What have you done to your Branson today?

[LouNY]

Well no pictures but, Saturday put the rear chains on and plowed about 4" snow Monday.
Then today mounted up the front chains also, then made a couple of passes down the driveway to clean up the snow pack from the first storm. Depending on the forecaster may get freezing rain mixed with wet snow, or just heavy wet snow 2-4" or 8-12".
So front chains on in case I need to use the sander later in the week, get a couple of tons pushing me on my hill I like to be well anchored.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

We got a bunch of sleet-ice-rain on Tuesday. It rained (sleeted) all day, got about an inch of "rain" before it changed to snow on Tuesday evening.

Since then, we've had about 18" of heavy, wet snow. But it's really the bottom layer of ice that is causing havoc.

The storm was originally forcasted to be over by this morning (thursday), however NWS changed it until tomorrow morning (friday).

Now for my scrapbook of shame picture.

I was using my new snowblower yesterday and did 2 really stupid things.

The first one was rotating the chute in the same direction for more than 360 degrees. The chute can spin that way no problem. However, the hydraulic lines going to the deflector control prevents it. And, yup, I "cable wrapped" (old AFSATCOM term) the hydraulic lines. I heard a pop and the chute stopped rotating. Thinking the worst (because it's me), I pulled it into the heated garage to look things over. To my surprise, damage was minimal, the hoses came loose from their anchor stay and the hydraulic gear box that spins the chute was pushed back on it's mounting bolts far enough that the ring gear on the chute no longer made contact with the drive gear on the hydraulic gear box.

The fix for that one was simple and I was amazed at how lucky I was not to damage anything else (other than putting a serious fray on the outer layer on my hydraulic hoses (no leaks though).

After getting back in action, one of the last places to blow snow was my back yard. I like to clear a path for the dogs to run and play (involves playing catch with a ball that they lose in the snow).

So I'm clearing a path of snow up to my 10' backyard gate, and I did the eternally stupid thing of getting to close to my gate. The ice breaker tab on the main auger grabbed the chain link fence portion of one half of my gate. I'll tell you, it snatched that fence panel out of the gate frame faster than you could blink and eye. Like yanking the table cloth off of a table and leaving the plates on the table. The frame of the gate is still fine, but that fence panel in the gate did not fair so well.

I shut the pto off as soon as I saw it go, but obviously it was too late to save the gate.

Back to the heated garage I go (again) and took me about an hour to cut the fence material out of my auger. Using my air powered cut off grinder I was able to cut it all out.

The aftermath:

I've only got a couple of hours on this new blower, but so far, I'm a menace to all on this thing.

I'm kind of surprised it didn't pop a shear pin. After it was all pulled out, the blower ran fine again. This blower so far has been "me tough", which has been fortunate.

 

[CobyRupert]

…Depending on the forecaster may get freezing rain mixed with wet snow, or just heavy wet snow 2-4" or 8-12".

Ha, ha. That’s a typical upper Hudson Valley forecast!
Don’t forget that “all of the above” is also a possible answer.

 

[LouNY]

Ha, ha. That’s a typical upper Hudson Valley forecast!
Don’t forget that “all of the above” is also a possible answer.

That it is. I'm a bit disappointed that my normal salted sand guy didn't get me a delivery this fall.
Looks like I have enough in reserve for 5-7 driveway sandings, so it may be an interesting winter.
Hopefully we get a dry spell and it all burns off the driveway and I can get a load delivered ( no trucks without chains when snow or ice is present on my hill ).
Are you all set for the "big" storm?

 

[CobyRupert]

That it is. I'm a bit disappointed that my normal salted sand guy didn't get me a delivery this fall.
Looks like I have enough in reserve for 5-7 driveway sandings, so it may be an interesting winter.
Hopefully we get a dry spell and it all burns off the driveway and I can get a load delivered ( no trucks without chains when snow or ice is present on my hill ).
Are you all set for the "big" storm?

Well, ready or not…
I’ve used my driveway tools: An 18hp lawn tractor with snowblower, and it’s back up ( an ATV w/ plow for slush) each once this winter.
Just put the 8’ blade on the back of my tractor last night for cleaning a path to and around the barn that we don’t bother with if snow is less than 6”-8”. We’ll see what this storm brings. ??

 

[LouNY]

Looks like we both have logged on at lunch time today.
Not much snow accumulation here yet and what was on the ground is pretty soggy right now.
I haven't checked but I will not be surprised if the rain last night has pulled the frost out of the driveway,
that's so it can be mess for plowing.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

No pics today, so didn't put this in the picture thread,

Had to bring a new tote of wood into the garage. That entailed pulling out a bunch of stuff, including my car trailer to get to the wood totes. The side door on my shop (where the totes are) is a slider, which is useless for us here in winter. So pulled a bunch of stuff out of the shop building to get to the wood totes to carry one out the front roll up door.

Had the release pins freeze up on my SSQA release, so couldn't switch from my bucket to my forks in the couple minutes it normally takes. Had to hunt down my propane torch and heat up the release latches and pins on both sides of my FEL to get it to let go of the bucket. Got them freed up and thought "good to go", until I was done and wanted to put the bucket back on, then, yup, had to do it again. I'm going to have to bring the tractor into the garage where I can sit and clean out those latches properly, get them clean, dry and maybe a touch of lube on them.

