Blizzard of '03

MossRoad · Feb 19, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

Thanks for the advice.

You too, Hans.

I back mine into our shed so that it is facing out, but haven't had any snow to test it on. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I never thought of coming off the trailer in deep snooowwww! I'll remember that, if it happens. Thanks.

Charlie_Iliff · Feb 20, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

Sedgewood:
When you high center, I don't think chains would help - assuming you found a set exactly the right size to clear the brakes on the inside but still stay on the tires. If you find a set, let me know, because I think they would permit pushing a bigger batch on each pass. Chains sure would help for current plowing, where the inch of ice at the bottom gets slick as soon as you spin to it, due to warm weather. All in all, I figure the turfs were probably nearly as good as bar treads would have been. They only lose traction on ice or in deep enough stuff that the belly pans are holding a couple of wheels up.
When the piles get too big to push, I back off and blast into them with the blade angled, and rising as I hit. If the blade is too high, I knock the top off and end up too far in the deep stuff. Usually, I can wiggle back out, but once had to shovel.
My biggest problem yesterday was a long steep downhill. I couldn't keep the pile moving, and then would get down to the ice when trying to back up to get a run. I finally blasted my way to the bucket, and found that better than the blade for the deep downhill stuff. I could pick up a bucket full, which increased front end traction enough to ease back away from the pile. For that, on ice and slick hardpack, I'll bet the turfs are actually better than bar treads, just because of increased contact area. Once you got them spinning, however, it is time to toss a little hay under them and hope to ease back without need of a shovel. It worked most times.
But, a snow blower is still the answer for stuff this deep. If we had it more often than every seven years, I'd be on the phone to PT.

Sedgewood · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

Charlie:

( When you high center, I don't think chains would help - assuming you found a set exactly the right size to clear the brakes on the inside but still stay on the tires. If you find a set, let me know, because I think they would permit pushing a bigger batch on each pass.)

My thought too, although I think I'm generally close to bogging the engine before the wheels break loose.

( Chains sure would help for current plowing, where the inch of ice at the bottom gets slick as soon as you spin to it, due to warm weather.)

I have that problem here too. They might also help reduce the crabbing.

( All in all, I figure the turfs were probably nearly as good as bar treads would have been. They only lose traction on ice or in deep enough stuff that the belly pans are holding a couple of wheels up.)

That's good to hear. When these darned puncture prone bar tires wear out I'll be changing to turfs. I'd change now if I weren't so cheap.

( When the piles get too big to push, I back off and blast into them with the blade angled, and rising as I hit. If the blade is too high, I knock the top off and end up too far in the deep stuff. Usually, I can wiggle back out, but once had to shovel.)

The PT wiggle ranks right up there - far more useful than the PT pucker - or has Hans found a way to leverage them into the Bubenberg Special = PTSuperBoomWigglePucker?

( My biggest problem yesterday was a long steep downhill. I couldn't keep the pile moving, and then would get down to the ice when trying to back up to get a run. I finally blasted my way to the bucket, and found that better than the blade for the deep downhill stuff. I could pick up a bucket full, which increased front end traction enough to ease back away from the pile. For that, on ice and slick hardpack, I'll bet the turfs are actually better than bar treads, just because of increased contact area.)

Now that "because of increased contact area" doesn't quite square with what I was taught ever so many years ago that narrower tires are better in snow than wider tires. 'Course that was long before Turf Tires came on the scene. I found with the bars that on an icy hill I could move but not push anything with the blade so maybe the turfs are better.

( Once you got them spinning, however, it is time to toss a little hay under them and hope to ease back without need of a shovel. It worked most times.
But, a snow blower is still the answer for stuff this deep. If we had it more often than every seven years, I'd be on the phone to PT. )

If it weren't so pricey I might phone too. But overall the blade works pretty well. It needs snowplow pucks instead of caster wheels, and I'm now sure glad I got the six footer instead of the seven - I don't think I could push any more, at least without a way to reduce crabbing.

I finally found my bucket yesterday after two hours of digging out the access road to the implement yard. When I got there I couldn't see any implements - they were completely covered with hardly a hump in the snow for a clue. What a winter!

Broke a fuel line too. Turned out to be a puncture in the 3mm x 8 inch return line that goes from a banjo fitting on the injector pump supply manifold up through a protective sleeve to a cross/collector at the injectors. The puncture was inside the sleeve. I think it was a manufacturing defect in the hose but the guy at the counter says an ice chunk will puncture a fuel line. This line is pretty elastic and new. I rather doubt he's right - at least in this case. Anybody ever have that happen?

