What a Difference a Good Design Makes!

I have used an MTD lawn tractor with a 2-stage snow blower since 1994. The mower deck finally rusted through this year and I got rid of it. While the snow blower attachment basically did what it was supposed to do, I always had trouble with the chute clogging in heavy wet snow. It was a pain.

I bought a John Deere x300 lawn tractor with the 42" deck and the 44" 2-stage snow blower. I was happy yet anxious about the snow storm yesterday. We got about 3" of very heavy wet snow. I really hate shoveling wet snow. It was going to be a test to see if the JD snow blower design was any better than my mtd and if my money was well spent.

Like a kid with a snow day, I jumped on my "sled" and proceeded to "play". She fired up with a little extra choking, I lowered the blower, engaged the PTO, and moved forward very slowly. I had gone only about three feet and the wheels were slipping. I realized that there was greasy snow (that the blower never had a chance to clear from where it was parked) and my total lack of momentum caused the slippage. I backed up and moved forward again with more velocity. Forward motion was no problem but I realized now that there was no snow being flung out of the chute. I cursed the blower and John Deere himself.

After getting off to check the chute and a few more seconds of cursing, ranting and raving.....I realized sheepishly that when you put the tractor into reverse it kills the PTO!

I didn't bother clearing the chute. I jumped back in the saddle, fired it up and re-engaged the PTO and went full speed ahead. Heavy wet snow flew out further and faster than I had ever imagined it could! I cleared my driveway and two neighbor's in about 45 minutes and it never clogged or hesitated once.

Moral of the story: Keep your cool and never baby your John Deere.

My neighbors John Deere (20HP LT118) that I get to use during winter (they go to FL!!) with the 42" Blower, has a Override Button for the PTO for Reverse, you have to hold it in while backing, and it won't shut off the blower.

I also have chains and weights on the back.

Theres lots of safety-inspired switches on the new ones. Warning labels almost cover all the nice green paint. My brother's new JD lost most of its "safety Switches" the day it was delivered. Simple jumpers in the wire connectors seemed to do the trick.

Glad your happy with it. Makes life easy on the back. I took most of the safety switches and put a wide TY-Strap on them and some electric tape so they stay put. It holds in the micro switch. It was a pain everytime you want get of the tractor the engine would quit unless you put the brake on.

DVC500 at last wrote:Theres lots of safety-inspired switches on the new ones. Warning labels almost cover all the nice green paint. My brother's new JD lost most of its "safety Switches" the day it was delivered. Simple jumpers in the wire connectors seemed to do the trick.

+1 on that!

That's the first thing I did on my G110. Nothing more annoying than having the mower shut down every time you back up, then fumble around looking for that stupid button!

Jumpers are your J/D's best friend!