Snow Snow removal, FEL compared to snow blade.

[DK35vince]

My snowplow is a Western 9' truck plow with power angle. Converted it to SSQA to fit the loader.
Works great. I'm guessing I have around $500 invested in it.

 

[Oaktree]

I only use my FEL mounted bucket in places where its difficult to get with my rear blade. The plain truth is - a bucket does not move any or much snow to the side and out of the way. Its just a straight forward thing and that's all. A rear blade, front blade or blower will actually move the snow to an alternate location and out of the way.

I have a mile long, straight as an arrow, gravel driveway. I angle & off-set my rear blade and go like the wind( 5-6 mph). Snow easily rolls off the rear blade and off the edge of the driveway.

In your case, yeah a blade would be much better than using the FEL. Not sure I'd want a rear blade for plowing snow though...sounds like it would be an incredible PITA. Don't have a plow blade for my tractor, but if I did, front would be the way I'd go.

I use the FEL to plow my driveway with no problems at all. Heavy wet snow might take a couple passes, but we don't get that very often here. First couple storms, if they're only 3-4" I won't plow at all, just let it pack down to form a base. Once it freezes up nothing will cut thru it, and I'm usually good for the rest of the winter. Woodstove ash on any icy spots. If the first storm needs plowing I'll just tilt the bucket back an inch or 2 to achieve the same effect.

I know in some places it's not permitted, but I try to push as much snow across the road as possible. The FEL makes it easy to stack it high.

The 'tamer' is sort of a small skid or ski that clamps onto the bucket cutting edge thus creating an inch* or so clearance thus avoiding stone/gravel pickup.
With tamers you then can use the FEL in float position w/o collecting gravel.

* leaving an inch that gets driven on and compacted makes for a great base for balance of the winter.

Just as easy to tilt the bucket back an inch or two. One less thing to fall off & get lost in a snowbank.

 

[amhicks21]

I'd guess since your tractor is new that the bucket still has a very sharp cutting edge. Its always hard to ride over a surface with a new bucket. as the edge wears a bit it'll get easy to not dig in. I think that machine comes with a bucket level indicator. Im not sure about kioti ones but the kubota ones are kinda useless since they have no markings but perhaps if you added an easier to read indicator made of something like wire it would help ya find your level.

 

[gladehound]

Oaktree - you really should try some Edge Tamers. No matter how good you think you are at finding level and moving snow with your bucket without getting gravel, you'll be amazed at how much faster you are with the Edge Tamers and the end result will be better.

Rear blades are nice for moving snow but it does require more tractor with more ground clearance compared to a front blade. The rear blades are best for pulling snow away from buildings and doors - a lot more room for the snow than trying to do the same with a front blade.

also if you do a lot of driveways, rear blade is nice because you can back up to the garage doors, drop it and just drive out moving everything away from the building instead of starting at the road and pushing everything towards the building.

My ideal set up would be an inverted rear blower and a front snow bucket - Loflin Fabrication sells one that is 42" deep 41" high and widths up to 96". The largest is 2.34 yards.

 

[gladehound]

My snowplow is a Western 9' truck plow with power angle. Converted it to SSQA to fit the loader.
Works great. I'm guessing I have around $500 invested in it.
View attachment 492000

I like that. My cousin has a 9' truck plow with power angle that he said I could have if I want to turn it into SSQA attachment. Have you had any problems with it pushing you sideways when angled in heavy snow. You might be far enough from the Atlantic that your snow is lighter. I used to live in Buffalo and could clear 12" of snow off my driveway with a broom! no joke!

 

[DK35vince]

I like that. My cousin has a 9' truck plow with power angle that he said I could have if I want to turn it into SSQA attachment. Have you had any problems with it pushing you sideways when angled in heavy snow. You might be far enough from the Atlantic that your snow is lighter. I used to live in Buffalo and could clear 12" of snow off my driveway with a broom! no joke!

Before chains- yes. I had problems with the front sliding fairly often.
Of course with R-4's my tractor struggled to go at all in snow/ice let alone push a 9' plow.
I run chains on all 4, so spinning or sliding from the plow is rarely a problem.

 

[kas2960]

Indeed seat time,have you try lowering bucket than tilt back just a little than use float mode?

Yes. That is basically where I'm at now.

I think that my first problem is that the gravel has overtime found it's own "level" which is not very level in places This spring I'm going to get the scraper blade on and give the lane way a good going over. I think I will also rent a roller to help compact it down nice and even.

 

[kas2960]

"How long a drive are U maintaining?
For sure a plow is nice for minor events as a blower is slow but snow gone like bye bye.
Remember that a plow creates build up that sometimes is hard to remove later.
Also plowed drives tend to get narrower as winter progresses.

For using your bucket there is a member that came up with an excellent solution that he calls 'edge tamers'. "



Not real long, 250' plus an area between the house and out building that measures 70'x 90'. I will check out this "edge Tamer" you speak of.

 

[kas2960]

I do love the blower. Had the guys where I bought the tractor (Doug's Small Engines here in Ontario) also install a hydraulic shute adjuster. Love that feature!

 

[kas2960]

Oaktree - you really should try some Edge Tamers. No matter how good you think you are at finding level and moving snow with your bucket without getting gravel, you'll be amazed at how much faster you are with the Edge Tamers and the end result will be better.

Rear blades are nice for moving snow but it does require more tractor with more ground clearance compared to a front blade. The rear blades are best for pulling snow away from buildings and doors - a lot more room for the snow than trying to do the same with a front blade.

also if you do a lot of driveways, rear blade is nice because you can back up to the garage doors, drop it and just drive out moving everything away from the building instead of starting at the road and pushing everything towards the building.

My ideal set up would be an inverted rear blower and a front snow bucket - Loflin Fabrication sells one that is 42" deep 41" high and widths up to 96". The largest is 2.34 yards.

I have become much better at pulling snow back from the buildings using the FEL tiped far forwards and pulling back. No matter what, I have to admit, I am having fun. But I'm not telling my wife that My son is home from school for Christmas and he was out moving snow around yesterday. So I now have more rock on the lawn