 

[LouNY]

I quit lubing mine every time I did it just collected a good mess of dirt and grit. Often I end up giving them a shot of penetrating lube and a wack upward with a hammer from the bottom, they work good then,

 

[ptsg]

No pictures either but used the hydraulic winch on my tractor to pull my excavator out of a sketchy spot on an embankment.... twice.

 

[Cougsfan]

Today I am digging a hole with my post hole digger and burying a 6" post to mount my new mailbox. My old mailbox was flattened to a useless condition by a State Hwy Dept's snowplow throwing slush against it as they go by plowing at 40 mph. It has been deformed several times over the last few years, but this last time they really nailed it but good! I had to get permission from the Postmaster to relocate it off the road. He approved, now I just gotta go do it.

 

[ning]

Today I am digging a hole with my post hole digger and burying a 6" post to mount my new mailbox. My old mailbox was flattened to a useless condition by a State Hwy Dept's snowplow throwing slush against it as they go by plowing at 40 mph. It has been deformed several times over the last few years, but this last time they really nailed it but good! I had to get permission from the Postmaster to relocate it off the road. He approved, now I just gotta go do it.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Cleared off the pathway and turn around for my 5th wheel to pull into my shop today. RV has been at the dealer for months, finally done. Had to get the snow off the yard where I turn it around and back it into the shop building.

Put back to rest now, we're supposed to get a dusting of snow late this week, but we haven't had any for weeks now.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Used mine today with the forks on front to pick up my 5th wheel hitch out of my truck ( I normally do this at the end of camping season, but the dealer has had my RV since fall, so I left the hitch in the truck bed through most of the winter). And then used the forks to set a pallet of sand bags in the truck bed ( normally do that at the start of winter).

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Used mine again today to fish out the next tote full of firewood for the house. We're supposed to get hit with a big winter storm next week. Unfortunately, I'm going to be in Fargo all week next week for work. Trying to get stuff situated now so Mrs. Slim doesn't have to worry about it while I'm gone.

 

[Branson Bob]

I found 13 65 gallon soil pots of good quality organic potting soil on Facebook Marketplace so I purchased them. The seller had them on pallets on a hillside. Though potting soil is pretty light this stuff was soaked and each one weighed about 200 lbs. We had to lift them into a wheelbarrow and roll them down the hill to load onto the pickup. The ground was fairly steep and very uneven. Unloading was a lot easier. The total amount is a bit over 4 cubic yards and he had another half yard on the ground which he threw in.

 

[Branson Bob]

I also purchased used 200 or so pressure-treated tree stakes from an almond farmer. After 3 years the trees are established enough that they no longer need support. I used an IBC frame to load them horizontally and then stood them up and moved them with the Branson. These are going to be used with the soil for raised beds for veggies. I just gotta figure out what kind of lumber to use for the sides.

 

[tacticalturnip]

It's snowy, wet, and muddy here... I'm a bit jealous. Lol.

 

[Branson Bob]

It's snowy, wet, and muddy here... I'm a bit jealous. Lol.

If it makes you feel better it rained .35" today to bring the monthly total to about 4". In January we had about 20" and in December about 24"... total for the last 3 months is 48'.

In a normal year we get around 30" so it's definitely been a wet one and windy and cold to boot.

I got very lucky that the weather on Presidents' Day Weekend was nice... almost the only nice weekend in months.

 

[ericm979]

Bob did you get pounded with snow with the last storms? We got 7" of wet snow. I'm going to be cleaning up downed trees and branches for months. It was really hard on the coast live oaks, which is a bummer as they're one of my favorite trees.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

We got some snow on Tuesday. Went to clear my driveway Wednesday morning and proceeded to bury the tractor to the frame. It was still dark out, cab windows were still foggy, and I missed the driveway entrance and drove (backed) right into the ditch next to the culvert. Stuck it *really* good, couldn't push my way out with the FEL. Went to get the truck to pull out the tractor and proceeded to get the truck buried in the snow also.

I should have quit there, but I didn't. After multiple attempts, and a nice neighbor, we got the truck out. While getting the tractor out (which we did-but pulled a front tire off the rim in the process) my wife proceeded to get the truck into the ditch and bury it. Friendly neighbor saw the tractor come out, and thinking "job done", he left. After getting the tractor up to the garage (to try and get the tire back on the rim), I noticed the wife wasn't moving in the truck.

Another friendly neighbor and an hour later, and we got the truck out. During that process, I noticed the front drive on the 4wd was out on the truck. Explained why it was stuck so bad. Got the truck up to the house (finally) and called it a day.

I messed with the tractor front tire yesterday and couldn't get it seated back on the rim. Tried the ratchet strap trick, but the tire is just too thick/stiff. Going to try ether tonight and see if I can pop the bead back on the rim.

I haven't even looked at the truck yet. Nothing is hanging down, and it doesn't grind when you drive it. I don't know if it's hubs, diff (probably not, no grinding) or transfer case.

Sigh. Well, that's what March has started out like. Can't wait.