Blizzard - Saturday - Dec 11th

Well, if you live in this gawdawful weather, be prepared for a blow now and then.

We got one. In fact, the best one ever, since the Renowned Halloween Blizzard of '91. Where we got 48" of snow in two days which shut the thirteen county Metro down and created white out conditions all over the place.

I believe we got about 16" on the flats here in Quainte Lil Olde Woodbury. Saturday evening I went out and got one lane of the driveway opened and proceeded to do the hard pack the plow leaves behind for my three neighbors. Plus, went across to my neighbor Dave, a wonderfully kind man and helped him and finally, four snowblowers showed up for his neighbor across the street whose husband was out of town and we cleaned her stuff up.

Sunday, I went out to finish the other half and two hours later, halfway up the driveway the drivetrain locked up tighter than a tick. Had to get my two wheeled cart to get it in the garage.

After some careful consideration of what to do, and especially a careful regard for my Lust Factor for a new unit, I decided something had to be done between a Sears or John Deere snowblower. One being half again as much as the other. This one was, after all, purchased the Saturday after the Great Halloween Blizzard. Ninetten years old, and rebuilt once already.

Plus, I wanted bigger. My defective reasoning being if it was bigger, I could do more work faster and get back inside for cake and cookies before catching my death of pneumonia. Clear, concise, practical thought. It truly was.

So, The Quest is on. What to do? Spend $999 at Sears or $1499 at John Deere?

Then, serendipity struck and I found a used John Deere on Craigslist for a reduced price. Looked at it Tue night, made an offer Wed and that night it is in my garage. Fair price. Almost new unit.

I, am pumped ...

After some nitpicking fixes here and there, I grabbed onto the challenge of resolving why it quit for no reason. Just as though someone pulled the gasline off the carburetor. Thursday night I drained the gas, checked the tank for something that would block the bottom of the tank where the gas ran out. Pulled the bowl off the carb. Drained the oil and refilled that. Did my best not to find that long forgotten path when the diesel would not run in Empty Pockets.

But, it still quit.

The next day I went to a JD Dealer and got a new gascap. The current one did not have a gasket, nor a vent. This one had both. Long story short, problem resolved. Now, it runs absolutely great.

After a bit I reasoned the tank could get vapor locked as, the line being attached to the carb, ended up at the needle and seat of the float bowl. As such, there was -no- -way- air could work its way back up the line to the tank.

Vapor lock, it was.

Now to finish rerouting the cables and wires where I want them ...

 

That is not smoke. It is my breath in this ... ... ...

 

Bigger, is better.

Some nice features of the new one. A differential in the axle so turning and handling is better. Much larger tires make it easier to move about and a much better grip. There is an interlock, so once the auger is engaged, then the power to the wheels, one can let go of the auger paddle and it keeps on a'humming. The chute is rotated by an electric motor. All the adjustments can be made from the rear. And, for those ladies who use snowblowers, the handles are heated ... A nice touch (for them).

 

And, some images from the storm.

The wood nativity set is from Bolivia. Purchased at the Mission in Concepcion. There, the Baby Jesus is placed in a hammock, not a manger. As, the Priests of that era back in the 1700's knew, the natives then, had no concept of a manger. Just a hammock. You can see the one in our scene.

Here is from 2002 in a Mission in Bolivia.

 

I threw the snow up on the house to see how high I could get it. That was with the Sears 8hp unit.

The question is not "Who do we live here?"

The question is "Why do we not leave here?"

I, have no clue, nor do I have a reasonable answer except our mortgage.

 

Later ...