Sedgewood

bubenberg · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

( That's good to hear. When these darned puncture prone bar tires wear out I'll be changing to turfs. I'd change now if I weren't so cheap. )

i am waiting for a brochure from a tire vendor, who i found in the Farm Show Magazine. he just may have the answer to most of our puncture problems. it should be here by Monday.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MossRoad · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

I looked in TBN's Glossary of Tractor Terms and couldn't find PTSuperBoomWigglePucker... go figure? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

My thought too, although I think I'm generally close to bogging the engine before the wheels break loose. 

Interesting syndrome - my engine bogs when two wheels are spinning. I'll have to spend some quiet time trying to understand the hydraulics in that condition.

 Now that "because of increased contact area" doesn't quite square with what I was taught ever so many years ago that narrower tires are better in snow than wider tires. 

I'm referring only to smooth ice or hardpack. I certainly agree that narrower tires with aggressive tread would be better for deeper snow. Just as on a car, the wide turfs tend to build a ramp, then spin it slick, so you certainly want to plow snow in front of you and not try to drive with turfs even in 6 inches or so.

 It needs snowplow pucks instead of caster wheels 

I rolled one of the gauge tires off the rim, so took it off and into the house for repair. Although I got it pumped up, I decided to try without the wheels. With the rubber, it worked well. I seldom used float, judging the depth of plow by the feel wheen I lowered the blade. Of course, whenever I thought I was developing some measure of skill, the machine would try to pole vault over the blade.

 glad I got the six footer instead of the seven 

I agree, I guess, but in lighter stuff, the extra width would be welcome, so long as the road is flat. Edambrose sure likes the 84" blade

 an ice chunk will puncture a fuel line. 

So will a high pressure water jet, but it has to get to the line.
Sorry to hear about the problem.
My only repair problem during the snow has been a recurring one, for my machine only. The oil pressure gauge wire broke once again in the junction box in the right rear of the engine compartment. This time, while tugging to get a little wire slack, I managed to pull a bunch loose. Then, first misreading the diagram in the book, I hooked some wires up wrong, and the engine wouldn't start. Three or four hours later, I had rearranged them to what the book really shows, and everything worked, except the oil pressure gauge which started it all. Last night, after staring at the diagram for a while in the warmth of my office, I swapped two wires and everything is working. The two wiring diagrams in the book disagree with each other. The designation of wire colors is wrong in the list of 12-14 ga cables. In case you're ever in that terminal box, the blue for the oil pressure belongs on terminal 5, and the blue-black for temperature goes on 4. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Sedgewood · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

 the wide turfs tend to build a ramp, then spin it slick, so you certainly want to plow snow in front of you and not try to drive with turfs even in 6 inches or so. 

same with the bar tires.

I rolled one of the gauge tires off the rim, so took it off and into the house for repair

Me too - but I just ignored it and like you relied on the rubber lip, which works fine if the gravel is frozen. Otherwise it digs deep.

 I agree, I guess, but in lighter stuff, the extra width would be welcome, so long as the road is flat. Edambrose sure likes the 84" blade

My road is anything but flat. Either hilled or crabby crowned.

 So will a high pressure water jet, but it has to get to the line.

He was talking about ice IN the line, not ON the line, which I may not have been clear about. He suggested some drygas was in order. Sorry to hear of your ongoing electrical gremlins - to date I've had none, knock on wood.

Sedgewood

Charlie_Iliff · Feb 21, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

 ice IN the line, not ON the line 

Possible, I suppose, but my gut tells me you had a bad line.
I'd expect the filter to take out whatever water, and if cold enough possibly freeze and restrict flow. My funnel filter did that the last time I filled, because I dropped a little snow in.
I've broken a few copper water pipes, but had an awful lot of rubber garden hoses freeze without rupture.

Sedgewood · Feb 22, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

 Possible, I suppose, but my gut tells me you had a bad line. 

I agree - it does seem a stretch to have ice puncture the line, and especially on a vertical run.

Sedgewood · Feb 22, 2003

Re: Blizzard of \'03

MossRoad: I looked in TBN's Glossary of Tractor Terms and couldn't find PTSuperBoomWigglePucker... go figure? 

I don't think bubenberg has published his findings yet. I suspect we'll be hearing that:

you can have SuperBoom
you can have Wiggle
you can have Pucker
...
you can pick any two.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Sedgewood