Back blade for snow removal

[Creamer]

I have on occasion found how far the steering wheel will go into my stomach when catching the pavement lip at the edge of a driveway. I always make sure my seat belt is fastened.

RSKY

I have done that too. Same with frozen dirt sticking up higher than the pavement. That's when some landscaping changes need to be made.

 

[Thomas]

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This is true but there always seems to be something over look.

 

[oosik]

I've got a mile long - straight as an arrow - gravel driveway. If things would go as I hope - it would rain, then freeze harder than granite and then any snow I plowed off the driveway would have zero affect on the gravel. Unfortunately, that seldom happens - at least not at the first of the plowing season.

I reverse my rear blade and drive forward until the driveway freezes good and hard.

 

[TheMan419]

I've got a mile long - straight as an arrow - gravel driveway. If things would go as I hope - it would rain, then freeze harder than granite and then any snow I plowed off the driveway would have zero affect on the gravel. Unfortunately, that seldom happens - at least not at the first of the plowing season.

I reverse my rear blade and drive forward until the driveway freezes good and hard.

I too would hope for a freeze and be done. However we are on our second above freezing all the snow melts and then comes back with a vengeance of the season. I suspect we will have at least one more. Thankfully the drive is holding up in terms of no ruts or anything.

 

[oosik]

Yes - some years I've waited so long for the driveway to freeze up hard - its almost a waste to do any plowing. Just about the time everything is just right - it clobbers up, turns warm and rains. I simply do not get my Jollies plowing snow in the rain............

 

[sideskraft]

There are a couple of divorced young women on our road. They blow the horn and wave when they drive past our house and see me out. My wife thinks it is funny.

I cleared the drives of one mother and both her daughters. They mailed me a gift card for a restaurant. Next time I cleared their drives I threatened them if they got me anything and said I would pile up snow in their drives. A few days later I had a set of grilling sauces and other stuff delivered with no name on it. Every time I would call they would laugh and say it wasn't them. One of them finally owned up to it when the snow melted.

A case of delicious pears was delivered from another neighbor.

I won't accept pay and that frustrates some of them. They don't understand somebody out in freezing weather clearing driveways for fun.

Never thought about it before but I guess I have earned my reputation as the weird one.

RSKY

RSKY, I love your posts -- you should write stories when not on your tractor -- keep up the entertainment!!

 

[KennK]

Another point that hasn't been mentioned is that when I am going forward with the rear blade set at an angle, if I put it at too sharp an angle it will actually push the rear of my tractor sideways. My rear blade has limited angle settings, but I have to find just the right angle that allows the snow to slide off without pushing the back end sideways.

I pretty quickly learned to load the front end loader with snow to give my front wheels better grip (R4 tires with no chains). Wet snow is much better than dry snow - weighs more for sure.

Also, just to be clear for the original poster, I usually just drive over the snow - forward - to let the rear blade do its work. If the snow is so deep that I can't driver over it without wheels spinning even in mechanical 4WD, then I'll use the front end loader to move the snow and then clean it up with the rear blade. Moving snow with the front end loader can be a tedious process compared to the rear blade. Scoop, backup, angle off, dump, repeat ... a lot! Still, any time on the tractor is a great thing - until the cold weather soaks in.

I've been noodling getting a front-mount snow blade, but so far just can't justify the cost. Plus, I'd prefer to keep the front end loader on the tractor during the winter months - well all the time. I know that they make snow blades that go on the FEL's quick attach. I'm noodling that too. Again, so far I've not pulled the trigger, mostly due to the costs.

Finally, as others have mentioned, using the rear blade with the cutting edge backwards does real well on gravel and even lawn (my own use). I don't need to do that a lot, so I'll usually do that very carefully (gently) by just driving the tractor backward. I've read that this presents a risk of bending the three point hitch arms or other parts. So far this has not happened. I try to be gentle about it. If you need to do that a lot then you're best to spin the rear blade around and drive forward with the cutting edge of the blade facing "backward".

 

[savageactor7]

Using a box blade for snow removal this year and I really like it. We mostly use it to push the snow in reverse but the limited ability to pull the snow forward has proven to be very useful.

It was by chance I left the blade on to dress up the gravel driveway one last time before the snow came. And no I'm not pushing a lot of gravel either. It the bear blade on the ground no clearance shoes either.

The added weight was a benefit too.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

I use a rear blade for clearing snow, and it works very well. Most of the time I drive forward with blade angled to windrow the snow off to one side. But for the area near our garage, I flip the blade around backwards and push snow in reverse. Lots of options. I use a pipe over the cutting edge to keep from disturbing my gravel.

I’d love to see a photo of the pipe on the cutting edge. I use the rubber horse stall mat between the cutting edge and moldboard trick. Works well but could dig a little deeper.

Looks funny after I plow. The rubber works like a squeegee to keep the cutting edge out of the gravel (1000 ft). Snow on the drive is as smooth as buttercream frosting!

 

[CalG]

A back blade to clear, and a bucket to pile is a great combination. Certainly the cleanest combination. The back blade leaves a billiard table behind.