Snow BX2670 w/FEL Blade for Snow. Ugh!

[SLIMSHADIE]

Robert, no expert here! Totally different scenerio than me, I’m on gravel mostly and using the front quick hitch snow blade, but in Illinois. To me the 1st inch is the heaviest if it’s slushy too. Don’t take it all at once. I take multiple passes....rear ballast may help.
My first pass is about 2” above, nice and slow. The very small concrete pads are fine tuned after that. Any car should drive thru 1” of snow.

 

[robertm]

Most ssqa blades have at least 3-4 inches of play in the lift, when you are in float mode your loader arms are trying to lift your front end you should be able to lift just a bit and carry the loader frame and some of the blade weight. Also lower your shoes and curl your blade ahead more. I know that I can't use the float on my blade unless I increase the curl considerably which takes the blade off the shoes at times.

Oooooooooh! I see what you mean! Good points! I'll try that next time it snows. Maybe lifting the loader arms will put more weight on the front end and replenish my lost steering. Thank you!

 

[robertm]

Robert, no expert here! Totally different scenerio than me, I’m on gravel mostly and using the front quick hitch snow blade, but in Illinois. To me the 1st inch is the heaviest if it’s slushy too. Don’t take it all at once. I take multiple passes....rear ballast may help.
My first pass is about 2” above, nice and slow. The very small concrete pads are fine tuned after that. Any car should drive thru 1” of snow.

Slim, I'm in northern Illinois. Maybe the two passes will help. Do you use chains? Maybe I should consider them on the back at least if the two passes are the solution with the non-float recommendation. Thanks for the several pass idea. I don't use my blower unless there is some real measurable snow. I've had it three years, and have NEVER used it yet. I prefer the blade for cleanup where I can't get in with the blower, or to clear into the wind to then blow down wind. Then, the blade is what I use at the end of the drive, to prevent my blower from getting destroyed by salt from the plow... starting a rust process on the blower.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Robert, I bought a blower too, front mount BX2750D. After the first year and 2 hour cleanups with the FEL I thought I needed it , from the country.....Barley used it too date. Im glade I have just in case, same quick hitch with the blade. R4 tires, no chains, been wonderful. I agree blading the end of drive with all that salt!!!

 

[Piston]

Robert,
You should reconsider using chains on the front wheels. I don't understand why you think you'd blow a front axle with chains? Unless I misread your original post wrong, or is there a known issue specific to the BX line?

If you think of the location of the plow, on the tractor itself, and then think about the leverage involved, and how the lever arm changes when you move the plow from the back to the front, it really points out the poor geometry of putting a plow on the FEL arms.

With a blade/blower on the rear, your pivot point (the rear tires) is BETWEEN the rear blade and your front tires. When you put a blade or blower on the front of the tractor, now you have your pivot point, the rear tires, WAY farther away from the blade/blower itself, and the front (steering) wheels are BETWEEN the blade/blower and the rear pivot point. It takes a whole lot more traction and turning moment to change direction with a blade/blower on the front. This fact, coupled with the fact that it's far less maneuverable, makes a blade/blower on the front of a tractor less than ideal.

 

[s219]

I think using float is your problem. That means the plow is carrying the weight of the front loader frame/arms and that is not good for several reasons. Hopefully the plow has an articulated spring suspension so that it can still track the surface contours by itself, not relying on loader float.

 

[robertm]

Robert,
You should reconsider using chains on the front wheels. I don't understand why you think you'd blow a front axle with chains? Unless I misread your original post wrong, or is there a known issue specific to the BX line?

Well, I'm thinking it will stress the driveline because it will inhibit slippage and create crabbing. I've looked at the rubber strap "chains" but the reviews look poor.

 

[SDT]

Well, I'm thinking it will stress the driveline because it will inhibit slippage and create crabbing. I've looked at the rubber strap "chains" but the reviews look poor.

You will not overstress your front axle with front tire chains when plowing snow.

I've been using F & R chains when plowing snow with my 1994 B1750HST Bi Speed Steer for nearly 24 years now without issues.

SDT

 

[robertm]

You will not overstress your front axle with front tire chains when plowing snow.

I've been using F & R chains when plowing snow with my 1994 B1750HST Bi Speed Steer for nearly 24 years now without issues.

SDT

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I'm going to try the FEL out of float, and if it's no better, I might order some chains.

 

[robertm]

LouNY and s219, you guys were all over it. We got 2" today, and I tried keeping the loader out of float and raising the arms just enough to let only the blade relax on the surface of the asphalt. No problems whatsoever. Now, the snow was light and puffy, but the minute I put the loader in float, my steering was gone.
THANK YOU GUYS!