How Hard Is Too Hard

[RidgeHiker]

I use my Kioti LK3054 with the bucket and back blade to remove snow. This is my first tractor my 2nd winter using it. Since I was gone part of last winter my experience is very limited. I have never used chains on it. I just ordered Duo-grip ladder combo chains for the rears from Tirechains.com.

Sometimes when I am pushing snow with the bucket it will get caught in hard, icy snow and stop the tractor cold (pun ?). Other times I am just pushing too much snow or pushing it onto packed piles and the wheels will spin or I will just come to a stop. You all know the routine.

With the chains the tractor will be able to exert much more force. Since I have not damaged anything on the tractor from forcing too much I do not have a sense of tolerances. Do I have to be concerned about damaging the bucket assembly? Axles? Gears? Etc.? How do I judge how hard is too hard?

 

[Bigfoot62]

I haven't pushed snow in 30 years. That was when I worked in Wyoming, and I was using a Case 580 SuperE 4x4 T/L/B.

I'm sure someone with more recent experience and a similar tractor will chime in shortly.

As a general rule, it would be best not to spin tires while under a load. It does stress the differential, driveline, trans, etc. But, this ain't a perfect world.

Again, generally speaking, as long as you keep the bucket flat on the ground, you're not likely to damage anything. You bend buckets when you hit stationary objects with a bucket that is curled up or down. (don't ask how I know this)

 

[Creamer]

Not sure what or how you are pushing but with my tractor which is about the same size as your Kioti, i do not have enough power or weight to push things through. I tend to prefer speed and finesse, i.e. I use a rear blade and road gear and the blade floats before it hits something too hard and breaks things. Momentum and energy make up for power and weight. My brother - who is a real farmer - calls my tractor a toy, but then I do not have the justification for anything larger. Besides it is fun doing donuts on a tractor when I hit pure ice!
Just to be clear I do not use the loader for snow unless it is close in and I am digging things out like alongside my house or clearing out around my mailbox. Pushing with the blade is so much faster and easier - and of course less dangerous. BTW I do not use chains and have turf tires.

 

[whistlepig]

When I push snow with the FEL I always 'float" the bucket. If it does catch on something, and it has, the front of the tractor will raise in the air as the loader arms pivots up. I would say that if I were going too fast there is a possibility that it could tear something up.

 

[RidgeHiker]

More info:
The LK 3054 with the loader, scraper, and myself is probably around 3700 lbs not figuring the liquid fill in the rear tires (which I don't know the weight of).

I live in the N. California mountains and we can get good amounts of snow, sometimes heavy. Last I probably got close to 4' of snow in about 3 days. The first 2 days was not light snow but not heavy either. The last snowfall was heavier. During the storm temps rarely rose above freezing.

 

[flyingcow]

I feel your pain on using the FEL. It's hard for me to be efficient with the bucket. For me it's down right frustrating...good luck.

Oh, my suggestion is not to got to fast. Speed will do more damage than chains.

 

[leonz]

More info:
The LK 3054 with the loader, scraper, and myself is probably around 3700 lbs not figuring the liquid fill in the rear tires (which I don't know the weight of).

I live in the N. California mountains and we can get good amounts of snow, sometimes heavy. Last I probably got close to 4' of snow in about 3 days. The first 2 days was not light snow but not heavy either. The last snowfall was heavier. During the storm temps rarely rose above freezing.

AS you are dealing with Sierra Cements early offerings and
before you ruin the frame on your loader:

These things were made to scoop loose material!!!

You have to be vigilent in knowing when the tractor
cannot push any more you must lift the loader bucket
up to stack snow, this way you will not damage the bucket
and twist the frame-remember, the tractor will break before a frozen snow bank will!!!!


Buy a good snow blower for the rear mount with a rotating impeller housing that will not
clog up the chute and you wwill be very very happy and you can use the loader for
clearing up areas where you cannot throw the snow before it becomes Sierra Cement.

There are several good brands of snow blowers with rotating impeller drums on the market;
I am partial to pronovost because of how well they are made for Canadian Winters worse than
Sierra Cement.

 

[RidgeHiker]

We have an interesting group here :laughing::
A large foot.
A pig that whistles.
A cow that flies.
A hiker of ridges.
Someone that makes cream - maybe related to the cow that flies.

 

[RidgeHiker]

I have thought of a snow blower and may get one some time in the future but I do not want to spend the money at this point and I am not sure that I want to spend hours twisting my body backwards.

 

[Looking4new]

A front mount sno blower is what you need, but be prepared to shell out a few thousand of your hard earned $$'s. My new front mount cost me $6,000.oo Canadian