Today's Project - Bring The Beast To Life (TORO 828)

Song:  Bring Me To Life

Group:  Evanescence

I had awakened this morning with two missions in mind...

pick up my mail from my box near the community center...

and from the post office in the nearby small town just 4 miles from my box...

and to ready my Toro 828 snow blower.

I have been watching weather reports.

On the national scale...

there is supposed to be a large cold front which is expected to bring more

snow storms.

On the local scale...

we still are supposed to have several more days of sunny weather...

but up here in the mountains...

the weather can change very quickly.

It was time to awaken the beast...

the Toro 828.

The Toro came in a crate...

and as such...

it was configured for shipping.

Pieces were folded and secured.

I had to take off many bolts just to get the pieces configured correctly for use.

The control panel and handles had been folded underneath...

and the various connectors and control bars had to be emplaced

and secured.

The snow chute had been bolted 90 degrees from its operating position.

I had to unbolt it and place it upright.

I had started a bit late...

but the sun still lit up the garage enough.

I also knew it wouldn't take that long...

as I had all the tools I needed.

Besides having one of the largest engines and feeder hoods...

it was this one handed...

 on the fly directional chute angle changer stick and ball that really sold me...

as well as the differential steering assist.

Also...

probably the most important selling point...

it has a disengagement clutch if a solid immovable object is hit by the blades.

This prevents engine or drivetrain damage.

The blades will stop rotating until you clear the object...

and then you may continue.

Almost all of the other brands use sheer pins on the blade hub...

which must be replaced before the snowblower will operate again.

This is insane.

Large chunks of ice could render the other brands inoperable until

the sheer pins are replaced and reinstalled.

I was in a race with the sun...

but I not only knew I would win...

 I also knew my garage lights would be enough should I not  :)

I unbolted and rotated the chute 90 degrees and placed it on top of the ejector port...

and re-bolted it into position.

I had to bolt in the various mechanical control linkages.

The last control linkage was for the directional chute stick and ball.

As you can see...

the linkage is still unconnected...

as the stick is to the left...

but the chute points to the right.

After connecting the linkage...

wherever you point the stick...

the chute will follow...

horizontally or vertically.

This Toro will blow snow 40 feet in the direction desired.

I will be able to blow the snow completely free of the driveway 

and into the forest.

I can throw the snow high...

...or low...

left or right...

and anywhere in between...

on the fly...

and with one hand.

It also has six forward and two reverse gears.

Again...

it is self propelled.

I would have had a hell of a time otherwise as it weighs almost 400 pounds...

and my driveway is inclined up to the road.

I put in 5w-30w oil...

although it already came with oil installed...

I just topped it off to the upper portion of the fill line.

I also had already added fuel stabilizers (good for 2 years) to the gas in the can.

The beast is ready for battle...

bring on the blizzards!

And...

there we go...

the sun had just set.

There is nothing left to do now...

so...

let it snow...let it snow...let it snow.  :)

I just reached the top of the loft steps...

ready to write up this article.

I have been researching various deck and garage coverings.

I will be ordering them once winter ends.

The are rubber on the bottom...

and outdoor carpeted on top.

They will protect the wood of the decks

from the sun and rain (snow as well)...

as well as keeping the garage cleaner.

Right now...

as the snow melts on the upper decks...

the water drips to the lower decks...

and then freezes in the night.

I've almost slipped several times in the night as I was taking Bandi out.

Right now the stain used on the wood is a very good one...

but with the rubber mat protectors...

they will last decades longer without the need to re-stain most of it.

I will have to wait for summer...

as I want the wood to fully dry out so as to not trap moisture in the wood.

In the meantime...

I will be ordering window cleaning equipment.

I will put Rain X on all of the windows to keep them clean for long periods...

besides putting it on my car windows.

I already bought Rain X windshield wiper fluid.

I also already have a 26 foot ladder which may be configured into a 13 self standing ladder

so I may change the chandelier lights...

and later...

the smoke detector batteries.

I have other projects in the works...

such as selectively cutting down certain trees...

waterproofing the outside wood...

such as the fence...

and I will fill in the outside cracks on the wood of the house...

and then apply waterproofing.

I will be filling any inside wood cracks as well.

But...

as I have already said...

I work on Toller Time.

One small project...

or portion of a project at a time.

If I tire...

I will take a nap.

If I feel like sitting in my recliner and listening to music while I read...

I will do that.

If I feel like just driving out to a new location with Bandi...

or trying a new restaurant...

I will do that.

And in between...

I will either work on my next cover song...

or my next novel.

Life is good...

while operating on Toller Time   :)