will fall into the bucket as you move forward.

[@mbrenengen]

All excellent suggestions. It is working better as I figure these out. Thanks.

[@alexarce8870]

Excelente,sobre todo actitud positiva. Gracias yo acabo de comprar el mio

[@mbrenengen]

Have fun!

[@rongray4118]

Remote Controlled...NICE!! LOL!!

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

My Craftsman T240 Turn Tight tractor has a Kohler 7000 series 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin engine I use a 42" two stage blower..no issues I've cleared 26" of snow with no problems

[@DadBodForever]

This was hilarious 👍

[@dalehammond1704]

The old machines can be good if they have a two-stage blower and a large enough engine. It's a challenge finding a good one cheap but worth the search. According to what I've seen online, many new garden tractor/snowblower rigs these days are a problem right from the factory. And the price of a new rig is sky-high! People spend $5,000 or more and struggle with belts, etc.. Good & funny video.

[@mbrenengen]

I am actually seeing lots of these with minor problems for less than $300. I might buy one just to cut grass and the other to plow...

[@dalehammond1704]

@@mbrenengen I had a couple of opportunities for great vintage garden tractors this past summer doing estate sales, etc., but blew the deals. Now at 73 my legs are giving out so I need a rider. We live out on a long private road (not plowed by the city) and we have many outbuildings. Here in northern Michigan we get lots of snow. This coming spring/summer I'll be wiser and get a good tractor/blower rig. I had no idea how expensive the new rigs are today.

[@johnspillers79]

Do you know what length the short belt is for the snowblower?

[@nyinfamous2k2]

Your setup and videos has helped me alot getting my rig setup also. I originally had stock tires and a plow on my craftsman and that was pretty much useless in anything other then 2" of light dry FRESH snow. I upgraded to tires like yours and it helped but it was the plow that was the problem. I just installed a used blower like you did. My question is do you really need the chains even with those tires and weights, have you tried your setup with just the ATV tires and no chains? I have chains also but im curious what your experience was. FYI im excited to get this thing out and doing work, looks fun lol Im also going to do like you did and weld on a hitch adapter for it , for the added weight. I also got a pair of 12v 60w led flood lights im going to add to it, theyre super bright and were only $25

[@mbrenengen]

There are times when there is ice under the snow. You have to have chains when it is icy like that. The tires themselves will not grip. Have fun!

[@philliphall5198]

I would have a tool box full of pins and tools to fix it when needed 😊😊😊

[@mbrenengen]

Like every old person I have several random buckets of pins and tools.

[@davebrittain9216]

Matthew, how much of a difference did you notice with the new tires? I just got to the part where you were saying it had no problem. I am building an Ransomes AR250 into a snow blower with a 60 blower on the front and I will be building a heated cab. Power is a 28hp Diesel. I built one years ago where I used to work and it was incredible. The weight of the machine with out the blower and cab is 1800 pounds.

[@mbrenengen]

Lord! That is a huge rig. On my tiny tractor the tires made all the difference. I didn't even bother with the chains anymore.

[@nyinfamous2k2]

You probably know the answer to this. I was planning on greasing the auger shaft, like on standard snowblowers, they usually have a grease nipple. These attachments don't seem to have a nipple for the grease. Have you greased the auger shaft on yours? I see there's a pin on the outside of each of the body holding the shaft in. But I'm guessing the gearbox would have to be opened to pull the augers off the shaft to grease them.

[@mbrenengen]

That is a good question. I have never greased it.

[@darcy32171]

I have this exact machine with the 19hp engine! Where did you get the receiver hitch for the back? If it was off something different, I`d sure like to see closer pics of how it is mounted!

[@mbrenengen]

You are in luck: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH-6c2CbfpWGd6ssi=MnkOcUfnlvG3Cfz6

[@concorde2003]

I'm thinking a hardware store snow shovel will yield faster snow removal...

[@mbrenengen]

Perhaps, but not nearly as much fun!

[@Vicisblessed]

I just brought this lawn tractor. Where can i find information on them? Maintenance wise, attachments etc

[@mbrenengen]

Congratulations. No idea on resources other than KZbin.

[@wodie2495]

Quick question is it worth to own one for a small time business for the winter ?

[@mbrenengen]

Probably would be better to have a good compact push show thrower. Much easier to move around.

[@erwinerwin1245]

Love your video. I have been thinking of buying a garden tractor snowblower. Does a walk behind snowblower go through deeper snow with more ease than with a tractor snowblower like you have? I assume your blower is a single stage?

[@mbrenengen]

A walk behind it's probably more practical, but definitely not as much fun.

[@erwinerwin1245]

@@mbrenengen However is not a snowblower tractor faster and easier physically if it is working like it should?

[@mbrenengen]

@@erwinerwin1245 Working like it should😂. Yes, but that is pretty rare. I have another one with a blade. That works really well for most storms and is more reliable.

[@erwinerwin1245]

@@mbrenengen Thanks for all of your information. So a blade works just as good as a snowblower . I was not aware of that. I guess one needs a good place also to shove the snow. Also a blade would need like a hard paved surface and not a rough field to work is what I would assume also.

[@henryzabel1746]

I have been unable to find the power belt from engine to the snowblower The markings are gone and the sears parts list do not show it . If you could look and tell me what size it is ? Measuring it , it looks about 54" . I have a similar tractor that is hydrostatic and I love it for snow blowing , you can go whatever speed you need and a whole bunch less leg work . This winter I replaced the head gasket and hand lapped the valves , new coil and carburetor and gas tank . After our last snow where I put in a good seven hours cleaning my neighbor's driveways and sidewalks the power belt is done , ordered the 114" belt but also really need the power belt .

[@mbrenengen]

I think I will be up at my cabin this weekend. I will get the number for you then.

[@henryzabel1746]

@@mbrenengen Thanks !

[@mbrenengen]

The number on my belt from the engine to the plate that drives the snowblower is 138255. www.amazon.com/8TEN-Craftsman-Husqvarna-532138255-21547026/dp/B07RQW5PZX/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=58772997769&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-OeBBhDiARIsADyBcE433fHnh67VD-mUJfozmAH5muTQ8PAr3wA5ckCfHDF2KW3PKYPrmzcaApGVEALw_wcB&hvadid=274900570537&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9020258&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14494780500052720135&hvtargid=kwd-294944919590&hydadcr=13340_9594765&keywords=138255+belt&qid=1614446676&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQ1hPNTFYMTZLSkNBJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzQyNjQwM0NETzJKVjJCQjVHRCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjczMzE5N0dCMDNYNUNMMlIxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[@henryzabel1746]

@@mbrenengen Thank you ! We had a chance of snow so I bought a 54” belt that was too tight and had to exchange for a 55” which was perfect . When installing the 114” belt I cut clearance notches for installing on blower drive . Thanks again .

[@nathanbrunner6026]

Do you still have craftsman tractor and snowblower for it?

[@mbrenengen]

Yes. Still going strong.