Category Archives: Garage

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco 46-in – 3-Stage MTD Snow Thrower install

After the snow storms last year, I decided to buy a 3-stage snow thrower.  Then I decided to buy a riding mower and attachment, so this last summer, went to Home Depot and bought a Troy-Bilt Super Bronco 46″ and a 3-stage MTD snow thrower.  Some resources said it would work with the Super Bronco XP, so I was a little worried, but can tell you it does in fact work with the newer Super Bronco 46″.

So I finally decided it was time to mount it and here are the details and tips (note, I assembled the 3-stage unit earlier – this just covers mounting it):

If you have 2 guys and the right tools, can be done in a day or two.  I did it over a couple of weekends – next year will be faster since many of the brackets can stay on:

First, you will need to remove the handles. Then you will be able to mount the bumper: If you haven’t done so already, remove the belt-guide and keep the screw handy noting the holes it came out of (both sides): These braces are a BEAR to install. For the next step, you may want to remove (temporarily) the black bar with the clip in the pic.  I used an open-end wrench on the opposite side and it fit within the frame.  The good news is once these are on, they can stay: When it comes to mounting this, it does not just slip on. NOTE: I ended up blocking this in place and got a second pair of hands with good pry-bars to help me. Having a second pair of hands and good pry bars, it went on without too much difficulty. Blocking it also helped to get it in place.  Removing the bars with the clip is a BIG help as well – remember how it goes back on though! The supplied guide bar and belt installed: Get the belt, spring, and cable installed. It is a tight fit and next year, I may try installing the spring and cable before attaching the unit in place: Roll the mower over the frame – I suggest blocking the frame to make it a little easier once it is under the mower (note: double-check the belt and belt-guide path): The back end goes first – I did this by myself with a bar under it to leverage it in place (note: the clips were on the frame and not the belt unit per referenced in the documentation. The front end mounts here – I was able to pick up both ends and get them in place by myself: Note: Gas cap is still accessible. Also when lifting the hood, have the snow thrower in lowest position – can still access the oil dipstick: Next I installed the weights (easy): and snow chains: Note: Steering is harder with this added weight and turning radius in much more difficult to turn around. There will be a learning curve and will try to get some videos this winter! Hopefully this will help someone as there wasn’t much I was able to find on my own.

Garage Organizing

Progress has been slow…  I have been doing some garage re-organizing and still have some more to do along with some clean-up.  Worked on the 2nd level first.  Before pictures:

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Added some boards for storage:IMG_0873 IMG_0874

Added some shelving:IMG_0877 IMG_0878After (not the best pics – at night with flash and poor lighting, but you get the idea):

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Jun 25, 2014 Update

Been busy building a couple of workbenches in the back of the garage where I will be priming & painting. 3′ deep x 14″ wide… Also bought some light fixtures off of CraigsList I will be installing soon. Also will be adding piping to the air compressor. I also moved the blog from one hosting provider to another, so let me know if problems!

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Dec 15, 2013 Update

Used the following YouTube video to rebuild the carburetor on my smaller Craftsman Snow Thrower:

Had to take the thing completely apart to rebuild the carburetor!  Put things back together and started it up – started first pull!  Going to run some Sea Foam through it for even better internal cleaning.

Still need to do the single stage next.

Oct 28, 2012 Garage Update

Found a photo of my ’78 Camaro which I no longer have:

Now that the jig is complete and since I won’t be ready to use it until after I replace the floor pan, I decided to re-org my 2nd level of the garage and store it there along with some of the left over metal:

Here is the 2nd level after removing a bunch of lumber I had in it:

The next step was to add some shelving and fix some of the work benches:

Then re-org what I am keeping up there and move some stuff from the work area below up to the 2nd floor (AFTER):

and there is still plenty of room to store more up there!  It will be at least a couple of weeks before I will be able to dedicate a weekend to the Camaro again…

Memorial Day Weekend

We received 1.5 inches of rain within an hour this weekend.  Some came in the basement which I was able to wipe up.  This is the side of the house I need to build up to improve the drain flow:

I also had another limb fall off my tree.  I plan on having the tree cut down as it is right beside the garage.  This was on Saturday and I was able to cut it up and haul it to the recycling center for disposal before they closed for the holiday weekend:

Last but not least, I realized my regulator was bad on the air compressor, so I re-did it adding a shut-off valve, water trap, and a new regulator all from Lowes.  Checked it out to ensure it all works properly and am ready to go now!  That is why I had trouble with my tools is because the psi was wrong!

Next weekend will be working on the new deck and shed!