BX Snowblower or walk-behind?

[RayCo]

Thanks for all the feedback here. It sounds like it'd be well worth my time to get a quote for a front mount blower for my BX.

 

[atitus74]

I have the quick hitch already, if I get a few mins in the next day or two I'll throw it on there with the loader and see what happens. FYI I have the pin on bucket not skid steer quick attach so that might buy me a few inches.

Follow up on this. On my tractor, BX1880 with pin-on (non quick attach bucket) I can have the front quick hitch and the loader on at the same time and the loader will not impact the hitch. A couple important notes though. Its close. A few inches gap. Second, the hitch is real close to the ground. Very low clearance. Third, you have to disconnect the hydraulic hoses to hookup the bucket. In summary, I'd consider putting the loader on if I really had to, but I'd be real careful with it.

1. Make sure I didn't get any chunks of ice in there or anything that could pinch between the loader and the hitch.

2. I'd set the hitch at the highest position that I could where it would not interfere.

3. Since the hydraulics would be detached, the hitch could slowly bleed back down to touch the ground. I'd use a chain or something to retain it in a higher position

4. Finally I would bungie the hydro hoses to the front grate so they would not interfere.

Hope this helps everyone.

 

[RalphVa]

If it was mine, I'd go with a rear snow blower and keep the FEL in place. This would be about the same price as a walk behind and easier to tolerate, barring a possible stiff neck from looking back.

Then, if you could get a snow blade to mount onto FEL equipment in place of the bucket, I'd go for that to handle light snows.

I've about a 600 ft driveway with turnaround at the garage/carriage house end and have wished for a blower at times when the snow is deep, as it's a chore with FEL and back blade.

Ralph

 

[wotalota]

I was having someone plow and using a dodgy snow blower for paths and cleanup. The plowing resulted in damaged bushes and grass sod replanting each spring. Got an old PTO 54" snowblower off Craigs list and copied the projects from here to add a winch and linear actuator for 12V control. Seems like a good practical combo for a BX. A front snowblower would be big improvement but a bit pricey. Also the bucket comes in handy with the town plow's frozen bank and slush. The home made cab with heater gets put on just for the winter and is an indulgence.

 

[V1BuzzBomb]

RayCo,

I have a 54 blower on my BX and it痴 AMAZING! I used my FEL for 1 Winter and would be hard pressed to think of a less efficient way to move snow! I then bought 60 Rear Mount Blower and that was a PIA.

I have a 500 paved driveway here in Massachusetts and I gotta tell ya Front Mount Blower is the way to go!! I am SO glad I spent the cash on the RIGHT tool for the job! I have a soft side cab from Original Tractor Cab and that too is great.
I have Hydraulic rotation and electric tilt, if I recall correctly it was about $4K, another $1k for the cab.

My property prevents me from having a cabbed tractor for summer mowing.

I think I have pics and Vids if you are interested, just PM me

Cheers,
BN

P

Your situation sounds exactly like mine and your setup is very close to what I want. I find the the ROPS gets larger every year on these machines and hinders yard duty almost as badly as the cab.