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How much weight is too much?

#1

kermit911

kermit911

Hello, I have owned my tractor (If it is classified as a tractor 917.273460) for almost 10 years and this will be the first year I am going to use it for snow removal. In reading a lot of posts, one of the big problems is not enough weight and the tires start to slip. There are wheel weights and bucket weights, and chains but what is the limit of weight before you start to damage the tractor? I weight a healthy :eek: 250 pounds with 5 gallons of fuel under my seat, so that's another 55 lbs. Plus 45 pound wheel weights times 2 and a 50 pound bucket weight in the back. Totaling 445 pounds (if I did my math right :smile:) Now where is the breaking point for the axles / hydrostatic drive / frame / etc.? Now when I say breaking point I mean damaging them, not actual snapping in two. :thumbsup:

Thanks
Dave

Any recommendation for a first time snow removal run? I have never done this before and could use any information all you vets have for me. :biggrin: I leave in two days to pick up a snow blower 842.240510 and chains. $220.00

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#2

BKBrown

BKBrown

Do you have an owners manual ? It should give you a ballpark weight limit. Usually you could find the manual online.

Not being familiar with the model, if it is a "lawn tractor" it will be built to handle less weight than a "garden tractor".

Someone familiar with this model will probably help more. :biggrin:


#3

kermit911

kermit911

BKBrown said:
Do you have an owners manual ? It should give you a ballpark weight limit. Usually you could find the manual online.

Not being familiar with the model, if it is a "lawn tractor" it will be built to handle less weight than a "garden tractor".

Someone familiar with this model will probably help more. :biggrin:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responce, I do have the manual but it says nothing about weight limitations. This is what my craftsman owners manual says, "Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability." Isn't Craftsman the manufacture? :biggrin:


#4

kermit911

kermit911

Here is the manual.

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  • L0308208.pdf
    3.3 MB · Views: 17


#5

BKBrown

BKBrown

Craftsman is the name stuck on it by Sears - they have quite a few companies make tractors for them. I don't see anything in the manual about who made it.
Look for the model and serial # tag and see if it is on that.


#6

K

KennyV

You are mounting a blower... with that you will not need a lot of weight ...

If you were mounting a blade and thinking of plowing snow, Then you would need a lot of weight...
You should be fine without going too extreme... :smile:KennyV


#7

reynoldston

reynoldston

I have a 12 HP wheel horse with a snow blower with tire chains and wheel weights. I don't have any traction problems but could use a little more HP. I googled your tractor and it looks like you shouldn't have any problem with a snow blower on that tractor.


#8

kermit911

kermit911

Awesome, thanks everyone. This makes me feel a lot better. I'll just put chains and wheel weights on my tractor and see how it works. You guys ROCK!!!:thumbsup:


#9

kermit911

kermit911

BKBrown said:
Craftsman is the name stuck on it by Sears - they have quite a few companies make tractors for them. I don't see anything in the manual about who made it.
Look for the model and serial # tag and see if it is on that.
Click to expand...

Now that's interesting, I would like to know who made my tractor. Should there be a separate manual from the manufacturer? I will check out the tag when I get home and see if it says anything. Any idea where the tag might be?

Thanks
Dave


#10

BKBrown

BKBrown

Those tags are generally not too hard to find. Some are near the key switch or on a frame member.
Someone that is familiar with the model (or someone at Sears) should be able to tell you.


#11

ILENGINE

ILENGINE

917 is the manufacturer code for Husqvarna or more to the point Poulan


#12

kermit911

kermit911

Thanks BK you are the man

Dave


#13

BKBrown

BKBrown

OK, What did you find out ?
kermit911 said:
Thanks BK you are the man

Dave
Click to expand...


#14

kermit911

kermit911

BKBrown said:
Those tags are generally not too hard to find. Some are near the key switch or on a frame member.
Someone that is familiar with the model (or someone at Sears) should be able to tell you.
Click to expand...

This is what I found:

Briggs and Stratton YBSXS.7242VF 274844
Sears calls the engine - 446777-0165-E1
Model # 917.273460
S/N 021803D003783

That is all I could find, I found a lot of safety and attention and read this first but nothing to show where she was manufactured. Maybe I could contact Sears, think they would know?

