Tractor's Out in the Cold Tonight

[ovrszd]

Sure is purdy snow!!!

 

[TerryR]

It sure is, Richard.

This afternoon it got up to 44 degrees, so very comfortable to start clearing. I started with the parking area, mostly with the FEL:


Then I tried the driveway itself. As expected, no go with the rear blade in 18" of even fairly dry snow. I found the front axle was trying to be a blade! It didn't do a very good job, and I had a heck of a time getting back up to the top. My wife was watching the wild ride back up and scared her seriously, even though it didn't seem out of control to me.

So back to the FEL bucket as a blade. Slow but sure. Here's the result of that:


Trouble is what I missed was pretty hard packed, to it took many passes with the blade to get it reasonably clear:


It wasn't as frozen as I thought, and I got more gravel then I wanted, but there will be time to fix that when it thaws.

I got about a third of the driveway in a bit under 3 hours. So maybe tomorrow for the rest. Or not. We don't have to be anywhere.

 

[ovrszd]

I hate pushing snow on mud.

Thanks for the pics Terry. Looks like a fun tractor project. 40-ish temp and no wind is pretty nice!!!

 

[Katahdin]

A good Yankee will be out in the cold plowing with the storm every 8-10 inches or so. We'd never let 16 inches accumulate, less snow is easier to push and easier on the equipment.

But now that I have a rear snowblower, I sleep in until the storm blows over.

 

[Egon]

It sure is, Richard.

This afternoon it got up to 44 degrees, so very comfortable to start clearing. I started with the parking area, mostly with the FEL:
View attachment 582494



Then I tried the driveway itself. As expected, no go with the rear blade in 18" of even fairly dry snow. I found the front axle was trying to be a blade! It didn't do a very good job, and I had a heck of a time getting back up to the top. My wife was watching the wild ride back up and scared her seriously, even though it didn't seem out of control to me.

So back to the FEL bucket as a blade. Slow but sure. Here's the result of that:
View attachment 582495

Trouble is what I missed was pretty hard packed, to it took many passes with the blade to get it reasonably clear:
View attachment 582496

It wasn't as frozen as I thought, and I got more gravel then I wanted, but there will be time to fix that when it thaws.

I got about a third of the driveway in a bit under 3 hours. So maybe tomorrow for the rest. Or not. We don't have to be anywhere.

When the going gets tough the front bucket gets a workout.

 

[Jchonline]

You guys are so cute with your "cold".

Mine sits outside year 'round. -40F (without windchill) every winter. It'll be fine. These are not porcelain dolls, they are tractors.

Why not Minot? Freezin is the Reasin

 

[jbrumberg]

When the going gets tough the front bucket gets a workout.

I agree.

Terry- That's a challenging slope upon which to manage snow. Great job for anybody regardless of locale. You'd do very well up here in the snowbelt areas Divots happen in golf and snow management..... Again you did "good." I still have wet spots here. Over time divots fill in. Thanks for the pics.

 

[ruffdog]

For the OP....they have these edge tamers that are like snow shoes for the bucket so it doesn't dig in as much.

Edge Tamer - Move Snow With Your Tractor Loader Bucket – R2 Manufacturing

 

[TerryR]

I agree.

Terry- That's a challenging slope upon which to manage snow. Great job for anybody regardless of locale. You'd do very well up here in the snowbelt areas Divots happen in golf and snow management..... Again you did "good." I still have wet spots here. Over time divots fill in. Thanks for the pics.

Thanks.

The next section is a bit steeper, and the woods are closer so not much place to push the snow off. But at least it's harder to slide very far off the road.

 

[TerryR]

For the OP....they have these edge tamers that are like snow shoes for the bucket so it doesn't dig in as much.

Thanks ruffdog. The bucket isn't really the problem. Most of the gravel got picked up with the rear blade. The road is crowned and with the narrow area to work the bucket left some snow that got packed by the tires. While trying to get that up with the blade I picked up more gravel than I like. But I think I left it close enough that I can grade it back after the snow melts.