avc8130
Platinum Member
This morning we had some snow in North NJ. A pretty heavy pile, about 6-8". The first 4-6" were wet snow with ~1" of ice and then ~1" of pellets. I went to use the truck, but blew a hydraulic line on the angle cylinder about 1/2 way through. I figured, hey, I'll try the tractor. What a NIGHTMARE.
All I have is the standard 72" FEL bucket and R4 tires. I live on a paved drive with a few pretty serious hills.
1st problem: how do I use the bucket effectively? I would put it level and then try "float" as I saw in videos, but it would lift the front of the machine. So I tried manually using the bucket, but that either didn't get down to pavement or just dug.
2nd problem: R4 tires SUCK. I was slipping and sliding all over. The fronts wouldn't steer if the bucket was giving any resistance. I wound up sliding backwards 100 yards down one of the driveway hills. Luckily I was able to keep it straight. That was major pucker!
For the traction problem, I am thinking of siping the rear and getting chains for the fronts. I would sipe the front, but I know on my old machine the front tires were shot at ~600 hours and I think the siping would really accelerate that.
Thoughts/suggestions? I just learned today that my "backup plan" isn't very good :-(
ac
All I have is the standard 72" FEL bucket and R4 tires. I live on a paved drive with a few pretty serious hills.
1st problem: how do I use the bucket effectively? I would put it level and then try "float" as I saw in videos, but it would lift the front of the machine. So I tried manually using the bucket, but that either didn't get down to pavement or just dug.
2nd problem: R4 tires SUCK. I was slipping and sliding all over. The fronts wouldn't steer if the bucket was giving any resistance. I wound up sliding backwards 100 yards down one of the driveway hills. Luckily I was able to keep it straight. That was major pucker!
For the traction problem, I am thinking of siping the rear and getting chains for the fronts. I would sipe the front, but I know on my old machine the front tires were shot at ~600 hours and I think the siping would really accelerate that.
Thoughts/suggestions? I just learned today that my "backup plan" isn't very good :-(
ac