Dave


#15

BKBrown

BKBrown

ILENGINE said 917 is the manufacturer code for Husqvarna or more to the point Poulan
I would hope with that information - Sears should be able to tell you what you want to know ! :biggrin:
kermit911 said:
This is what I found:

Briggs and Stratton YBSXS.7242VF 274844
Sears calls the engine - 446777-0165-E1
Model # 917.273460
S/N 021803D003783

That is all I could find, I found a lot of safety and attention and read this first but nothing to show where she was manufactured. Maybe I could contact Sears, think they would know?

Dave
Click to expand...


#16

kermit911

kermit911

BKBrown said:
ILENGINE said 917 is the manufacturer code for Husqvarna or more to the point Poulan
I would hope with that information - Sears should be able to tell you what you want to know ! :biggrin:
Click to expand...

I sent the e-mail, lets see what they say.

Dave


#17

reynoldston

reynoldston

kermit911 said:
I sent the e-mail, lets see what they say.

Dave
Click to expand...

lots of luck with a e-mail to sears


#18

kermit911

kermit911

E-mail - FAILED!

Here is the response I received:

Good Morning Mr. Christian:

Thank you for contacting Sears regarding the location where your
Craftsman lawn mower was made!

We can appreciate wanting to locate the manufacturer information on your
Craftsman lawn mower. Regrettably, Sears Parts Direct is not able to
provide the manufacturer assistance you are looking for.

However, we offer great websites where you can ask expert technical
questions, arrange a service call, or find product manuals, all this and
more can be found at Sears Home Services: Installation, cleaning, repair, and home improvement help and Life Management: Everything just got easier - ManageMyLife.com

----------------------

So that is where I stand, I will send them another e-mail and see if they know how much weight my lawn tractor will hold.

Thanks
Dave


#19

tankdriver

tankdriver

I have 2 55lb wheel weights on mine. As long as you use wheel weights, or fill the tires, it does not matter as you are not putting any stress on the frame or axles, just the rubber tires.


#20

kermit911

kermit911

Good Point! Thanks, that makes me feel a little better.

Dave


#21

reynoldston

reynoldston

As I said on a earlier post wheel weights and chains. I have the same Wheel weights 55 LBs. each. I have tryed it without chains but that didn't work you need both. I only put 10psi air in the tires. When I first got the 12 hp Wheel Horse I tryed to push the snow with a blade bur couldn't mover nowhere as much as with the snow blower. With a blade you would have to add more weight. At one point I was going to install tractor style tires but was told whey are no good for snow. I could really use a little more HP when the snow gets heavy.


#22

tankdriver

tankdriver

If you are putting on wheel weights, it does not really matter as you are adding no weight to the frame or axles, just the tire. I have 2 55lbs weights on my PGT9000.


#23

kermit911

kermit911

That is the conclusion I have come too. The next step is trying to find a good set of wheel weights that don;t cost me $70.00. :confused2:


#24

S

sfestus

kermit911 said:
Hello, I have owned my tractor (If it is classified as a tractor 917.273460) for almost 10 years and this will be the first year I am going to use it for snow removal. In reading a lot of posts, one of the big problems is not enough weight and the tires start to slip. There are wheel weights and bucket weights, and chains but what is the limit of weight before you start to damage the tractor? I weight a healthy :eek: 250 pounds with 5 gallons of fuel under my seat, so that's another 55 lbs. Plus 45 pound wheel weights times 2 and a 50 pound bucket weight in the back. Totaling 445 pounds (if I did my math right :smile:) Now where is the breaking point for the axles / hydrostatic drive / frame / etc.? Now when I say breaking point I mean damaging them, not actual snapping in two. :thumbsup:

Thanks
Dave

Any recommendation for a first time snow removal run? I have never done this before and could use any information all you vets have for me. :biggrin: I leave in two days to pick up a snow blower 842.240510 and chains. $220.00
Click to expand...

Hi...Dave...If I'm correct this is a 10 year old hydro trans...If so...then the chains and your weight should be enough for the job. The hydro pumps have to work harder the more load/weight put on it. Even wheel weights won't be necessary. My recomendation is that chains plus your weight should be enough. Also with a hydro go very slow with snow if you want the trans to last. My last recomendation is to get an extra drive belt for the blower assembly. It's a few extra bucks, but they are very long, and have a bad habit of being thrown, or breaking(they work VERY hard). Nothing like having a broken belt and not being able to get out of the driveway.....good luck


#25

B

benski

According to your serial number you've got a 2003.


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