NH Winter Scenes

jimb1724 · Feb 1, 2009

Now that we've cleared up the clutch/don't clutch issue, I figured that it was time to add a new thread in order to help kill some winter blues....

Here are some shots from today from my driveway in New Hampshire. It was finally warm enough (near 30) to be outside longer than a dash to the car.... maybe it will help those trying to decide on the benefits of a blower.....

hope you enjoy.
Jim

Dmace · Feb 1, 2009

Nice Pics! A blower really does make the job neater. Now, how can you let such a valuable piece of equipment (backhoe) sit in the snow banks? My backhoe is covered with a tarp, bungee corded tight, and stored in my carport on blocks. Maybe I overdid a little...

Gittyup · Feb 1, 2009

Nice Jim. Good looking place you have there. And great setup on the CK20. I'm glad we're not getting a whole lot of the white stuff here this year. Two inches is all we've had. Hoping that's all we get. I ready for spring!

jimb1724 · Feb 2, 2009

Dmace said:
Nice Pics! A blower really does make the job neater. Now, how can you let such a valuable piece of equipment (backhoe) sit in the snow banks? My backhoe is covered with a tarp, bungee corded tight, and stored in my carport on blocks. Maybe I overdid a little...

No, you did it the right way..... the backhoe was covered with a tarp and bungeed as well, but I was on a business trip and we had some high winds in december just before the big ice storm (no power for 3 days) and then right after that we had those 2 10"+ storms on the friday and sunday before Christmas.... I never got back to recovering the unit... It's sitting on one of the only flat spots part way down the driveway.... i'm hoping to build a "backhoe port" with perhaps a concrete pad under it.... maybe this summer...

jimb1724 · Feb 2, 2009

Gittyup said:
Nice Jim. Good looking place you have there. And great setup on the CK20. I'm glad we're not getting a whole lot of the white stuff here this year. Two inches is all we've had. Hoping that's all we get. I ready for spring!

Thanks Gittyup...

I'm ready for spring as well, it's been a cold long winter up here so far and february is usually a pretty nasty month as well.... the blower is a great tool for winter, but i'd rather use it as a rototiller in the warm months.....

Jim

IXLR8 · Feb 2, 2009

Nice pics, your BH and mine look the same.. except my tarp is still on mine... at least I think it is. What do you have for a cab on your machine?

jimb1724 · Feb 2, 2009

IXLR8 said:
Nice pics, your BH and mine look the same.. except my tarp is still on mine... at least I think it is. What do you have for a cab on your machine?

Thanks...

I made the cab out of a framework of 1" pvc mounted to the fel and rops with 4" hose clamps, elbows and t-connectors for some cross pieces and topped it off with a universal golf cart cover that has two zipper doors built in.... cover was $65 and the pvc, connectors and clamps about $15. i didn't glue the pvc so that it comes apart and doesn't take up any room in the garage. about 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off... it doesn't look pretty, but it keeps the wind and blowing snow out. i also took off the cover below the steering column (for a different reason) but that allows more engine heat into the cab. it stays about 10 to 15 degrees wrmer inside. not bad for 80 bucks...

VictorW · Feb 2, 2009

My backhoe is covered with a tarp, bungee corded tight, and stored in my carport on blocks. Maybe I overdid a little...

[/QUOTE]

I do the same as you but add one more thing. I was worried about the exposed part of the hyd. cylinder rods just sitting there for a good amount of time. Didn't want to see any rust and talked to a few guys that drive tri-axle dumps. If they park them for a while, they tilt the beds up a little and then cover the exposed areas of the lift rods with grease. I've done that for the past 4 years and the rods don't have a mark on them from sitting through the winter.

Gittyup · Feb 4, 2009

I coated my exposed cylinder rods with Fluid Film.

JoelD · Feb 4, 2009

I keep my machine covered in one of those portable garages, works great as long as I don't let too much snow build up on it, otherwise it would colapse. Paid $199 and I've gotten three plus years out of it.

Can't wait for the warm weather to come and be able to start diggin again.

Hoping the economy picks up with the warm weather but fingers are not crossed.

Joel