Another BX25 snow option question

[GeorgeKG]

Back blade is inexpensive, but it sucks for snow removal in my experience. A 5-ft blade on the back of my Iseki was my only snow removal device for the past 12 years. We don't get huge amounts of snow here in VA but the new BX25 is going to get something better for the snow. Here's why:

Back blade is on the back of the tractor (duh) and that means you are looking and working behind you the entire time. You have to push snow backwards or else it builds up between the wheels and blade. You have to turn your upper body and neck 180 degrees to the right so you can work the 3PH up and down. You are pretty much stuck in this position while you are pushing show. I have 600 ft of gravel drive and it isn't fun being twisted around on the tractor.

Right now, the BXpanded blade is at the top of my list but I have not pulled the trigger yet.

..... I think I like the back blade approach because it will cost at least $1500 less, be balanced with the FEL and be more versitile year round. But will it really move deep snow?

.......:laughing:

 

[YotaBota]

This is my 2nd season with a backblade on my BX25. Later in the year, I will purchase a snowblower. Constantly twisting to the rear is a pain in the rear-and neck. Also, and even more of a pain is the constant manual adjustment of the angle that the blade hits the ground. On pavement it's easier, but most of my snow removal efforts are gravel. SO plowing, pushing, or pulling the snow without creating ruts or removing large chucks of packed snow is a near impossibility-at least for me. One guy had created a 3 point hitch with 3 hydraulic rams to make the adjustment easier BUT I don't weld or have the time and burning desire to create this. So I'll spend the $3500 for a front mounted snow blower. But that brings up another question, that I will post, because you're not supposed to answer a question with a question

John

 

[jdonovan]

Back blade is on the back of the tractor (duh) and that means you are looking and working behind you the entire time. You have to push snow backwards or else it builds up between the wheels and blade. You have to turn your upper body and neck 180 degrees to the right so you can work the 3PH up and down. You are pretty much stuck in this position while you are pushing show. I have 600 ft of gravel drive and it isn't fun being twisted around on the tractor.

The 'normal' way to use the rear blade on a tractor with some ground clearance is:

Angle the blade 15-30 degrees to one side, facing forward.... then clear the snow by driving forward.

This only works for snows that are about 1/2 the ground clearance of the tractor. With a BX, thats what 3" of snow

If the snow is deeper, then you've got to work backwards.

 

[VermontWacko]

This is lots of years of negative experience with the back blade approach -- and the BX25, being a frame-reinforced subcompact, has low clearence -- making this setup less effective.

OK -- y'all have moved me off that approach.

That leaves either one of the front-mounted blade approaches or one of the throwers. I understand that people love the front mounted throwers but $s matter too. Time for me to do more cost comparisons and come back with alternatives for y'all to comment on.

Sugestions welcomed. (I'm not gonna fabricate something -- so, fyi, I will be sticking with commercially available stuff.) Thanks once again for your input.

 

[BryanMA]

Just a note about ballast - I find that my filled ag tires are just about a perfect combination for winter use. The ballast is just about right and they don't hold the snow. Just my $.02

The backhoe is a little heavy, and tends to get in the way in tight situations. This year I am running the front snowblower and for that the filled ags work great.

 

[GeorgeKG]

I haven't been that lucky. I have tried that over the years but didn't have much success. I think your technique would be fine for a paved surface because you can drop the blade and roll. My experience is that gravel requires constant attention to blade height and that means looking at the blade all the time.

The 'normal' way to use the rear blade on a tractor with some ground clearance is:

Angle the blade 15-30 degrees to one side, facing forward.... then clear the snow by driving forward.

This only works for snows that are about 1/2 the ground clearance of the tractor. With a BX, thats what 3" of snow

If the snow is deeper, then you've got to work backwards.

 

[donn12]

A blower would definitley be better for lots of snow. You could look for a used 3 pt blower. Yes you would be looking back but it should not take long. You also get to keep the loader on the front.

I think if you get the kubota blower you can switch it to the front later if you buy the hitch and the pto extender.

 

[jdonovan]

I I think your technique would be fine for a paved surface because you can drop the blade and roll. My experience is that gravel requires constant attention to blade height and that means looking at the blade all the time.

ANY tool used on a non-paved surface will need constant attention to avoid digging in unless that surface is perfectly flat.. and I've never met a drive that was.

 

[jdonovan]

That leaves either one of the front-mounted blade approaches or one of the throwers. I understand that people love the front mounted throwers but $s matter too. Time for me to do more cost comparisons and come back with alternatives for y'all to comment on.

Front blade will probably run you 1/2 the cost of a rear thrower.

Depending on how much snow you get and how much space there is on the sides of the drive would sway my vote.

If you get 10's of feet a year, and it never melts between storms... get a blower.

Plows need to move the snow every 8-12" (some prefer 6" limits), if you get 20-30" storms that means several plowings per storm.

Also you'll need space along side your drive to push the snow into. If your drive goes through hills and is 'sunkin in' then you'll have problems pushing the snow somewhere.


The blower can generally move up to what ever its height is. For a 22 sized machine I doubt this will exceed 20-24". Some of the big blowers are in the 30-36" tall range.

 

[KU Gator]

JDonovan

I was not aware of the BXpanded blade until this post. I looked at the pictures on the website and it looks interesting.

Does it only hook to the bucket with the chain plus what looks like two slide on connections at the bottom of the bucket?

Does it slide around on the bucket when you use it?

It sounds like you are rather pleased with its performance. Can you give a bit more of a review?

Thanks.