Thank you for your comments and time Guda0501, I really appreciate it. BrianIf the 322 is in decent shape, and you can readily find a blower, I would keep that option open. I would look at tire chains and maybe some weights for it.
Otherwise a walk behind blower might be solid option as well.
PS. Welcome to the site!
This is the setup I had when I had my 332. I have a picture somewhere but can’t find it….54 blade with both hydraulic cylinders, wheel weights and chains.
Mark, thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my post. I appreciate it. BrianI bought a 322 two years ago. I have a blade and a single stage blower. The blower is terrible. Waste of money IMO. I ended up just getting a Redi Plow blade for the truck. It makes quick work of any amount of snow and I stay warm.
Mark
Thank you for responding, JDJAKE. I appreciate your comments. Brian54 blade with both hydraulic cylinders, wheel weights and chains. The 49 single stage blower is good for powdery snow, not so much for wet heavy snow, even with paddle and sprocket mods. The 47 two stages work in about anything, but are heavy (older "chest freezers") and expensive ( both old style and newer QH models).
Thank you for responding, COALTRAIN. I appreciate your help. BrianThis is the setup I had when I had my 332. I have a picture somewhere but can’t find it….
I have an 850’ gravel driveway with a steep section. It did very well except for the fact I could only plow going down hill on the steep part which is no big deal.
This setup will work well for what snow the OP says he gets. A blade will be much more efficient in all those 1”-2” snowfalls. For the deeper 6”+ wet snow you just have to take smaller bites sometimes.
PW1986. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I think I am going with the snow blower. If it isn't too much trouble, and you have time, I would like to see the electric flipper. BrianI don't understand why single stage blowers get such a bad rap. I have to assume some people may actually not have any experience with them and are just basing their opinion on hear say. I have a 317 with a 47 blower and a onan p218g. I have been using this to blow snow for about 19 years now. I absolutely love it and anyone who comes over in the winter to see it in action is absolutely blown away with it. I do not have any mods to the blower and it is one of the high spouts which really helps. It will throw snow as far as you need it to! By taking a smaller bite it works excellent in wet and heavy snow. I have suitcase weights and wheel weights along with chains and fluid filled tires. There is nothing I cannot do with that that a 1025 can do. Infact the last 2 years I still continue to use this one and the 1025r with the blower has been used once! To each their own but when it comes to garden tractor blowers I believe the snow throwers are much better that the 2 stage ones. Your 322 with enough weights and chains and a tall spout blower (I believe it's the 49 blower) would be unstoppable. I could send you some pictures of the electric flipper I put on mine to make it more efficient. I do have a blade for mine also but I never use it for snow. I'm in SW MN so we get plenty of snow also. I do not like blades because if you do not take the snow far enough when you start the winter season it can be a pain in the butt later in the season. My 2 cents.
Thank you for taking the time to respond IndianaJim. I am going for the 49 snow blower. Now, I just have to track a good one down. BrianI think you want to be looking for either a 47 (two stage) or 49 (single stage). There were a couple versions of each, although the only real differences in the 49 were chute design. The 47 seems to have an early, much heavier version, and a later, lighter one. I dont know all that much about those though.
I can say that I agree with PW1986 and his assessment of the single stage throwers.
My particular 49 thrower was purchased by my Grandfather just prior to the blizzard of '78 here in Indiana. It got worked out on a 312 during that, and every year after until the 318 showed up in 1987. They have been solid Winter partners since.
While I dont generally use it for 1-2" snows, unless it drifts, it works for any kind of snow we get, as long as one takes the time to learn how to use it, just like any other tool.
That said, I also have a 54 blade, but I dont like big piles of snow, so I dont use to too much, plus Im on gravel, and set up the thrower to take care of that better.
