Snow Edge for FEL

[Huskerfan]

While the Ratchet Rake has frequently been discussed, does anyone have experience with the companion product Snow Edge for the FEL? Does the Edge wear well and can one push snow with it on paver sidewalks without damaging them?

 

[RjCorazza]

I bought the 5' snow edge before last season, and it worked well. The edge is very thick and held up well on smooth pavement, though I used it briefly on a tar / chip surface which really roughed up the edge. It should do fine on pavers. What I do like is that it is very well made and securely mounts, so I was able to use the loader to move piles of snow without taking the edge off. When I bought mine the replacement edges were only $60, so I bought a spare. That's pretty cheap for an edge.
My bucket last year was 5'-6" so the 5' snow edge was fine. This season I will be using a 6' bucket so I'm not sure I will like leaving 6" on each side not scraping pavement. It might be nice letting the raised 6" bucket hang over driveway edges though... We'll see.
Also, don't count on scraping packed snow down to clear pavement, especially when the edge gets inevitably rounded. I will flatten mine out on dry pavement when I get it out of the cargo box (soon).

 

[ray66v]

We bolt a piece of treated 2x4 to the bottom front edge of my dad's FEL bucket, every winter.

It lasts all winter, and then some.

$6 including the bolts.

 

[E3A]

Thanks to a member suggestion here I went the 2x4 route last year before trying the snow edge. I didn't have any holes in my bucket so I had to drill them first. Then I clamped the 2x4 to the bucket and drilled through it then counterbored the underside of the 2x4 so the bolt heads didn't rub the driveway. It made it all winter with moderate wear and a $2.50 piece of lumber gives me 2 of them. This year I'm going to make up 4 or 6 of them so I have them on hand and ready to go. That will last me many years. Maybe one year I'll spring for PT lumber, but the doug fir held up just fine - and I actually abused it on purpose to see if I could get it to break or splinter. It held up great.

The Snow Edge looks to be very well made as well. The trade-off would be the ease of mounting and removal vs. keeping the 2x bolted onto the bucket all winter.

 

[repair1]

I use 1-1/4" schedule 80 pvc pipe that I slit with a table saw. No drilling and it lasts all season on 300' of broom finished concrete.

 

[dickfoster]

Thanks to a member suggestion here I went the 2x4 route last year before trying the snow edge. I didn't have any holes in my bucket so I had to drill them first. Then I clamped the 2x4 to the bucket and drilled through it then counterbored the underside of the 2x4 so the bolt heads didn't rub the driveway. It made it all winter with moderate wear and a $2.50 piece of lumber gives me 2 of them. This year I'm going to make up 4 or 6 of them so I have them on hand and ready to go. That will last me many years. Maybe one year I'll spring for PT lumber, but the doug fir held up just fine - and I actually abused it on purpose to see if I could get it to break or splinter. It held up great.

The Snow Edge looks to be very well made as well. The trade-off would be the ease of mounting and removal vs. keeping the 2x bolted onto the bucket all winter.

I thought about using a 2X4 to replace the plastic edge on the snow edge when it wears out. Since it has all the holes needed, I wouldn't have to drill my bucket.

 

[thatguy]

I use 1-1/4" schedule 80 pvc pipe that I slit with a table saw. No drilling and it lasts all season on 300' of broom finished concrete.

how do you keep it on? just friction?

 

[tractchores]

Probably an odd question, but what are the downsides to not using anything? I've just been using my loader bucket edge for the last 4 or 5 years on a paved driveway with no ill effects. I haven't really noticed any wear on the bucket edge or damage to the pavement...

 

[BoylermanCT]

Probably an odd question, but what are the downsides to not using anything? I've just been using my loader bucket edge for the last 4 or 5 years on a paved driveway with no ill effects. I haven't really noticed any wear on the bucket edge or damage to the pavement...

Whether you realize it or not, you are wearing the bottom of the bucket, making it thinner over time. Having a sacrificial replaceable edge allows you to wear it out and then replace it rather than eventually having to replace your entire bucket. Since tractors move slowly, the wear will be much less than say on a plow on a pickup which plows at a much faster speed. There is also wear on the driveway itself. Using a wood or plastic PVC wear bar, as suggested by others will save wear and tear on your cement or asphalt driveway.

 

[E3A]

how do you keep it on? just friction?

I tried that one year. For me, it worked great when it was new but opened up after some back dragging. Halfway through a storm I found myself getting off the tractor a lot and looking for my piece of pipe in a snow pile. I probably would've had better results if I went to a bigger pipe so it would fit all the way over the bucket lip. I'm thinking that would've given it a better grip.