2210? or bigger

ArkCivEngr · Aug 28, 2005

Here I am, working in 105 F heat index, and you're posting pics of blowing snow? You're killing me! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

BTW, I'll wager you have to drive at least 50 ft. further getting back after one of those brandys. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jcmseven · Aug 28, 2005

Mike,

I do not come from a really high snow area, but we do get a fair amount here in western NC mountains, USA. I have never used a snow blower, but have had an x595 with a 54" front blade. It did a super job at snow removal here, and many of the places it would go were STEEP. I suspect either it or a 2210 would do a good job with your task, with either a blower or a blade. It would also fit on those walkways and tight spaces a larger machine cannot fit. I currently own a 3720 JD and had a 4310 last winter. I can safely say that the 595 would have removed snow faster than my 4310 would have with a standard rear blade and FEL. I have a 72" boom blade for my loader which makes the larger tractors more productive, but if I did not have that, the 595 would have been faster!!! I would say go with whichever would be less expensive. You could even go with a gasoline 575 or 585 if you wished to save some. I would not forego the MFWD though. Although the diesel is better the gasoline machine would do fine I think.

John M

JDFANATIC · Aug 28, 2005

Ark,

Uh hic. 3 or 4 tenths of an hour down the drive and back. My wife never understands why it takes 1-2 hours! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ray2210 · Aug 29, 2005

Just out of curiosity where abouts in central Canada? I have a 2210 with a FEL and 60" rear blade. I live in Saskatchewan and last year was the worst winter in about 10 years for snow. I live on an acreage and clean quite a bit of drive and parking as well as the road in front of our property. The 2210 was a real trooper and proved itself well. It ran flawlessly in the cold but a block heater is a necessity. I also use a cold weather fuel additive that really helps. I don't think it would have started without a block heater when it got real cold and it's a much easier start when it's not so cold by just plugging it in for a few minutes.

One thing I've found with blades and loaders is that they can scrape up concrete pretty bad. Asphalt would be much more tolerant to scraping implements. I would use a blower if there was much concrete or add skid shoes or gauge wheels to any blades being used for concrete.

Something to consider will be your choice of tires and weight depending on the implements you choose. I run turf tires as I have a bit of good lawn to maintain in the summer. For heavy snow and ice they were a bit lacking. I added rear chains and it made a big difference. This year I will add rear wheel weights and might even get some industrial tires for the front as steering can be difficult when pushing or pulling alot of snow with the blade or bucket. The better your rear traction gets the worse steering can become too.

I don't use a blower myself but a 60" rear blade can move alot of snow. With turfs and chains I can pull throught 8-10" of snow no problem. You could do better with loaded industrial tires. I have to say there are times I wish the 2210 had split rear braking so that you could steer with the rear brakes and it would help when using the blade or loader. Pushing the snow backwards with the convex side of the blade I can power through some pretty deep stuff and then pull back through forward to clean it up. Once last winter at the neighbors with the blade and loader I cleaned up about 5 hundred feet of drive and a couple hundred of that was 3 feet deep in about 3 hours. I'd have loved to had a blower for that as it would have been much faster but nonetheless the machine was amazing in that deep snow with just a loader and blade. Having a larger than the standard 49" bucket would make a job go faster as well.

mike123 · Aug 29, 2005

Ray I live in Regina.
The unit will be parked in a heated shop. For the scraping I will be putting on a urethaine blade, we do all cement and cobble stone drives.
The 60 inch blade didn't help with the weight issue in the back? How was the back blade for scraping without down pressure? Some of our customers drive in and out like crazy before we get there.
I am wondering if a hydraulic blade on the front of the FEL might be the best - that way you can stack it easy on the lawn after cleaning the drive. It should be way quicker then a blower?
Mike

JDFANATIC · Aug 29, 2005

mike,

That driveway I mentioned I share with another neighbor who has a 318 with a front plow. It does a great job, but I can remove snow a whole lot quicker. I'm sure the 2210 with the front plow will remove snow more efficiently, but I'm not sure any faster. Also where do you put it if the snowfall really accumilates? That said, almost all the commercial snow removers in my neck of the woods use plows... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

fgross335_2210 · Aug 29, 2005

Interesting thread! I have a 335GT with a 42" snowthrower and a 2210 with FEL and 5ft backblade. The 335 can run circles around the 2210 for most snow removal because you only touch the snow once and it's gone. There is simply no faster way to remove snow then with a blower or thrower. One of my friends at work has a 4010 with 47" 2-stage and a 5ft back blade. When the snow is light he makes one pass with the blade, then a pass with the blower. Heavier snow all blower. Works great for him.

About the only problem with the blower is that the snow WILL travel a long ways so you DO need a place to "send it". And w/o a cab you can turn yourself into a snowman given the right conditions (wind).

A 47" for my 2210 is next up on my list of attachments. FEL will then stay parked in the winter unless I'm hauling firewood.

Ray2210 · Aug 29, 2005

The 60" blade I have isn't enough balast for anything more than snow. If the snow gets slushy wet a standard 49" bucket full will lift the rear wheels. I have never really scraped to cement from hard pack as it damages the concrete too much. Part of the blades scraping performance will be based on your particular units weight and the angles you set it to. As for a blade on the loader I'd be carfull. The loader mounting and frame might not be up to a commercial capability taking into account the assymetrical loading an angled blade would impose on them. The loader mountings are really designed for symetrical loading. For a front blade you're probably better off with something frame mounted. I often pile snow up 3 feet high just by backing into the pile with the rear blade and pushing with the convex side. The tractor just rides up the pile and keeps pushing. Buy a block heater if you get a tractor. Even with a shop there will be times you won't regret having installed it. We just moved onto our acreage last fall and our 2210 is some of the smartest money we've spent. I did about 50 hours of snow removal last winter and about 50 hours of lawn and loader work this summer. I don't know what we would have done without it.

Lobo56 · Aug 29, 2005

I’ve removed snow with my father in laws 2210 with a rear blade, FEL and with he’s blower. The blower will run circles around both. So when I bought my own 2210 back in June the blower was the first thing on the buy it list.

Hypernix · Aug 29, 2005

Yep, I also vote for the snow blower, cab and bigger! Around here, the people that do this kind of work are mostly farmers and they are using their biggest tractor with big snowblowers! The advantage is time. One or two pass and the drive way is done, move on to the next. Also those big tractors seem to travel faster between job sites so no need to trailer.

Hypernix