Snow 1st snow - TZ25 FEL

[nhtzer]

Bought a TZ25 early this summer with FEL and MMM. Finally got enough snow to try it out (only about 6") but enough to provide some thoughts on how it works. I do have a NH weightbox on the back filled with small 1/2" rocks. I assume it's > 350lbs or so.

Sensitrak works great; no need to pull the lever to lock it in 4wd.

Very good traction even with turf tires.

Plenty of power to push lots of snow.

Float doesn't really work that well on snow; had to fiddle with downpressue to keep blade in proper location.

Very easy to pick the front tires off the ground while pushing; doesn't affect forward movement; except that you can't steer.

Overall I am pleased and see no need for the $3500 snowblower attachment.

I can however wish I had a larger tractor with a heated cab as even only being on it for about 40 mins (my driveway and my neighbors) I was very cold.

Tractor sat in it's shed overnight and it was about 24 this morning when I went to start it. Fired right up; left it sit for about 5 mins then got to it.

 

[wny770]

I bought a sims tractor cab with heater for my TZ25 on E-bay earlier this year. $1000. Was a demmo. WOW.... (warm!!!) Also bought a woods SS-52 blower which was recommended by a few people on this site. WOW..... (blows snow!!!) Have fun with your tractor! I'm still amazed at how little fuel it uses!

 

[North Dakota]

..... I do have a NH weightbox on the back filled with small 1/2" rocks. I assume it's > 350lbs or so. ......

Small rock like what you got in your box packs together pretty good and averages around 3000 lbs/cubic yard which is 111.1 lbs/cubic foot and in turn 0.0643 lbs/cubic inch.

So if your box was completely filled and was 2ft x 2ft x 2ft it would weigh 889 lbs (2ft x 2ft x 2ft x 111.1 lbs/cf = 888.8 or 24in x 24in x 24in x 0.0643lbs/cin = 888.9) Aren't numbers great

The wieght of rock, sand and dirt can had up fast. Doesn't take much of a pile to get 2000 pounds.

 

[Todd_C]

I'm jealous over your snowfall. I've only had one decent snow in my area during the last four years. My TC 40 hasn't even seen snow over 4-5 inches, so if you guys don't mind, please post some pics of the snow. I can only wish.

 

[keving]

I'm jealous over your snowfall. I've only had one decent snow in my area during the last four years. My TC 40 hasn't even seen snow over 4-5 inches, so if you guys don't mind, please post some pics of the snow. I can only wish.

I hope we get a good blizzard this year. I can't wait to get out and move some snow!

 

[dqdave1]

You will be amazed how the turfs work in snow.

 

[rogerson]

We got about 20 inches between Sunday and Monday. We do commercial snow plowing and one of the machines we use is a TC45D with a 702C front mount plow (with a Jodale Perry Boxer hard cab). So between Sunday and Tuesday I have put about 20 hours in the tractor seat....

We use to use the FEL but it is too slow by the time you push and then have to dump. The plow is fast, just in and out of the row, plus we have less bucket spill to clean up after every pass.

I will post a picture of the rig shortly (pics are on my computer at work and not on my laptop.)

Jeff

 

[nhtzer]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures...

Also I've noticed two things this morning while putting firewood on my deck

The throttle cable seems to be sticking; temp was about 10 degrees out

and

The lock-out switch for starting it in gear required quite a few movements back and forth between H and L range to actually make it believe it wasn't in gear.

Neither of these occurred before this morning. Is there anything I can do to fix or is it just a by-product of 10 degrees?

Consequently, the tractor started up perfectly. I did switch to Castrol Syntec 5w-40w when at the 50 hour service about a month ago.

 

[daTeacha]

You may find that with more serious amounts of snow the bucket is not the best tool to use -- it tends to just load up and not clear a very wide path. I use mine in conjuction with a back blade, with the latter doing most of the work and the bucket for the more delicate stuff or if I have to move piles of plowed stuff .

A back blade not too expensive. Mine was $250. I have a 7 footer, offset so the right side is about 2 feet outside the wheel when the blade is straight. When I angle it back to the right, the left edge of the blade runs about even with the left tire and the snow is pushed about 1 foot outside the right tire. One trip down the drive, one trip back, and I have about 10 feet of cleared pathway with nice ridges along each side.

 

[rogerson]

As promised, here finally are the pics of my TC45D with my new to me 702C plow....

Jeff